Leah Fitzgerald, J.D. ’15
Tell us about your professional journey since graduating and a little about your current position.
“I have accepted a position with the legal team at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, and my official title is Senior Legal & Risk Specialist. It is a new position that will focus on risk management for the organization. I will also support the organization in other legal work, including the workers’ compensation program. I am excited to be back in a healthcare organization, working directly with clinicians to promote safe care in a high reliability environment. I graduated in May 2015 with certifications in both Health Law and Health Care Compliance. Gillette has shared with me that part of my resume stood out to them when reviewing candidates for the position.”
How did the Health Law Institute help prepare you for the work you do ?
“While I had clinical experience in healthcare, I had limited knowledge of what happens behind the scenes in a healthcare organization. Through the Health Law Institute, I was able to develop the knowledge base I needed to understand the regulations and liability a healthcare organization is faced with today. I apply what I learned in my health law classes every day in my role as the risk manager to not only assess liability, but collaborate with the compliance team to comply with healthcare regulations. I also work closely with the patient safety team to ensure Children’s provides the safest, most effective care to our patients, while evaluating the quality of care within the organization. ‘Kids first’ always is our highest priority as an organization.”