AHLA Invites Stakeholders to Further Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Efforts

Washington, D.C. – AHLA is making great strides to advance IDEA principles among members and staff by establishing programs, resources, and events that support diverse groups. The Association invites all members and stakeholders in the legal community to participate in initiatives that promote IDEA during the 2023 In-House Counsel Program and Annual Meeting. 

“AHLA is guided by our mission to deliver authoritative educational content and serve as a professional home for all who engage with health law,” said Greg Demske, Chair of the AHLA Membership-IDEA Committee and Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP. “Ensuring that our commitment to IDEA is demonstrated through our activities, programmatic offerings, and membership benefits is vital.”  

Several IDEA initiatives we are undertaking include the following:   

Taking Pride in our Diversity: AHLA will be holding a Welcome Reception for attendees and their guests at the Association’s Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 25th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm Pacific. The event is being hosted by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), ​and the South Asian Bar Association (SABA), and the National Bar Association (NBA). All meeting attendees and special guests are invited to join in the celebration, connect with friends and colleagues, and learn more about NAPABA, HNBA, SABA, and NBA and the ways in which they support diversity and practice inclusion.  

Support Pride Month: In celebration of Pride month and Pride festivities occurring in downtown San Francisco during the In-House Counsel Program and Annual Meeting, AHLA will have rainbow pride pins available at both programs for attendees to wear in support of LGBTQIA+ colleagues and the community. AHLA encourages members to wear their pins at both conferences and around San Francisco to showcase AHLA’s commitment to represent and defend diverse communities.  

“As an Association, AHLA strives to foster environments where all individuals can feel safe, engaged, and included,” said Thomas N. Shorter, AHLA President. “We are pleased to implement these initiatives, as we value the importance of inclusion for our diverse community.”  

Supporting Organizations: Associations that share an interest in legal education are invited to become a supporting organization for AHLA’s In-House Counsel Program and Annual Meeting. Members from the supporting organizations receive an exclusive discounted registration rate for the programs. The Supporting Organizations are recognized on AHLA’s website, program signage, the conference app, AHLA’s social media channels, and the Health Law Connections membership magazine.  

If your organization is interested in becoming a supporting organization of AHLA's Annual Meeting, please contact Valerie Eshleman.  

Donors Investing in IDEA: Individual and corporate donors are creating a diverse community of health law professionals committed to making a difference in the lives of those we serve. Their generosity provides resources for today and ensures we continue to empower the next generation of health law professionals to lead and innovate in this ever-changing industry.  

“We are deeply grateful for all our donors have done and continue to do to support a diverse health law community working to advance health care. Their donation is a vote of confidence in our educational mission and ensures the next generation of health law professionals have access to education, tools, and resources that enable them to engage with peers, learn from industry experts, and be involved in the dialogue about the evolving health care industry,” said Robert D. Taflinger, Director of Development of AHLA.   

Contact Robert Taflinger if you are interested in learning more about making a tax-deductible charitable donation in support of AHLA’s IDEA initiatives. 

“AHLA seeks to advance and promote diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible participation within the Association," said David S. Cade,” Chief Executive Officer of AHLA. "Bringing the health law community together as supporting organizations of our conference aligns with our values, and we are appreciative of the support and participation we have received from NAPABA, HNBA, SABA, and the NBA." 

AHLA strongly encourages and embraces meaningful participation of diverse individuals as it leads health law to excellence through education, information, and dialogue. Learn more about AHLA’s Commitment to IDEA here.