The Future of Health Law: Up and Coming Health Law Graduates Reflect on the Center’s Impact on their Careers.
Four recent alumni of the Center for Health Law Studies share how their law school experience has shaped their careers.
Anam Khan (Law ’21) (MPH ’18)
Law & Policy Analyst
Center for Public Health Law Research, Temple University Beasley School of Law
SLU LAW Brief: How has your experience with the Center for Health Law Studies impacted your career?
Anam Khan: My experience with the Center gave me the opportunity to study how law can impact
health and health outcomes, which was one of the biggest reasons I chose SLU Law.
The education and experience I received at the Center really allowed me to enter into
the public health law and health policy space. After law school, I worked at Missouri
Foundation for Health (MFH) as the Health Policy Associate and recently, I just started
a new position as Law and Policy Analyst with Temple University’s Center for Public
Health Law Research. The knowledge I gained from the Center for Health Law Studies
has been valuable in informing my work in both places.
SLB: In your opinion, what kind of story does a course like Grassroots Advocacy tell about
the Center?
AK: I think the Grassroots Advocacy course highlights the Center’s commitment to teaching
students about how we can achieve policy change. Grassroots advocacy is such a key
part of changing the laws that do little to benefit communities, or even creating
new laws that improve the quality of life within communities. While working at MFH,
I learned in detail about how community partners worked together to advocate for Medicaid
Expansion in Missouri, which finally took effect in 2021. I think this is such a great
example of the importance of grassroots advocacy in the process of policy change,
and why it’s wonderful that the Center allows students to learn the skills needed
for this type of advocacy.
SLB: Why do you think a legal education has helped you with policy work? Why is that important?
AK: In my career so far, my legal education has given me the skills I need to understand
things like statutes, regulations, and case law, and how these interact with each
other. This has been so important in any of the work I’ve done on abortion policy
because there have been so many new developments and the law can change very quickly
in this area.
SLB: Why did you decide to choose a career path in health law?
AK: As I studied Health Management and Policy at SLU College of Public Health and Social
Justice, I became fascinated with the question of how we can use laws to improve health
outcomes. I really wanted to learn what the law is and how it works, and that led
me to pursue health law at SLU Law. Now, as a relatively new lawyer, I’m excited to
have the opportunity to work in the area of public health law and continue to learn
as I go along.
SLB: As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Center, why do you think it has the staying
power and reputation that it has?
AK: I think that now more than ever, especially after having gone through the COVID-19
pandemic, we realize the need for a better understanding of health law, especially
as it relates to racial and health equity, and how we can work to improve the way
people access and interact with the health care system in this country. Health law
continues to be an expanding field, and the Center for Health Law Studies is at the
forefront of education and research in this field.
Brandon Hall (’19)
Associate, Healthcare and Employee Benefits
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
SLU LAW Brief: How has your experience with the Center for Health Law Studies impacted your career?
Brandon Hall: My experience with the Center for Health Law Studies helped shape my career in Healthcare
Law. Going into law school I knew I was interested in Health Law; the Center for Health
Law Studies helped me find my love for ERISA and employee benefits. Healthcare law
is broad and complex. Getting a certificate from the Center for Health studies provided
me with the tools to navigate those complexities and a strong foundation in statutory
and regulatory review and federalism concerns. The Center also has an excellent national
reputation as a Top Health Law program. Having that certificate as a part of my credentials
has been a valuable tool in networking and growing my practice.
SLB: In your opinion, what kind of story does a course like Grassroots Advocacy tell about
the Center?
BH: A course like grassroots advocacy tells both the story of the excellent students who
attend SLU Law, and also demonstrates SLU’s commitment to making a positive impact
for its neighboring communities and their constituencies. The grassroots class takes
the skills acquired and honed throughout law school and applies it to assessing and
rectifying community issues affecting healthcare. Using creative problem solving and
employing advocacy and relationship building skills, the students effectuate positive
healthcare change during each legislative session.
SLB: Why do you think a legal education has helped you with policy work? Why is that important?
BH: Having a legal education has given me a solid foundation for assessing compliance
and other legal challenges. Further, having a legal education affords more credibility
in the political and policy spheres.
SLB: Why would you encourage a student to take such a course?
BH: I would encourage students to take a class like the Grassroots class for several
reasons. First, it is an alternative way to use your legal skills. Second, the course
offers an opportunity to make a difference in a community or across the state. Third,
it is a great way to network and establish yourself as a subject-matter expert.
SLB: Why did you decide to choose a career path in health law?
BH: Coming from a background of working at a medical device company, I was able to fully
understand the impact health insurance and employee benefits have in people’s lives.
From my sales experience, I knew I wanted to learn more about how to work in and make
a difference in coverage determinations and dealing with insurance companies. As I
became familiar with ERISA and the overlap between it and other areas of healthcare
law, I was drawn to the complexity and challenges that are often associated therewith
and ultimately decided to focus my practice on that area.
SLB: As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Center, why do you think it has the staying
power and reputation that is has?
BH: Being the nation’s premier health law program for 16 of the last 17 years, is a legacy
itself. That said, I think the Center has the staying power it does because of the
dedication of the faculty, students, and alumni. The Health Law program continues
to draw folks from all over the country to attend; those students come in engaged
and with a strong desire to work in healthcare law, and many come in with substantive
healthcare experience; the faculty are top-notch and respected names in the field
who provide great mentorship and opportunities for the health law students; and finally,
the alumni remain engaged with faculty and future classes of students demonstrate
a wide scope of ways to put students’ health law degrees to use, whether in private
practice, government, or in a JD preferred non-legal role.
2023 Graduates Reflect on Their Law School Experience
Jheel Gosain
Associate, Brown & Crouppen
SLU LAW Brief: What was one of your favorite things about the Center for Health Law Studies?
Jheel Gosain: “It was really cool that professors would talk about current world events in class.
It was really nice to acknowledge all the world’s happenings during class and being
able to relate it. Especially taking Reproductive Health seminar this past year and
being able to talk about everything as it was happening.”
SLB: What advice do you have for new students?
JG: “Make sure you have a good balance between your academics and taking advantage of
what SLU LAW offers. I was a faculty fellow; I was in field placements and worked
in the legal clinics. It lets you get a feel in what you want to do and what you don’t.”
Abhi Nair
Associate, Heyl Royster
SLU LAW Brief: Why did you choose SLU LAW?
Abhi Nair: “I knew I wanted to go in either medicine or law, and I chose SLU as it was the top
health law school and had great scholarships and opportunities. The advisors were
so welcoming and helped me create a map of my interests.:
SLB: On becoming a Center of Excellence:
AN: “It’s amazing to see where our professors come from and get to learn from the best
in the field. I’m glad future students get the same excellence in teaching. Our professors
really come from the top of the field and are amazing mentors that both care and have
expertise.”