December 2, 2013
Heather M. Butts '97 received a BA from Princeton University, an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health, and an MA in Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. As a member of the adjunct faculty at St. John’s Law, she currently teaches courses in Health Law and in Bioethics, covering current trends in healthcare law, public health law, end of life, and social justice, among other topics.
Professor Butts recently moderated a panel on “ Career Paths in Healthcare Law” at the Law School. Organized by Amy Amell ’14, the program offered an engaging dialogue on opportunities open to law students in this dynamic practice area. The panelists shared the evolution of their careers in the field, and students had an opportunity to ask questions and to network with the practitioners.
After the event, Law School Director of Communications Lori Herz sat down with Professor Butts to talk about her work as a teacher and mentor to St. John’s Law students interested in exploring Healthcare Law and associated issues at the forefront of public policy and national debate.
LH: By many reports the healthcare industry is booming. Do you believe that career opportunities in Healthcare Law are tracking this growth curve?
HMB: Yes, I do. Whenever there is new sweeping legislation, you need attorneys to interpret it, to advise clients on the law’s ramifications, and to guide them on how they should proceed given the new legal landscape. As we’ve seen with the Affordable Care Act, there can be unique issues that come up with the roll out of new legislation and attorneys can often be at the forefront of this. The Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of the insurance exchanges are two examples of where attorneys will be instrumental in helping clients. States are dealing with both very differently and clients such as hospitals, faculty group practices, and individuals will need assistance in navigating this new terrain. The Affordable Care Act in particular will take several more years for complete enactment, so there are many Healthcare Law career opportunities in government —particularly at the federal level— as well as at consulting firms, non-profits, law firms, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies. Every sector of the healthcare field will be impacted and attorneys will be pivotal in ensuring that clients are in compliance with the law.
LH: The Affordable Care Act and the public debate surrounding it have featured prominently in the media for some time now. Have you covered the law in your classes and did it come up during the panel program?
HMB: I cover the Affordable Care Act extensively in both of my classes at St John’s. I review the entire Supreme Court case with my students, play portions of the Supreme Court oral arguments, and do a presentation entitled “10 Things to Know about the Affordable Care Act.” We were very fortunate to have the support of the Dean’s Office, the Career Development Office, and students in organizing our panel program. Several of the panelists are experts on the Affordable Care Act and its implications for the Healthcare Law profession. The audience had several questions regarding the Act, including career opportunities for attorneys, the importance of Accountable Care Organizations, Demonstration Projects under the ACA, and the focus on mental health issues under the law. The panelists addressed these questions and discussed the impact of the law as it relates secondarily to their practices.
LH: Do you see any symmetry between a career path in Healthcare Law and St. John’s Vincentian mission of helping the underserved in our communities.
HMB: St. John’s Vincentian mission, inspired by St. Vincent de Paul’s devotion to service, revolves around education for all, focusing on those lacking economic and social advantages. There is a social justice component to this mission that is squarely in line with much of what Healthcare Law stands for. Healthcare Law is a wonderfully broad practice area. If we look at violence as a healthcare issue, education as a healthcare issue, natural disasters as a healthcare issue, and poverty as a healthcare issue, then one can see how Healthcare Law can have a far-reaching, positive impact on the lives of others. I decided on a career in Healthcare Law because I knew I would be able to meld my dedication to giving back and assisting others with my career goals. I’ve been able to share this perspective in the classroom and I find that our law students are very receptive and completely devoted to this vision. I’m proud to be a professor of Healthcare Law and look forward to seeing St. John’s Law students gravitate towards this rewarding field.