Georgia State University College of Law has the best health law program in the country, according to the new 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The program also earned an A+ rating from The National Jurist preLaw Magazine again this year.
Dean LaVonda Reed attributes the school’s exceptional performance in health law to the breadth and depth of its health law faculty, who address the most important issues across the entire field of health law in their research and teaching.
Erin Fuse Brown, Catherine C. Henson Professor of Law and director of the Center for Law, Health & Society, said, “We’re thrilled that the College of Law earned the No. 1 health law ranking for the first time. Since the center was founded in 2004, we have been dedicated to addressing today’s health law challenges through high quality educational programs, research and community engagement.”
The center offers a J.D. health law certificate, dual degree programs with public health and health administration and a LL.M. concentration for students interested in health law. Also through the center is the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic. The clinic allows students to collaborate with medical and other graduate students, serving the community and gaining legal experience while working in an interdisciplinary context and addressing the social determinants of health.
Also this year, Bobby Lee Cook Professor of Law Paul Lombardo was named the recipient of the prestigious Jay Healey Teaching Award presented by the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics. The award is, in essence, a lifetime achievement award, in recognition of scholarship, passion for teaching health law, mentoring of students and other faculty, and being an inspiration to colleagues and students. Founding center director and professor emerita Charity Scott received the award in 2006.
“I first heard about the health law professors award some three decades ago when my mentor at the University of Virginia, Walter Wadlington, received it,” Lombardo said. “I am flattered to be able to follow him and so many other great teachers who have been honored this way.”
The College of Law has ranked in the top 10 health law programs in the country consistently for the past 15 years.