The Dr. Sadie T.M. Alexander Conference is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Alexander, a true American pioneer. Dr. Alexander not only shattered glass ceilings for women and minorities but also empowered those after her. In the spirit of Dr. Alexander, the annual conference continues her legacy by engaging with pertinent legal issues in hopes of getting closer to solutions, providing professional development opportunities for students, and giving back to the Philadelphia community.
This year's conference will explore the intersection of race and health law and policy. Health expenditures make up nearly 20 percent of the United States’ GDP. In 2016, our country spent over $3 trillion on healthcare. Despite the abundance in spending, Black Americans remain disproportionately uninsured compared to other racial groups and face many barriers to accessing adequate care. We welcome the broader community to engage in the robust conversation of the legal healthcare issues that impact the black community including issues concerning reproductive rights, mental health, law enforcement practices, patient protection, and healthcare reform efforts.
The day portion of the conference is scheduled for Saturday, February 09, 2019, in Penn Law's Silverman Hall. Attire is business professional for the day portion of the conference. This day portion of the conference has been approved for 2.0 substantive CLE credits for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should bring separate payment in the amount of $80.00 ($40.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys) cash or check made payable to The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.
Registration begins at 9:45 AM
10:15 AM Opening Remarks - Dean Ruger and Professor Dorothy Roberts
10:30 AM Reproductive Justice Panel: A Discussion on Black Women's Fundamental Health Rights - Professor Michele B. Goodwin (Chancellor’s Professor at the University of California, Irvine), Professor Kimberly Mutcherson (Co-Dean and Professor of Law at Rutgers Law), Dr. Monica McLemore (Assistant Professor at University of California San Francisco School of Nursing), and Dr. Michael Simoni (Resident OB/GYN at Yale University) will serve on the panel.
12:00 PM Lunch Keynote with Professor Michele B. Goodwin - A hot buffet will be provided during the day portion of the conference.
1:30 PM Healthcare Inequality Panel: A Discussion on Access to Care and Medicaid Expansion - Professor Brietta R. Clark (Associate Dean for Faculty, Professor of Law and J. Rex Dibble Fellow at Loyola Law School), Professor Ruqaiijah Yearby (Professor at Saint Louis Law School), Professor Sharrelle Barber (Assitant Research Professor at Drexel School of Public Health), and Dr. Michael Simoni (Resident OB/GYN at Yale University) will serve on the panel.
3:00 PM Career Fair: Esteemed conference sponsors will meet with students:
- Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Baker & Botts L.L.P.
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
- Covington & Burling LLP
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
- Davis Polk & Wardwell
- Duane Morris LLP
- Fenwick & West
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
- Greenberg Traurig, LLP
- Hogan Lovells US LLP
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- Latham & Watkins LLP
- Mayer Brown LLP
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
- Morrison & Foerster LLP
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
- Ropes & Gray LLP
- Shearman & Sterling LLP
- Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
- Steptoe & Johnson LLP
- Venable LLP
- Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati
The evening portion of the conference will be held at the National Constitution Center in Downtown Philadelphia. Attire for the gala is semi-formal to formal.
7:00 PM Evening Gala - Students, faculty, alumni, and sponsors will join together for an evening of celebration. The program includes remarks from Keynote Dayna Matthew, BLSA leadership, and a presentation of awards.
