Dr. Neil Ernst and Dr. Peggy Philp will speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 26, in Room 158 (Recital Hall), Northside Hall, Indiana University South Bend.

The event is free and open to the public.

The husband and wife doctor team were involved in the treatment of Lia Lee, the child of Hmong refugees who was the subject of the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down." The book, which was published in 1997, was written by Anne Fadiman.

The book was the selection of the IU South Bend's One Book, One Campus program, sponsored by the Franklin D. Schurz Library. The book is the story of intercultural conflict involving a Hmong family and their child who has severe epilepsy and her American doctors. The book was used for the campus theme of dialogue and diversity.

The Lee family lived in Merced, Calif. They were refugees from the hill country of Laos and spoke no English. The hospital staff spoke no Hmong. The doctors determined that she suffered from a severe case of epilepsy. The parents believed the seizures were caused by the flight of her soul from her body.

The doctors spent sleepless nights trying to give her the best care and deal with the cultural divides. Fadiman deals with both sides of the issues.

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