Law Student Contributors

Pooja Awatramani is a first year law student at Seton Hall University, School of Law. She graduated from Boston College in 2007 with a B.S. in Biology and Philosophy. From 2007-2009, she worked as a Program Associate for the National Institute for Reproductive Health in New York. One of her primary responsibilities while at the National Institute was monitoring health care reform.  Specifically, she evaluated health care reform bills and proposals to determine how each would affect women’s access to health care. She met with Congressional leaders to discuss health reform bills and advise the bills’ sponsors on how to ameliorate gaps in health care coverage for women.

Prior to working for the National Institute, Pooja interned with Raising Women’s Voices, a women’s health care advocacy initiative. She was also involved in assisting Massachusetts residents secure health insurance after the state transitioned to a mandated health care system in 2006.

She may be reached at pooja.awatramani@gmail.com

James Christiano is a first-year law student at Seton Hall Law.  He graduated from Rutgers University in 2002 with a B.A. in psychology and worked, from 2003 to 2008 as a District Adjudications Officer for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within Department of Homeland Security.  During his time with USCIS, James was primarily responsible for adjudicating applications for immigration benefits, including naturalization, lawful permanent resident status, and work authorization.  (DISCLOSURE:  James’ wife is employed as a physician in New Jersey)

He may be reached at christjc@shu.edu

Jordan T. Cohen graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a B.A. in Philosophy as well as Science & Technology Studies. Jordan’s interest in health law-related issues arose after implementing an electronic medical record system for his father’s neurology practice. Jordan continued to explore these interests, culminating in an undergraduate thesis at Cornell which focused on the privacy issues surrounding electronic medical records. In addition to his interest in electronic medical records, Jordan has become interested in the impact that cutting-edge neuroscience will have on the legal system–specificlly its evidentiary role. Jordan is a contributor to Seton Hall’s Health Law Outlook, and his latest article, “Neuroimaging and the Law: Powerful Legal Applications and Important Considerations,” can be found in the latest issue of the Outlook that is located at www.HealthLawForum.com–a blog for students participating in the Health Law Forum.

Tamara R. Coley graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in Biology and a concentration in Africana Studies.  She went on to pursue an MPH at Columbia University concentrating in Sociomedical Sciences – Health Promotion Disease Prevention.  Prior to attending Seton Hall Law School, Tamara was a freelance writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder where she covered the health beat. She later worked for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in community health programming and evaluation positions. Tamara’s health reform interests include Medicaid and improving access to affordable care for the uninsured.

She may be reached via email at tamara.coley@student.shu.edu

Nicole Cornett is a fourth year evening student at Seton Hall Law School and is currently a Senior Program Manager for Novartis Pharmaceuticals in Oncology.  After completing an undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Nicole joined Novartis as an Analytical Chemist and began the Masters of Business Administration program at Seton Hall University.  Upon completion of her MBA in Management she transitioned into Program Management in Oncology and shortly after enrolled in Seton Hall Law School’s evening program, pursuing a J.D. with a concentration in Health Law.  Nicole continues to support a broad spectrum of drug development activities, and has received various corporate awards including a President’s Award in 2010.  She is particularly interested in drug regulatory policy and global healthcare systems.  In additional to her career and education, Nicole places a high priority on personal fitness and enjoys competitive rowing.

She may be reached via email at nicole.cornett@student.shu.edu

Clarissa Gomez is a first year student at Seton Hall University School of Law. She graduated in December 2010 from The College of New Jersey with a B.A. in English and Women and Gender Studies, and a minor in Law, Philosophy and Politics. While an undergraduate, she was an active member of the Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) program. While she is fairly new to the world of health law, she is currently a representative for the SHU Health Law Forum. Being well-traveled and witnessing much of the healthcare disparities throughout the world, she has high interests in international health regarding access to treatment and disease prevention, as well as to those issues regarding womens’ health.

She may be reached via email at clarissa.gomez@student.shu.edu

Jacob V. Hudnut graduated cum laude from Montclair State University with a B.A. in Political Science.  His minor concentration thesis focused on comparative national health care systems. Prior to attending Seton Hall Law, Jacob was Special Assistant to a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.  He previously served on two committees convened by Governor McGreevey and Senator Corzine respectively on New Jersey LGBT issues in state law.  Jacob’s health reform interests include state initiatives in expanding health coverage and health care reform.

He may be reached via email at Hudnutja@shu.edu

Jae W. Joo is a third year student at Seton Hall Law.  He graduated from Rutgers College in 2006 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy.  In 2009, he interned for the Honorable Denise A. Cobham in the Superior Court of New Jersey and volunteered at the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark where he provided immigration services.  Currently, Jae is a summer intern at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Tobacco and Securities Litigation Section, and also a research assistant for the Healthcare Compliance Certification Program at Seton Hall Law.  Jae is particularly interested in the areas of fraud/abuse and cost control.

He may be reached at jaewon.joo@student.shu.edu

Corey Klein is a first year law student. After graduating with a degree in Journalism from Rutgers University in 2005, Corey joined North Jersey Media Group as an editorial clerk for the Record. He then became a staff reporter for the South Bergenite newspaper, a weekly publication with a circulation of 29,000. While at the South Bergenite, Corey reported on topics such as the controversial Xanadu Mall, Giants Stadium and the New Jersey Meadowlands. As a reporter, Corey garnered numerous awards from both the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the New Jersey Press Association. While reporting on the Meadowlands, where public and private efforts have thus far failed to prevent hundreds of acres of trash from seeping into reclaimed wetlands, Corey became interested in environmental law and joined Seton Hall Law School’s evening program. In addition to law and writing, Corey occasionally performs as the lead singer/guitarist in his own rock band at small venues around New York City and northern New Jersey.

He may be reached at kleincorey@gmail.com

Jennifer Jascoll is a third-year evening student at Seton Hall Law School and a Graduate Assistant for the Healthcare Compliance Certification Program.  She received her B.A. in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College and her M.Sc. in Comparative Politics (Empire) from the London School of Economics.  Following graduate school, Jennifer was a paralegal for Drinker Biddle & Reath in Philadelphia.  During law school, she has externed with the City of Newark, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the Public Defender in Union County.  Jennifer currently serves as Secretary on Seton Hall Law School’s Student Bar Association (SBA) Executive Board.  She also has served as President of two student organizations and as a SBA Senator.  Outside of work and school, Jennifer is a film history and theory buff, follows international politics, and runs 5Ks and 10Ks.

She may be reached at jennifer.jascoll@student.shu.edu

Katherine Matos is a 3^rd year student at Seton Hall Law. She is the principle inventor on a patent application in the field of medical imaging, resulting from her research as a student at Stevens Institute of Technology. After graduating with degrees in biomedical engineering and history in 2008, she volunteered with the Irish government in the Health Services Executive. At Seton Hall Law, Katherine has researched federal oversight of nanotechnology with Professor Jordan Paradise and non-profit governance with Professor Melanie DiPietro. She worked as a summer associate at Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto in 2009 and at Robinson & Cole in 2010. Katherine has published work in the Health Law Outlook and now serves as an Editor.

Katherine may be reached at katherine.matos@student.shu.edu.

Neelu Pal is a first year law student at Seton Hall. She is a board certified general surgeon who completed residency training in 2005 at University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark. She went on to complete fellowship training in Bariatric surgery at University Medical Center at Princeton in 2007. She is currently self employed and in the process of starting a private practice in Jersey City. She believes that the law and medicine are based on similar profound ethical principles and is interested in this confluence and the impact that it has on health care delivery. She is especially interested in the areas of patient safety, fraud and abuse and drug and device law.

She can be reached at neelu.pal@student.shu.edu

Regina Ram is a first year student at Seton Hall Law. She graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and minors in Psychology and Anthropology. She completed a Masters in Public Health from Boston University in 2010 with a focus on Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights. As a graduate student, Regina worked as a legislative advocate for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and also supported a SAMHSA funded research program to integrate substance abuse treatment into primary care settings. As an undergraduate, she worked as a healthcare writer and authored emerging technology evidence reports on health devices and procedures.

She may be reached at regina.v.ram@gmail.com

Suzan Y. Sanal is a second year law student at Seton Hall University School of Law. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 2010 from Douglass College at Rutgers University with a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies and History. She is a representative of Seton Hall’s Health Law Forum and is  pursuing a Concentration in Health Law. Her areas of interest include bioethics, patient advocacy, government compliance, and insurance and hospital law. Currently, she is interning at the Community Health Law Project, a New Jersey based nonprofit advocacy and legal services organization, working on issues relating to the Affordable Care Act and grant writing.

She may be reached at suzan.yasemin@gmail.com

Kaitlin Semler is a second year law student at Seton Hall University School of Law concentrating in Health Law.  She graduated in 2003 from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Health Studies and a concentration in Health Systems Administration. While attending Georgetown University, Kaitlin completed internships in the pharmacy department of Washington Hospital Center and in the Risk Management Department of INOVA Health System, both in Washington, D.C.

After graduation, Kaitlin worked as a Medical Education Event Manager at Jespersen & Associates, a medical communications firm located in Boston, Massachusetts. Last summer Kaitlin interned at the Community Health Law project in South Orange, New Jersey.  She is a member of the Seton Hall Health Law Forum and the Secretary of the Haiti Rule of Law Association of Seton Hall Law. She is a contributor to the Seton Hall Health Law Outlook, and her article, New Jersey’s Health Care Reform Law S-1557: What the Law Aims to Do and Who It Will Affect, may be seen in the Outlook’s latest edition.

Kaitlin’s area of interest includes the reform of prescription drug and medical device policy.

She may be reached via email at kaitlin.semler@student.shu.edu