The Future of Health Law: Up and Coming Health Law Graduates Reflect on the Center’s Impact on 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.

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.”