Scholarship and Biography
At Brandeis, I teach LGLS 114a - American Healthcare: Law & Policy and HSSP 135b - Special Topics in Public Health: US History & Policy. In the past, I have taught LGLS 131a - Patient Autonomy: Law, Medicine & Ethics as part of the award winning Justice Brandeis Semester - Health, Law & Justice.
In 2023, I began teaching Constitutional Law: Civil Rights, Civil Liberties & Justice and Public Health: Polics & Policy at Wellesley College, my alma mater.
I am passionate about teaching. I strive to create an educational experience that will enable students to become active participants for change and social justice in their chosen careers, including law, health care, public policy, business, etc. I design my courses to inform and inspire as well as to provide practical skills at the intersection of law, health care, public health, policy change, and business.
In addition to teaching at Brandeis since 2007, I am a practicing health care attorney. I have been practicing law for over 25 years. I've worked for several hospitals, health care providers, and academic research and development organizations. I work “in-house” – meaning that my only client is the corporation that I work for. I don’t ever go to court. Instead, I’m essentially business lawyer with a specialty in health care. My expertise includes regulatory compliance, risk management, ethics, and patient rights.
I am a graduate of Wellesley College (I double majored in History & Psychology), Boston College Law School, and the Harvard School of Public Health. During college, I rowed port on the Varsity Crew. Before law school, I worked for 2 years, first as a paralegal and then with health care policy researchers at Harvard Medical School.
At Brandeis, I am the Undergraduate Advising Head (UAH) and Study Abroad Liaison (SAL) for the Health: Science, Society & Policy (HSSP) program. I just finished my term as a member of the Faculty Senate. I participate on the HSSP and LGLS Faculty Executive Committees. I have served on the Board of Pre-Health Advisers, am a mentor for the Gen One Scholars Program, and participate in the Posse Plus Retreat. In each of these roles, I work closely with students to explore their interests and goals.
I have presented at national conferences, including the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics' Health Law Professors Conference, American Health Lawyers Association conferences, Health Care Compliance Association conferences, and the American Public Health Association conferences.
I have also taught Business Law at Babson College and Health Care Ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (now MCPHS).
I was born in California, raised in rural Connecticut, and now live in Watertown, MA. I enjoy in-line skating, mentoring, and exploring with my husband and our four lively rescued dogs – Cora, Hali, Anni, and Reese.