What year did you graduate from law school and which law school?
Michigan State University, 2004. I had a less conventional path to law school, having practiced as a registered nurse for many years before taking the leap into the law. I wasn’t so sure about the fit, so I spent the mornings working in the MSU cardiology clinic and then hopped the bus to the law school in the afternoon. I remember being so tired I actually fell asleep at the bus stop!
Did you come to MCPS directly from law school? If not, where did you go first and what did you do there?
I clerked for MCPS as a summer associate in 2004 and then clerked for one year for Judge David McKeague on the Federal Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. I joined MCPS in 2006 after completing my clerkship.
Describe a challenging/exciting/significant experience that you had while at MCPS.
Probably one of the most formative and memorable matters that I worked on was a case for a client of Joe Fazio’s. The client was a health care provider that was debarred from the Medicaid program and found itself in violation of the debarment. Michael Gordner and I worked through the Office of the Inspector General’s self-disclosure process for nearly a year to get resolution. There were multiple downstream entities impacted by this issue and it was very complex. It was quite a project in retrospect.
What is your fondest memory of your time at MCPS?
So many fond memories! Mike McGee teaching me how to buy a fire truck as a brand-new baby bond lawyer. Don Keim sending me to the Upper Peninsula to Ski Brule to attend a municipal law conference. Instead of a golf outing, we went skeet shooting, which I thought was a blast! Don taught me that in the UP, nothing gets done during deer hunting season, so you better get your sewer bonds done before November. He was right! Working with Soni Mithani on a noncompete case involving cardiology providers, and hearing about her love of bridge and good Scotch. Roz Parmenter educating me about the county health plans and how they serve as a safety net for those who need care. Tom O’Brien and David French trusting me to work on some of their litigation matters; I was pretty green!
If you could have dinner with one person you know from your Miller Canfield days, who would that be and why?
Mary Wassel - because she rocks!
When did you leave Miller Canfield and where did you go?
My heart belongs in health care. In 2010, I accepted a position at Hall Render, a national health law firm. I was recruited from Hall Render to the University of Michigan Health System and then in 2013, accepted a position at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. In 2017, I was promoted to General Counsel of Spectrum Health Medical Group. In 2018, I earned my MBA from Grand Valley State University and in 2020, I was promoted to Senior Vice President – General Counsel for all Spectrum Health entities.
Where do you work now?
Spectrum Health is the largest health system in West Michigan, comprised of 14 hospitals, over 150 ambulatory sites and 31,000 employees. It is a fully integrated Health System, with a payor affiliate, Priority Health. Health system revenues exceed $8 billion.
How would you describe your work day?
Serving as General Counsel for a large health system during a pandemic has been an incredible experience, almost indescribable. When COVID hit Michigan in March 2020, health care was impacted in unimaginable ways. While we have emergency protocols in place for mass disasters, they are really designed to address a singular traumatic event, like a weather disaster, terrorist attack or other mass-casualty event. Our country and our state were ill-equipped to handle a pandemic. The lack of personal protective equipment, ventilators, necessary medications and staff were immediate challenges. In addition, I don’t think anyone could have predicted the politicization of the pandemic and how impactful that was on the delivery of health care. For those of us focused on trying to take care of patients, the political distraction was deeply troubling. However, there have been some really great things that have come from the COVID experience. The general counsel from health systems around the state and country pulled together to share strategies and resources, and have worked through advocacy groups like the Michigan Hospital Association and American Hospital Association to influence meaningful revisions to the myriad executive orders, administrative guidance and legislation. In addition, medicine has accelerated the development of telemedicine and robotic technologies to care for patients in a remote way.
As for the day-to-day work environment, Mark is the quiet, contemplative part of this couple. I am noisy and social and all over the place. It was really interesting when the “stay home, stay safe” order went into place, because all of a sudden, I was home all day – in Mark’s quiet space. He is too kind to say it, but I’m sure he is ready for my office to open up again!
What is the most interesting/challenging part of your job?
The greatest part of my job right now is the team I am privileged to lead. I have 20 of the most amazing colleagues who are so dedicated, smart and really living Spectrum’s values of compassion, courage, curiosity and collaboration. I cannot imagine a better group of people.
What do you miss most about your routine at MCPS that you don’t experience at your current job? Or, alternatively, how is your life/workday/routine different from your time at MCPS?
I miss being able to do really detailed legal research. Some of my in-house colleagues have described being in-house as “fast food law” because you have to make calls quickly and move on. There are a million issues every day. There are days when I would just love to close the door and get lost in the sub-regulatory guidance and the commentary in the federal register – but I just don’t have the luxury of time to do that.
Would you mind telling us about your personal life (spouse, children, travels, hobbies, etc.)?
The great thing about our equine passion is that it is so incredibly different than what we do every day. When I am riding a horse, I can think of nothing else except for my connection with that horse. Mark has really engaged in the breeding aspect of the business, researching the bloodlines extensively, communicating with folks in the Netherlands and in this country. We have a network of friends that share our passion for the Friesian horse. There are ups and downs – we nearly lost our best mare to colic and another mare aborted her foal in the same year. Our prize stallion nearly lost his eye and we have a mare recovering from pneumonia right now. But the rewards outweigh the struggles and it is a fabulous endeavor.
Please describe anything else about your life and/or career/and/or your Miller Canfield days that has not been captured by these questions and that you think folks might find interesting.
I have such respect for the attorneys at MCPS. The quality of the lawyering is exceptional, and I am always so proud to list my years at the firm on my CV.
