American Health Law Association Names Julia Sun Inaugural Student Writing Competition Winner

The American Health Law Association is pleased to announce Julia Sun, a second-year law student at the University of Illinois College of Law, as the recipient of its inaugural Student Writing Competition Award. This new recognition program celebrates emerging talent and fresh perspectives in health law scholarship.

The Student Writing Competition represents AHLA's commitment to fostering excellence in health law education and supporting the next generation of health care legal professionals. The award includes a $500 prize and featured publication of the winning paper on AHLA's digital platforms.

"Julia's work exemplifies the innovative thinking and rigorous analysis we aim to cultivate within the health law community," says Asha B. Scielzo, AHLA President. "Her unique background in human biology and regulatory affairs brings valuable interdisciplinary insights to complex health care legal challenges."

Sun brings distinctive expertise to health law through her previous experience in pharmaceutical and medical device industry regulatory matters. Her winning paper was selected through a blind review process by a distinguished panel of AHLA member judges, who evaluated submissions based on their analysis of timely health law, policy, and compliance issues.

A graduate of UC San Diego with a bachelor's degree in human biology, Sun's research interests focus on the intersection of law, science, and innovation, particularly in navigating complex regulatory frameworks within the health care sector. She is currently pursuing her J.D. at the University of Illinois College of Law, Class of 2026.

The competition, which drew submissions from ABA-accredited law schools nationwide, required professor nominations and evaluated papers based on their examination of current health law issues, analytical depth, and balanced presentation of legal and policy considerations.

AHLA will feature Sun's winning paper on its website and promote her scholarship through its social media channels, providing visibility to her work among the Association's 12,000 members representing the entire spectrum of the health care industry.

For more information about the AHLA Student Writing Competition and future opportunities, please contact [email protected].