Lectures
Osher at Dartmouth frequently offers special lectures; these are single-session presentations on a variety of topics, delivered by guest lecturers.
The American Revolution and the Fate of the World
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker: Richard Bell
Zoom
Cost:
Osher Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15.00
Register
When we think of the American Revolution, we picture 13 colonies squaring off against the British Crown in a spirited bid for independence. But this version of the story is only half the truth—and perhaps not even the most interesting half. In this riveting program, historian and author Richard Bell invites us to rediscover the Revolution as a world war that unleashed chaos, opportunity, and transformation across six continents—from the sugar fields of the Caribbean to the court of the King of Mysore, from refugee camps on the Canadian frontier to political uprisings in Sierra Leone and Peru—and traces the far-flung reverberations of the war through the lives of the people it displaced, empowered, or destroyed.
Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home, which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize. He has held major research fellowships at Yale, Cambridge, and the Library of Congress and is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar award and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. His new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, was published by Penguin in November 2025.
He maintains a list of upcoming events at Richard-Bell.com.
The Latest from London: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Research
Monday, September 28, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Liz McCarthy
Zoom
Cost:
Osher Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15.00
Register
In partnership with the Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's, Osher at Dartmouth will be offering this special lecture on the newest advancements in research. The presentation will focus on breakthroughs in early detection and diagnosis, advances in treatment, and insights into risk reduction and lifestyle modification strategies. Alzheimer's Association staff member Liz McCarthy will present virtually a summary of research findings from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), which took place in July 2026. This Conference is the largest of its kind and brings together researchers, clinicians, and professionals from around the world to present new discoveries and progress in the science and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Liz will be sharing highlights from the AAIC and describing the latest advances in dementia science, with time for questions and discussion.
Liz McCarthy has a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and holds credentials in respiratory therapy and sleep medicine. She lives near Boston with her husband, Kevin, and a crazy dog named Juno; her two sons are away at college.
The Persian Puzzle: Power, Politics, Paranoia, Pain, Paradox
Empire to Democracy to Theocracy
A 4-part lecture series
Saturdays, October 3 - 24, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Speaker: David Bisno
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Auditorium E
Cost:
Osher Members: $95.00
Non-Members: $105.00
Register
With carefully crafted, colorful slides, David will help us appreciate why Iranians today hate Americans even more than they hate the English. What was the path by which American hubris, ineptitude, delusions, and catastrophic miscalculations led to the present situation? What parts did oil, communists, Israelis, shahs, and an Islamic God play in the story? Join us for a spirited discussion as we weave together Persian-Iranian history with Hamlet, King Lear, and Richard III to unveil not a single error but a pattern of English greed and American inattentiveness, bureaucratic infighting, and a string of strategic blunders that allowed unnecessary crises to become a historic rupture with worldwide repercussions.
David Bisno, a retired ophthalmologist with degrees from Harvard, Dartmouth, and the Washington
University School of Medicine (St. Louis), has, for the past 33 years, developed and
presented courses on a myriad of subjects for ILEAD/Osher and for other institutes
for lifelong learning across this country and overseas. He is known for clear, fair,
nuanced presentations of provocative, complicated topics, engaging his students with
energy and enthusiasm. He looks forward to lively discussion.
107 Days at Sea: The Journey That Changed Everything
Saturday, October 10, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Jill Siegal Chalsty
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Auditorium E
Cost:
Osher Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
Register
At 63, Jill Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death and battling cancer. What began as a voyage around the world became far more than a trip. In this lecture, Jill shares the story behind her memoir Packets of Hope, inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into strength and global impact. Jill demonstrates how one person’s courage can create ripples that span continents.
Participants are encouraged to read her memoir, available free at www.packetsofhope.com, before the presentation.
Jill Siegal Chalsty has devoted her life to the transformative power of education. As founder of Overcoming
Obstacles, the nonprofit she launched in 1992, Jill pioneered life skills instruction
that has now reached more than 180 million students worldwide. What began as a mission
to help young people navigate life’s challenges has evolved into a global movement
for youth empowerment. Following the profound loss of her husband and her own battles
with cancer, Jill embarked on a voyage of healing and reflection. That journey inspired
her memoir, Packets of Hope, an exploration of resilience, love, and finding meaning
through service. She's made her book available for free at packetsofhope.com.
The Power of Music: The Role Music Can Play in Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Monday, October 12, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker: Allison W. Pollard
In-Person and Zoom
Cost:
Osher Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15.00
Register for In-Person
Register for Zoom
In partnership with the Upper Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's, Osher at Dartmouth is
offering this special lecture! Discover the powerful role music can play in the lives
of people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This presentation
explores how music can help access memories, reduce anxiety, improve communication,
and foster meaningful moments of connection. We'll also discuss practical ways caregivers
can use music to support their loved ones while caring for their own well-being. Whether
you're a family caregiver, healthcare professional, or simply interested in the healing
power of music, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of how music can bring comfort,
joy, and connection throughout the dementia journey.
Allison W. Pollard, MT-BC, is a classically trained soprano, music educator, and board-certified music therapist. A native of the Upper Valley, she studied voice and music education at Miami University (Ohio) and has performed with professional choirs throughout the Cincinnati area, including solo appearances in oratorio works and operatic and musical theatre productions such as Leonard Bernstein’s MASS with the Cincinnati May Festival. She also served as Director of the Children’s Chorus with Opera North, where she led young singers in mainstage productions of Carmen and The Little Prince.
Allison holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Music Therapy from Lesley University. She has taught music both in the United States and abroad, including teaching English through the arts in Italy, and spent five years teaching in public schools as an elementary music educator. She now teaches at the Upper Valley Music Center and, newly board-certified in music therapy, is excited to share her love of music through both performance and therapeutic practice in her home community.
End-of-Life Options in the Live Free or Die State
Thursday, October 22, 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Speakers: Rebecca Brown and Dr. Erik Pollak
Zoom
Cost:
Osher Members: $10.00
Non-Members: $15
Register for Zoom
Many people have an advance directive, but few understand how decisions are actually carried out in a medical setting. This class examines end-of-life planning in New Hampshire, including the role of advance directives and the critical importance of medical orders such as POLST and DNR. We will cover end-of-life options available in NH now, including voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). We will also cover Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), a legal option available to roughly one-third of Americans, but not yet here in NH. We'll discuss what MAiD is, what it is not, where things stand in NH, and how individuals are working to bring this option to NH. The emphasis is on practical understanding, clear communication, and preparing for real-world decisions. This event is free and open to the public.
Rebecca Brown is founder and director of the New Hampshire Alliance for End-of-Life Options (www.nhendoflifeoptions.org). The Alliance is a grassroots effort dedicated to better end-of-life experiences for all people and advocating for allowing medical aid in dying in New Hampshire. Rebecca is a journalist and author, founded and directed the North Country's lands conservancy, and is a professional fly-fishing guide. Her commitment to improving end-of-life experiences for all grew from her husband’s death while she was serving in the NH Legislature. She focuses on the policy and personal realities of serious illness, death, and dying.
Dr. Eric Pollak is a family physician and hospice medical director with over 30 years of experience accompanying patients through the challenges of serious illness. He focuses on shared decision-making, blending clinical evidence and judgment with a deep respect for individual values and goals. His work reflects a sustained commitment to making care at the end of life more humane, thoughtful, and aligned with what matters most to patients and families.