Originally published in Student Lawyer magazine, March 2004 (Vol. 32, No. 7). All rights reserved.

LIAISON NOTEBOOK

Section Improves Understanding and Development of Health Law

by Ted Lotchin

Liaison Notebook includes reports of Law Student Division members who represent the Division in the ABA's practice-related sections, divisions, forums, and other entities. Student liaisons promote student membership in their entities and convey the views of law students throughout the ABA. For further information on how you can become a student liaison, visit www.abanet.org/lsd/elections and scroll down to "Liaisons."

The American health care system is moving through a fundamental transformation from societal promise to market-based commodity. This shift has created a range of legal pitfalls for physicians, hospitals, and patients. What does this challenging landscape mean for law students?

For those with visions of improving society, it means an opportunity to create meaningful change. For those looking to land the ideal job, it means expanding opportunities in private firms and the government sector. Simply put, the practice of health law offers a unique opportunity to do good socially, while doing well professionally.

The ABA Health Law Section continues to play a crucial role in raising the legal community's awareness of health care issues. Beyond the social value of belonging to the section's vision, the wealth of learning opportunities provides valuable experiences for any student. The section regularly hosts CLE programs, including the Washington Healthcare Summit and the Emerging Issues in Healthcare Law Midyear Meeting. Other recent programs have included panels on medical research, anti-kickback statutes, antitrust enforcement, qui tam enforcement, and managed care issues. Students can take advantage of these opportunities for only $40 per program.

In addition, the section remains committed to sponsoring the Health Law Student Writing Competition. This year's topic, "Emerging Issues in Public Health," focused on issues related to some aspect of the new Model Emergency Health Powers Act. In addition, the section has developed the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law to recognize outstanding academic performance and to encourage student interest in the field of health law. Moreover, the section provides law students with professional support and career development resources through their Health Law Section Mentor Project.

The section's interest groups also are heavily involved in education and advocacy activities. All section members, including law students, are invited to join up to three interest groups, including eHealth, Privacy & Security, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Healthcare Facility Operations, Healthcare Fraud & Compliance, Healthcare Litigation & Risk Management, Managed Care & Insurance, Medical Research, Clinical Ethical Issues, Payment & Reimbursement, Tax & Accounting, and Transactional & Business Healthcare.

The Health Law Section welcomes participation and involvement by law students. Membership for students is just $10. For further information, visit the section's web site at www.abanet.org/health. Be sure to click on the link for law students.

Ted Lotchin, a law student at the College of William and Mary, is student liaison to the ABA Health Law Section.