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Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Health Law
In an era of substantial national and regional reforms in health care and public health, students and practitioners must be able to recognize, assess, and solve issues of law, ethics, and policy at the intersection of health care delivery and protection of community health. The nationally-ranked health law programs, projects, and initiatives at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University encompass an array of unique and emerging areas, including public health law and policy, personalized medicine, and neuroscience.
Students may select from a diverse range of health law-related courses and opportunities tailored to their specific interests and led by acclaimed faculty, adjuncts, and partners. Students’ experiences are accentuated through related concentrations, certifications, and joint degrees offered by centers at ASU Law, Mayo Medicine School, and other institutions. Knowledge and application of principles of law, ethics, and policy offer graduates career opportunities in high-demand legal and policy fields focused on health care, public health, and technology.
Benefits
The Center for Public Health Law and Policy explores fascinating and emerging global and domestic issues in public health law, policy, and ethics. Varied topical interest areas include emergency legal preparedness, vaccinations, health care reform, injury prevention, and constitutional rights and protections.
The center brings students together with leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to address critical challenges at the intersection of law, ethics, policy, and the public’s health. Its diverse group of scholars and partners seeks to promote the role of law as a tool for improving the public’s health by conducting targeted legal and policy research, developing innovative tools and educational materials, generating extensive scholarship, and collaborating with public health and medical leaders.
The center also hosts the Western Region Office of the Network for Public Health Law, supported primarily by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Network provides technical assistance to practitioners and attorneys nationally, and allows students the opportunity to research, develop, and implement public health law solutions.
ASU Law is also part of an innovative set of clinical programs that pairs inventors, entrepreneurs, and emerging technology companies with law, business, and engineering students to provide multidisciplinary services to startup ventures. The Healthcare Entrepreneurship Clinic offers health law students the opportunity to work with early-stage Arizona businesses in the health care and technology arena to solve legal problems related to formation, intellectual property, compliance and regulation, contracts, and licensing. The clinic is directed by Dr. John Shufeldt, an ASU Law adjunct professor, alum, and co-founder of numerous health care businesses.
Degrees
Juris Doctor, JD: As the market for health law and public health law across Arizona and the nation escalates so does the need for knowledgeable and well- versed lawyers that understand unique aspects of health care and public health services.
ASU Law’s nationally-ranked program in health law, public health law, and policy focuses on diverse issues at the core of how health care and public health services are organized, delivered, and assured in global, national, and regional settings.
JD Graduate Certificates in:
- Health Law and Policy
- Law, Science and Technology – Genomics & Biotechnology
Master of Legal Studies, MLS: This degree is for professionals who do not want to practice law, but seek to understand the law’s impact on the health care system, as well as implications on the clients and patients they serve. Health is the largest and fastest growing industry in the U.S., adding more than half of all new jobs through 2020. The health industry is undergoing unprecedented reform, thereby creating demand for people who can understand and translate new rules and regulations to improve the health of people and populations.
- Emphasis in health law or public health law and policy
Master of Laws, LLM: This degree is for people who already have a law degree and aspire to translate and apply health policies to protect and improve public health. Health is the largest and fastest growing industry in the U.S., adding more than half of all new jobs through 2020. The health industry is undergoing unprecedented reform, thereby creating demand for people who can understand and translate new rules and regulations to improve the health of people and populations.
- Emphasis in health law or public health law and policy
- LLM in Genomics and Biotechnology
JD/MD Dual Degree Program with Mayo Medicine
Career opportunities
ASU JD, LLM, and MLS students concentrating in health law and policy are finding career placements across the United States in a diverse array of related positions. Opportunities include law firms, health care entities, health insurers, government agencies at all levels, policy think tanks, and academic institutions, among others. For more information, consult our Office of Career Services and check out the listing of prominent health law alums and their current positions on the Center’s website.
Student opportunities and experiences
Health law is a multifaceted area with a unique array of applications, contexts, and career paths. ASU Law's programs are collaborative and inclusive of several projects, faculty, and substantive areas beyond the classroom.
Student opportunities include:
- Coursework in Health Law and Policy, Public Health Law and Ethics, Medical Malpractice, Health Technologies, Health Care Fraud, FDA Regulation, Biotechnology, Bioethics, Genetics, Neuroscience, Law and Psychology, Reproductive Technologies, Research Ethics, Privacy, Scientific Evidence, and more. New courses are created frequently to address areas of student interest and employer demand.
- Opportunities to work with the Center for Public Health Law and Policy on research, scholarship, and legal assistance requests through the Network for Public Health Law – Western Region Office.
- Research cluster groups in Personalized Medicine and Neuroscience, research assistant positions, and independent study projects working with faculty on legal and scientific research and publications.
- Clinical experience assisting clients in early-stage health care companies with legal challenges through the Healthcare Entrepreneurship Clinic.
- A diverse array of externships in health law firms, hospitals, government agencies, nonprofit advocates, and other settings in Phoenix and locations across the country.
- The Health Law Society (HLS), an active student organization facilitating speakers, events, and networking opportunities.
- Law review and moot court placements providing extensive research, scholarly, and applied skills in health law and policy areas of interest.
Sample of coursework offered
- Administrative Law
- Bioethics and Law
- Biotechnology
- Biotech Licensing & Litigation
- Elder Law
- Family Law
- FDA Regulation
- Gender and Family Policy
- Genetics and the Law
- Healthcare Fraud Investigation
- Health Law and Policy
- Health Technologies, Innovation and the Law
- Healthcare Entrepreneurship Clinic
- Intercultural Bioethics
- Mass Tort Litigation
- Medical Malpractice
- Neuroscience and the Law
- Public Health Law (and Ethics)
- Reproduction, Reproductive Technologies & the Law
- Research Ethics and Law
In conjunction with Center for Law, Science & Innovation, several programs host events, workshops, and conferences each year focused on emerging issues in health law. Student opportunities for participation, research, work experience, and networking in different facets of health law and policy abound. Health Care Law at ASU Law is ranked No. 16 by US News and World Report. The Health Law Society (HLS) student organization is a growing and proactive group that facilitates collaboration and connection. Graduates from ASU Law are true standouts in the health law community locally and nationally.
Public Health Law and Policy also hosts the Western Region Office of the national Network for Public Health Law, funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Led by Professor James G. Hodge, Jr., the Western Region Office provides public health law technical assistance and resources to practitioners, officials, attorneys, and advocates locally, across 11 Western states and nationally.
Our graduates are making impacts across the country.
Our alumni are working in the healthcare and public health professions in public and private sector positions across the nation. Get to know some of our graduates and how they are making a difference in serving their clients and assuring improved health outcomes.
Expertise
Faculty at ASU Law (along with fellows, partners and practitioners) teach, research, publish, and speak nationally and internationally on contemporary topics concerning of health law, policy, and ethics. This exceptional group of interdisciplinary colleagues form the core foundation of the Center’s expertise in a wide array of topics including national health care reform, medical liability, precision medicine, public health, bioethics, health technologies, and global health policy.
James G. Hodge Jr.
Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law;
Director, Center for Public Health Law and Policy;
Director, Western Region Office - Network for Public Health Law
Peter Kiewit Foundation Professor of Law;
Director, Center for Public Health Law and Policy;
Director, Western Region Office - Network for Public Health Law
Gary E. Marchant
Director & Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation;
ASU Regents Professor and Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics
Director & Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation;
ASU Regents Professor and Lincoln Professor of Emerging Technologies, Law and Ethics
Michael J. Saks
Regents Professor of Law and Psychology;
Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation
Regents Professor of Law and Psychology;
Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation
Yvonne Stevens
Faculty Associate
Faculty Associate
Myles V. Lynk
Professor of Law;
Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation;
Faculty Athletic Representative, ASU
Professor of Law;
Faculty Fellow, Center for Law, Science & Innovation;
Faculty Athletic Representative, ASU
David Gartner
Professor of Law
Professor of Law
Karen Bradshaw
Professor of Law
Professor of Law
John Shufeldt
Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct Faculty
April Shaw
Research Scholar
Research Scholar
Alexandra Brewis Slade
Professor of Medical Anthropology;
Executive Director, School of Human Evolution & Social Change, ASU
Professor of Medical Anthropology;
Executive Director, School of Human Evolution & Social Change, ASU
Doug Campos-Outcalt
Medical Officer, Mercy Care Plan, Phoenix, AZ
Medical Officer, Mercy Care Plan, Phoenix, AZ
Rolf Halden
Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment,
Fulton School of Engineering, ASU
Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment,
Fulton School of Engineering, ASU
Angel Brandwein
Assistant Director, New Health Solutions Initiative
Office of University Affairs, ASU
Assistant Director, New Health Solutions Initiative
Office of University Affairs, ASU
Swapna Reddy
Clinical Assistant Professor
Clinical Assistant Professor
Carol Baldwin
Professor Emerita, ASU
Professor Emerita, ASU
Leila Barraza J.D., M.P.H
Assistant Professor, Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona
Assistant Professor, Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona
Clifford M. Rees
Director of Policy & Legislative Liaison, Office of the New Mexico Lieutenant Governor.
Director of Policy & Legislative Liaison, Office of the New Mexico Lieutenant Governor.
Kim Weidenaar
Counsel, Washington State House of Representatives Health & Wellness Committee
Counsel, Washington State House of Representatives Health & Wellness Committee