{"id":7787,"date":"2024-09-12T10:32:04","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T15:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/health-law-institute\/?p=7787"},"modified":"2024-11-07T15:17:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T21:17:06","slug":"health-law-institute-sept2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/health-law-institute\/2024\/09\/12\/health-law-institute-sept2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Law Institute September 2024 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0 Get to Know Us: HLI Faculty & Staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Health Law Institute\u2019s success is enhanced by the expert guidance we receive from our advisory board.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Meet Suzette Schommer, J.D.
\nChief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Ellie Mental Health\"\"<\/h4>\n

Tell us about your background and what inspired you to affiliate with Ellie Mental Health
\n<\/strong>I have worked in health care most of my legal career in virtually every facet:\u00a0for the government, health care providers, health care payer\/insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers.\u00a0Of all of them, I have loved working on the provider side, and mental health specifically, the most.\u00a0My first foray into this segment of health care was when I served as general counsel for The Emily Program, a mental health provider focusing on eating disorder treatment.\u00a0So, when the opportunity arose at Ellie Mental Health in a very similar role, it was something I couldn\u2019t pass up. Most people have been touched by mental health struggles either personally or within their family or friend groups, and I am no exception, so this work feels very personal to me.<\/p>\n

What do you enjoy most about your work?
\n<\/strong>I love the variety of work I perform in this role, as the only (and first) in-house attorney for Ellie. I may be jumping from more standard health care advisory work to employment, to real estate, and then to corporate governance all in one day.\u00a0It certainly keeps me on my toes, requires me to continue to learn every day (as I am certainly not an expert in all the areas I need to address), and allows me to help shape our business and legal strategies.\u00a0Combining the interesting work with my love for Ellie\u2019s mission results in a fabulous job for me.<\/p>\n

What kind of meaningful changes would you like to see in mental health care?
\n<\/strong>Ellie\u2019s mission involves transforming the culture of mental health.\u00a0What that means is destigmatizing it, creating increased access, and being creative in how it is delivered. We\u2019ve come a long way on that front, but we have so much further to go.\u00a0I think to some extent COVID re-set expectations around how and when mental health services are used, but it is still largely viewed as something you turn to in crisis, rather than something to incorporate into your daily life to ensure we are as healthy as possible.\u00a0If we waited until a crisis to eat healthfully and exercise, we\u2019d be starting too late; so I\u2019d like to see mental health care viewed similarly.\u00a0And for that to happen, the payers have to transform their views on how\/when\/where mental health is provided.\u00a0Mental health parity laws are a great start, but ultimately without sufficient reimbursement rates, there won\u2019t be enough providers to make sure everyone who seeks mental health care can afford it.<\/p>\n

Do you have any advice for new attorneys entering the legal field?
\n<\/strong>I would say, be flexible! I thought I was going to be an international human rights lawyer, but my career took me down a health care path.\u00a0And ultimately, I came to appreciate how I was still doing human rights work, but in a more micro way, and closer to home.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s something people might not know about you?
\n<\/strong>Well, some people are surprised to hear I played on a women\u2019s professional (tackle) football team, the MN Vixen, when I was a young lawyer at the MN Attorney General\u2019s Office. I\u2019m also the youngest of eight kids, with six older brothers, which may explain the previous statement!<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>Healthy Dose of Good News<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"Meet Adam Parker, ’24
\nOperations Manager, Sanford Health
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Tell us about your background and how it influenced your decision to go to law school<\/strong>
\nI began volunteering for my local rural ambulance service while I was in high school and continued working in emergency medical services as a career after graduation as a paramedic. After working for several years in patient care, I moved into management and was also elected to the board of directors of the North Dakota EMS Association. Both career moves sparked my interest in how public policy impacts sustainability and access to ambulance services. Most ambulance services across the nation are small businesses and have difficulty understanding and complying with the various laws and regulations that impact the healthcare industry. Law school was the next logical step in my career to develop policy solutions for sustainability and assist ambulance services in complying with an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.<\/p>\n

What stands out to you as the most valuable aspects of your law school education?
\n<\/strong>Law school teaches you a great deal of knowledge and skills that are invaluable when used in both your career and personal life. However, the most valuable aspect was the connections and relationships that are formed with classmates, professors, and other attorneys. The friendships, diverse ideas, and knowledge shared is where I found the most value, and the relationships, and the value, will continue well past law school.<\/p>\n

You are currently working with lawmakers in North Dakota. Can you tell us about your work and the policy changes you are hoping to see?
\n<\/strong>After being elected to the board of directors, I became involved in the government affairs committee of the North Dakota EMS Association and eventually become chairman of the committee. We have worked with the legislature to double the amount of state subsidy directed to rural ambulance services and streamlined the process to obtain local tax support. This increase in funding is essential since rural ambulance services can no longer rely on volunteers and are having to transition to paid staff. Additionally, we are working with a legislative committee on a plan that will create a process to assist ambulance services that become distressed, which will allow the state to intervene before a system failure occurs.<\/p>\n

What are you most proud of?
\n<\/strong>I am most proud of my decision to go to law school. Mitchell Hamline\u2019s blended learning program allowed me the opportunity to accomplish something I have wanted to do since high school. I encourage anyone who is thinking about going to law school to do it. It was one of the best decisions I have made.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We welcome the opportunity to highlight you in one of our upcoming newsletters, and encourage any students or alumni to <\/strong>email us<\/strong><\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0The Health Law Society Officers for 2024-2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n

President: Crystal Lawson
\nVice President: Sakeenah Dieujuste
\nSecretary: Tara Burge
\nOutreach Director: Allison Crescimanno<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Health Law Society is Mitchell Hamline’s student organization that seeks to provide opportunities for discussion and learning among students sharing an interest in legal issues relating to health law and policy. HLS seeks to assist students in increasing their understanding of legal, medical, and ethical issues relating to health law and policy through programs, speakers, community events, and other opportunities. Their meetings are open to all students, and you can connect with them and learn more on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0Events & Opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Please join us for for this informative symposium that will provide you with updates and suggestions for best practices from food law professionals.\u00a0You\u2019ll hear informative, practical approaches to recent US Supreme Court decisions, FDA reorganization, litigation and regulatory updates with a deep dive into state packaging laws.<\/p>\n

For more information, please visit the event page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Faculty & Staff News\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

Congratulations to the HLI faculty and staff on their accomplishments in June<\/a> and\u00a0July<\/a>! Follow the links to view their most recent presentations, publications, events, panels, and media highlights.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n

Health Care Compliance Certificate Program\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

Gain a competitive advantage in one of the hottest job markets by obtaining your Health\u00a0Care Compliance Certificate through our 11-14\u00a0credit program, completely online! More information and application details for\u00a0J.D. students<\/a>\u00a0and for\u00a0w<\/a>orking professionals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Accepting applications<\/a> for the January 2025 cohort.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n
\n

Health Law Institute\u2019s Rankings\"\"<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
PreLaw Magazine: Health Law<\/strong>
\nThe Health Law Institute has been awarded an ‘A’ by preLaw. Read more on page 38-39\u00a0in their\u00a0Back to School 2024<\/a>\u00a0issue.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\"\"<\/em><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nU.S. News & World Report<\/strong>
\nMitchell Hamline School of Law\u2019s Health Law Institute was ranked nationally by\u00a0U.S. News & World Report for 2024.<\/em><\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/h2>\n

Subscribe to the newsletter<\/a><\/h2>\n

This quarterly newsletter includes information about upcoming events, courses, certificates, and student, faculty, and alumni news. It\u2019s a great way to stay up to date and involved with Mitchell Hamline School of Law\u2019s Health Law Institute.<\/p>\n

Follow the Health Law Institute<\/h4>\n