IU McKinney Welcomes New Health Law Scholar
01/25/2018
Seema Mohapatra, a well-known health law teacher and researcher, will join the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law as a tenured Associate Professor in August, 2018, pending approval by the IU Board of Trustees.
An expert in the areas of health care law, public health law, international family and health law, and bioethics, Professor Mohapatra currently teaches Torts, Health Care Law, Bioethics, and Genetics and the Law at Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.
Her research interests include the intersection of biosciences and the law, international family and health law, health care disparities in the United States, and informed consent. She has authored articles and book chapters on topics such as international surrogacy laws, inequality in healthcare coverage, and has earned media attention from the New York Times, Times of India, Huffington Post and National Public Radio.
“I could not be more excited about having Professor Mohapatra join our faculty,” said Andrew R. Klein, IU McKinney Dean and Paul E. Beam Professor of Law. “She is an outstanding scholar, possesses an upbeat personality, and will be a great role model for our students. I know that she will hit the ground running, and I look forward to introducing her to our state’s health and life sciences community.”
Prior to teaching, Professor Mohapatra practiced health law in Chicago at Sidley & Austin and Foley & Lardner. She earned a J.D. degree from Northwestern University School of Law and has a master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University. She earned a bachelor of arts in Natural Sciences (with a minor in Women's Studies) from Johns Hopkins University.
“Professor Mohapatra is an impressive scholar who is passionate about teaching; we are thrilled she will be joining the McKinney family,” said Nicolas Terry, the Hall Render Professor of Law and Executive Director of the school’s Hall Center for Law and Health.
The William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health was established in 1987 to expand the curriculum and teaching of health law and provide opportunities for IU McKinney students. IU McKinney offers more than 35 health law-related course offerings, a Certificate in Health Law, six joint degree programs in health-related fields, and an LL.M. in Health Law, Policy, and Bioethics. The school also offers a variety of health-law externships, as well as opportunities for in-depth research and writing through the Indiana Health Law Review, and other research and educational opportunities through the Hall Center for Law and Health.
“I look forward to joining the impressive and creative faculty at McKinney and teaching in Indianapolis, a legal hub in the Midwest,” Professor Mohapatra said. “I am particularly excited about the Hall Center of Law and Health and the myriad of health law related courses offered through the Center and certificate program. I am looking forward to helping to expand the programming and student opportunities through the Hall Center of Law and Health.”