02 Mar Faculty Spotlight: The Intersection of Law and Public Health with Alicia Macklin, JD, MPH
As the Spring Quarter kicks off and our second-year Executive MPH (EMPH) students prepare for their final stretch toward graduation, we are thrilled to spotlight Alicia Macklin, JD, MPH, a distinguished alumna and the EMPH instructor for HPM 437: Legal Environment of Health Services Management, taught in the second year of the EMPH program.
In this class, Macklin will guide our graduating cohort through the legal aspects of health services management, including governance, agency, informed consent, and medical malpractice. A highlight of the course is the mock trial, an experiential learning concept developed by EMPH Professor Tony Schiff, JD, MPH. Through this innovative approach, students step out of the classroom and into the courtroom to apply legal theory to real-world healthcare disputes.
Alicia’s journey with the EMPH program began in 2014. Already an accomplished attorney, she returned to the classroom not for a new title, but for a new lens.
“I pursued my MPH so I could see different perspectives of the healthcare field from what I experienced as an attorney,” Macklin says. “Legal training allows you to evaluate laws and understand disputes; public health, however, encourages you to question prevention, equity, and population effect.”
This dual expertise has made her a powerhouse in the field. Today, she is a partner at Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, where she advises hospitals and health systems on intricate regulatory issues. Founded in 1987, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman is the largest law firm in the country dedicated exclusively to representing health care clients. As the co-chair of her firm’s Behavioral Health Practice Group and Health Equity Task Force, Alicia is at the forefront of navigating the evolving laws that govern access to care.
In HPM 437, Alicia brings her professional experience directly to our students. By integrating law, policy, and health outcomes, she prepares future healthcare leaders to build more resilient, equitable systems.
“The program has allowed me to connect law, policy, and health outcomes in a much more integrated manner than before,” she notes. “It has solidified my commitment to collaborate with other disciplines to create healthier systems.”
We are honored to have Alicia Macklin back on campus this spring to share her expertise and inspire our students as they transition from the EMPH program into their next leadership roles.