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Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law

2012-2013 Health Law Society

The Health Law Society (HLS) provides an opportunity for students interested in health law to convene and engage in activities promoting their common interests.  The HLS organizes seminars on topics specific to health law, presents panel discussions on effective employment strategies, provides networking opportunities with local practitioners and co-sponsors the annual Health Law Speaker Event with the Hall Center for Law and Health.  For additional information, please visit the following links:

• HLS Membership Form

2012-2013 HLS Executive Board

Jennifer Rosser (President): Jennifer graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2010 with a B.S. in Paralegal Studies. While in college, she served as a Student Judicial Services Board Member, captain of her sorority's Relay for Life team, completed Michigan's ADR certification as a small claims mediator, and enjoyed working for her Eastern Michigan University's Student Legal Services. Now in her 3L year at Robert H. McKinney, she is taking classes for the health law concentration and her dual degree Master in Public Health program. When not doing school work or HLS duties, Jennifer works as a law clerk and serves on the Executive  Board/ volunteers for the Student Outreach Clinic on the weekends. 

Stephen Abanise (Vice President): Stephen Abanise holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California, and BA in Political Science with a concentration in Public Law from California State University, Long Beach respectively. In addition to his legal studies and duties as a Medical Social Worker at Wishard Health Services, Mr. Abanise was appointed as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University School of Social Work. Mr. Abanise serves as a field instructor to graduate students placed at Wishard Health Services. In the summer of 2009, Mr. Abanise was invited to serve as a congressional intern concentrated on health related research and policy for the Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, who sits on the House Appropriations and Standards of Official Conduct committees; serving as the Congresswomen of the 34th Congressional District in Los Angeles, California.

Lela McCoy (Secretary): Lela McCoy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies; and a Philosophy & Women's Studies minor. Currently Lela is pursuing a law school concentration in Health Law. Lela is involved in the Feminist Law Society (President), Health Law Society (Secretary), Democratic Law Society (Member).

Jessica Williams (Treasurer): Jessica's college education began at Lincoln Trail College in 1999, where she earned an Associate in Science and an Associate in Arts and Science in 2001. After graduation, she transferred credits to Indiana State University, where she was accepted into the Clinical Laboratory Science Program. It took two years to complete her classes for the program; after which time she performed a year-long clinical rotation at Good Samaritan Hospital School of Medical Technology in Vincennes, Indiana. Jessica graduated ISU with a Bachelors of Science in May 2004 and sat for the Board of Registry to obtain national certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathology in August 2004.
She then began her career at the Indiana Blood Center Reference Lab in August 2004, where she was a reference lab technologist. Jessica published her first abstract, Clinical and Serological Management of a Bombay Pregnancy, with the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) in September 2006. She then broadened her work repertoire by leaving the reference lab to work at a very active, full service blood bank at St. Vincent Hospital, 86th Street, Indianapolis in 2007. At the St. Vincent Health Symposium in 2009, she was a poster presenter for Transient Antibodies in a Post-Transplant Setting.
In 2010, Jessica left St. Vincent's to start law school and has been a member of the Health Law Society from 2010 to present.  Last year, she held the position of SBA representative for the executive board.

Elizabeth Thatcher (SBA Representative): Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from Indiana State University with a Bachelors of Science in nursing. While in nursing school, Elizabeth served as the secretary of the Student Nurses’ Association and attended the national conference in Orlando, Florida. Elizabeth currently works as a Registered Nurse. While in law school, Elizabeth interned with Indiana Legal Services-Riley Hospital. Elizabeth currently serves as the Financial Chair on the National Professional Responsibility Moot Court Board. She is also working toward a Concentration in Health Law.

Samita Pendse (Events and Philanthropy Chair): Samita Pendise serves as the Events and Philanthropy Chair for the Health Law Society. Samita received her undergraduate degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. Samita also chairs the Student Outreach Clinic at the law school.

Mark Harbin (Social Media Chair): Mark is thrilled to become the newest addition to the Health Law Society executive board as the social media chair.  Mark is a proud native of Indianapolis who graduated from Pike High School in 2006 where he, among other endeavors, lettered in golf and tennis.  The route to law school led him through Cincinnati where he achieved dual degrees in Spanish and History at Xavier University in 2010.  Mark had the opportunity to spend his junior year studying in Spain and become an English instructor with the Cincinnati Public Library before graduation.  In law school, Mark has taken special interest in health law, immigration, intellectual property, and ERISA.  Outside of school, Mark enjoys staying fit, socializing, traveling, and devouring a good meal.  He has his sights set on graduation this coming May and enjoying every part of his best year yet, 3L!


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