Janelle Barnett, ’28, found her summer internship opportunity right on the Law School’s doorstep at UChicago Medicine. She is spending the summer there as a Carl A. Erikson Healthcare Administration Fellow. The role has given her valuable insights into regulatory compliance in US healthcare, something she’s interested in exploring as a career. 

How did you connect with this summer opportunity? 

I found it through UChicago’s Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP). 

How does your experience connect with what you currently envision doing with your law degree? 

In the future, I hope to practice healthcare regulatory compliance. This summer I’ve had the chance to research various state and federal rules and statutes that UChicago Medicine must comply with throughout their day-to-day operations. 

Please describe a “typical” day at work. 

No day is exactly the same. Some days I go to several meetings where I get to shadow attorneys and other UChicago Medicine staff, others are spent researching various laws or looking through different UChicago Medicine policies. 

What is something you learned or experienced that was surprising or particularly compelling during this summer position? 

The US’s healthcare landscape is incredibly complex, so it’s so rewarding when the work you do helps people receive the care they need. UChicago hospital is a Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH), meaning that a significant proportion of its patients are low-income, and there are several hospital-run efforts to promote health equity on the South Side. I’ve really enjoyed working in a place that’s so committed to helping marginalized members of the community. 

What are a couple of your key takeaways from the experience so far? 

Regulatory compliance can be difficult, especially when laws are constantly in flux and/or are not written in a clear manner. It’s important to pay regular attention to NPRMs (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) as they’re posted to the Federal Register and to take note of any inconsistencies and/or potential points of confusion listed therein. Being aware of these can help an organization construct a comment that will (hopefully) persuade a federal agency to heed its request(s).  

What advice would you offer another law student contemplating working in a similar position next summer? 

Make sure to take advantage of as many shadowing opportunities as possible! You definitely learn a lot by doing legal research on your own, but seeing how in-house attorneys work with other employees in their organization is something you learn only from direct experience. 

How are you spending your free time this summer? 

I’ve been spending a lot of time playing Ace Attorney. It’s super fun, albeit incredibly absurd. During one of the trials, you have to cross-examine a parrot! 

What are you most looking forward to in returning to UChicago Law this fall? 

We haven’t yet registered for classes, but I’m hoping to take Health Law, Admin Law, and Food Law this year. I’m excited to get to tackle these topics from a classroom-perspective and compare what I learn there to what I have experienced this summer. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

If you’re even remotely interested in health law, you should apply to GPHAP! IIt’s a great way to connect with other graduate/professional students at UChicago.