Get to Know Us: HLI Certificate Program Graduates of 2023-2024
Dr. Alexander Badru ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
Having spent over 20 years in the practice of medicine, I have spent the last few years in hospital leadership and administration. I am interested in spending the next several years of my career improving quality, safety, compliance, and access to healthcare while also improving patient satisfaction in my local community. I also want to influence public policy on healthcare in my community and the country at large.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
I am very proud of how highly rated our Healthcare Compliance and Health Law Programs are in the country. I am proud to introduce myself as a product of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Healthcare Compliance Program.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
I won’t forget the relationships I have formed with my colleagues, professors, and staff over the last few years. I will keep those memories with me forever.
Li Ko ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation, I plan to study, prepare, and take the CHC and bar exams. As for career moves, after becoming a licensed attorney, I will build a solo practice in personal injury and healthcare compliance. Regarding healthcare compliance, I plan to seek mentorship from an attorney who practices in the area of drug and device law. I believe my contribution in the area of healthcare compliance with the drug and device industry could have a lasting impact on improving everyone’s quality of life.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
The proudest thing from my time at Mitchell Hamline, which I found was a complete surprise, is learning about the Healthcare Compliance Program at the law school. I have a background in compliance, working in the financial industry as a fraud and compliance investigator. I wanted to learn more about compliance in the healthcare sector, so I took the Healthcare Compliance Institute course with Professor Barbara Colombo. This experience gave me a new appreciation for the impact that compliance can have on everyone who uses healthcare.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
My favorite memories from law school are the group project presentations, which resembled real-life situations, such as presenting compliance recommendations to the board and CEO and participating in mock trials. These are my favorite memories because those presentations and mock trial experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to develop the skills I need to become a better attorney when I go into practice. The exercises have provided invaluable feedback from professors, shaping my professional abilities with unforgettable memories.
Traci Kreuziger ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
After I graduate, I will be preparing to take the Wisconsin bar exam and then begin searching for the next career opportunity. My hope is to work as in-house legal counsel within a healthcare organization; government agency focused on fighting fraud, waste, and abuse; or compliance officer/leadership role within healthcare compliance. I plan to give back to the community by providing pro bono services to Wisconsinites to help navigate the healthcare system and health insurance challenges they face with Medicaid or commercial healthcare insurance.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
I am most proud of being offered one of the 2024 spring law clerk positions with the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General. An externship with this federal agency was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am forever grateful for the experience and people I met along the way.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
My favorite memories are all the other students, especially the remote study group I participated in, and the professors and support I received from everyone at MHSL. Being part of the Blended and health law program is very special and is why I wanted to come to MHSL. This experience has exceeded all my expectations and I hope to “pay it forward” with future MHSL health law students! I hope I can contribute to MHSL’s “secret sauce.” I learned pretty quickly that asking for help and not suffering in silence means I am human and a great way for me to forge relationships with others to discover my authentic self. It is through this discovery that I will be able to best serve others!
Alexys Lopez ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation I plan to work in private practice – focusing on medical liability. I am particularly interested in representing healthcare providers – by supporting physicians’ legal rights, lawyers play a significant role in enhancing healthcare quality and improve practitioners’ professional experience. I would also like to collaborate with nonprofit organizations, either within the healthcare sector or those dedicated to fostering economic growth in underserved communities.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
One of my proudest achievements from my time at Mitchell Hamline was my work in the Economic Inclusion Clinic, where I worked with the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Latino entrepreneurs and small businesses in Minnesota. Working with LEDC allowed me to directly contribute to the economic empowerment in the Latino community in Minnesota. Although the primary focus was on business law, the core competencies I developed throughout the MHSL Health Law and Compliance program – e.g., risk management, policy implementation, regulatory knowledge – gave me the tools to work through the clients’ concerns. The clinic solidified my belief in the power of legal advocacy to bring meaningful change in the community and inspired me to continue working in areas where law and public health intersect.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
It is hard to select a single favorite memory at MHSL. Being a part of the blended program was such a special experience. When I first started, I was not sure that I would be able to develop any connections or fully immerse myself in the law school experience, but MHSL provided just that. The program exposed me to interactive platforms, accessible faculty, collaborative projects, networking opportunities, practical experiences, and a focus on personalized learning. The MHSL Blended Learning program gave me the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and gain valuable skills, all while enjoying the flexibility and inclusivity of working online and having the opportunity to attend on-campus programs.
My favorite times were spent during Capstone – even though we had only seen each other over Zoom it was like we had known each other forever. My favorite experience was walking to Bread & Chocolate during break and chatting with my classmates, having heart to heart conversations about our “legal dreams” and aspirations. I feel fortunate to have made connections and friends in different parts of the world and to have learned from each other’s experiences.
Dr. Christopher Meredith ’23
What are your plans following graduation?
I continue to work full-time in neurosurgery for the Department of Veterans Affairs. With all of the compliance materials I learned at MH, I now do a lot of neurosurgery peer review in the community. In addition, I help on the hospital Sentinel Event Alert committee and opioid committee to reduce clinical risks to patients. I plan to sit for the bar, but so far that has been derailed by more pressing matters. Most likely February 2025 for me.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
I am most proud of finishing law school while working as a full-time neurosurgeon.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
So many really. I made so many friends with other students and professors. My law school experience at MH was extremely fun and challenging. So much support from the entire school. Perhaps my best memory was my time in London in 2023. Despite growing up in The Netherlands, I love to travel, and the London experience was a special and unique one.
Serena Nguyen ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
A BREAK!! Working full-time and earning a law degree has been so much fun, but also so very tiring. I’ll take some mental health time before I start studying for the bar. After that, I’ve been blessed because I have a lot of options.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
I’m really proud that I was able to participate in so many student organizations and get multiple certificates. It’s been a long time since I felt like I was really part of something great, even if it was only for a while.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
Prep week/capstone weeks. As difficult as they were, that’s when I was able to meet the amazing people in my section and learn SO much more about so many things, not just law. Even though I always felt like I had been through the wringer afterward, I also always felt so accomplished. I also have made some life-long friends that I am so honored to know.
Danielle Phiscator ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
Following graduation, I plan to sit for the July 2024 Florida Bar Exam. I recently started my career as an ethics & compliance officer for Parallon HCA Healthcare, serving all HCA Florida and South Atlantic Hospitals. I plan to continue my journey in this field.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
During my time at Mitchell Hamline, I am most proud of stepping out of my comfort zone and competing in the Annual Healthcare Compliance Competition in Maryland. The opportunity to compete in any competition at Mitchell Hamline is one I would recommend to all MH students. The networking opportunities and the skills gained during the competition are ones I will carry with me in my career after law school.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
It is very hard for me to choose one memory, so I will have to defer to my favorite “memories” during my time at Mitchell Hamline, which always included flying to Minnesota for Capstone Week. During these visits I built lifetime friendships that will lend to a lifetime of networking across the country with our alumni network. However, there was one memory that might have involved me dressed as a Ninja Turtle presenting to Professor Pope’s Health Law Seminar class about Information Blocking… (Pretty sure Professor Pope took a picture for proof because no one would believe him that a Ninja Turtle did a presentation to his class that day).
Andrew Vitullo ’24
What are your plans following graduation?
Towards the conclusion of my law school experience, I transitioned into a position with Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group. Serving as the National Director of Outpatient Contracting, I play a key role within Evernorth’s network contract performance and governance team. Here, I lead efforts to negotiate rates with network providers and oversee provider recruitment to better serve our members and clients. My time at Mitchell Hamline has provided me with valuable insights into contracts, negotiations, and healthcare compliance.
What are you most proud of from your time at Mitchell Hamline?
I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been given the opportunity and support to pursue law school. While Mitchell Hamline has been exceptionally accommodating to blended learning students like myself, the journey through law school remains demanding. I take pride in successfully managing the past few years, balancing the academic challenges with the responsibilities of my career, all while ensuring quality time with my young family.
What is a favorite memory from your time here?
One of my most cherished experiences at Mitchell Hamline was the chance to intern at my local district attorney’s office. Being actively involved in the criminal justice system was truly remarkable. I had the privilege of presenting before judges and advocating for the DA during evidentiary hearings, which provided invaluable real-world insight into legal practice.
We welcome the opportunity to share your good news in one of our upcoming newsletters, and encourage any students or alumni to email us!
Winners of the 2024 Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Writing Competition
This year marked the 5th annual national Roy Snell Health Care Regulatory & Compliance Writing Competition. The competition attracted outstanding student participation from top law schools around the country.
All submissions were judged by a panel of independent legal and compliance experts. Neither the entrants’ identities nor academic institutions were known to the judges. Top honors were awarded to the following students:
To read the full press release and learn about this year’s competition problem, visit our website.
Faculty & Staff News
Congratulations to the HLI faculty and staff on their accomplishments in February, March, and April! Follow the links to view their most recent presentations, publications, events, panels, and media highlights.
Health Care Compliance Certificate Program
Gain a competitive advantage in one of the hottest job markets by obtaining your Health Care Compliance Certificate through our 11-14 credit program, completely online! More information and application details for J.D. students and for working professionals.
Accepting applications for the August 2024 cohort.
Health Law Institute’s Rankings
The Health Law Institute was one of only 15 schools to be awarded an ‘A+’ by preLaw. Read more on page 40 in their Back to School 2023 issue.
U.S. News & World Report
Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Health Law Institute was ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report for 2024.
Subscribe to the newsletter
This quarterly newsletter includes information about upcoming events, courses, certificates, and student, faculty, and alumni news. It’s a great way to stay up to date and involved with Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s Health Law Institute.