Class of Fellows

Meet the 2024 Class of Fellows

Each year, the Board of Directors approves a slate of esteemed individuals, recommended by the Fellows Coordinating Council, as AHLA Fellows. These long-time members have shown a commitment to the Association through their participation as speakers, authors, mentors, and leaders. They are regarded as one of the top health law professionals in the legal community and all have been actively practicing for 15 or more years.

 

S. Craig Holden

Professional Career

S. Craig Holden is senior counsel at Baker Donelson. He previously was Chair/CEO of the Ober Kaler firm and also served as chair of Baker Donelson’s Health Law Group. He represents clients in all areas of the health care industry, advising clients on Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse issues, Medicare and other third-party reimbursement issues and general compliance matters. He also serves as a mediator in health law disputes through AHLA’s Dispute Resolution Service. Over the course of his career, Craig has represented numerous health care providers in high-profile resolutions of False Claims Act investigations involving allegations of billing fraud, as well as Stark and Anti-kickback violations. He has resolved numerous Stark and Anti-kickback issues through the CMS and OIG self-disclosure protocols. He has also served as the OIG-approved Independent Review Organization under several Corporate Integrity Agreements.

AHLA Achievements

Craig joined AHLA in 1987. He chaired the Program Planning Committee for the Fraud and Compliance Forum and subsequently served on the Board of Directors of AHLA. He was the President from 2020-2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic which presented unprecedented challenges to the Association’s in-person conference business model. He also championed AHLA to be a positive contributor to the dialogue on racial and other inequities in health care and potential solutions. As a Board member, Craig chaired numerous committees including the Governance Committee where he worked to change and strengthen the Association’s governance structure and policies. He also helped craft and support the organization’s initiatives respecting IDEA. Craig is a frequent speaker at AHLA events.

Watch: 2024 Fellows Class Conversation with AHLA CEO David Cade and S. Craig Holden

  

Joanne R. Lax

Professional Career

Joanne R. Lax is a retired member of the law firm Dykema Gossett PLLC where she represented health systems, hospitals, prepaid in-patient health plans, nursing homes, homes for the aged, assisted living facilities, hospices and home health agencies regarding state and federal regulatory compliance. She also devoted time to the legal aspects of assisted reproductive technology, on behalf of both the medical providers of that technology and the individuals using it to become parents.  Joanne served as the Chair of her State Bar's Health Care Law Section. In addition, she served on the Legal Committee of LeadingAge, a trade association for non-profit long-term care facilities, as well as chairing the State Bar of Michigan’s Health Law Section. 

As an attorney who is visually impaired, Joanne has been a trailblazer in championing inclusion. She has been a steadfast advocate for underserved populations throughout her legal career, representing diverse individuals in need of end-of-life care, those with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ couples seeking to become parents. Her commitment to equity and eliminating disparities is evident in her representation and advocacy for those seeking access to equal opportunities and resources. Joanne was also the recipient of several honors during her practice years, including Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer.

AHLA Achievements

Joanne joined AHLA in 2001. She served as Chair of the PALS Practice Group and served on the Board of Directors of AHLA from 2016-2022. She demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) throughout her extensive service to the Association. She served as Chair of the Membership-IDEA Committee from 2020-2022, playing a pivotal role in reimagining AHLA's Awards and Recognition Program to enhance openness and inclusivity. Under her leadership, AHLA collaborated with specialty bar associations, fostering unity and representation within the legal community. Joanne is the recipient of AHLA's first IDEA Champion Award.

Watch: 2024 Fellows Class Conversation with AHLA CEO David Cade and Joanne R. Lax

 

Robert A. Pelaia

Professional Career

Robert A. Pelaia is Deputy General Counsel at the University of South Florida after 18 years with the Office of the General Counsel at the University of Florida where he served as the Senior University Counsel for Health Affairs. He provides a wide range of legal support services for USF Health. Robert is certified as a Health Care Law Specialist by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He also is certified as a Professional Coder and a Professional Compliance Officer by the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Robert began his legal career with two large Washington, D.C. law firms where he represented health care providers on an array of health regulatory matters arising under Medicare, Medicaid and other third-party payment programs. In addition, he provided legal counseling in the areas of federal and state fraud and abuse matters, including issues of anti-kickback, self-referral and false claims. His areas of practice include Compliance, Conflicts of Interest, Contracts, Corporate Matters, Ethics, Health-HIPAA, Health Law, Liability Issues, Medical Residency, Open Meetings Law, Public Records, Research Matters, Student Records (FERPA), Subpoenas.

AHLA Achievements

Robert joined AHLA in 1995. He served on the Association’s Quality Council for three years and then served as a member of the Fundamentals of Health Law program planning committee from 2012-2016 before becoming the co-chair in 2016-2017. He has authored several editions of the AHLA publication titled What is a Compliance Program and spoken frequently at the Association’s in-person programs. 

Watch: 2024 Fellows Class Conversation with AHLA CEO David Cade and Robert A. Pelaia

 

Lawrence W. Vernaglia

Professional Career

Lawrence W. Vernaglia is an equity partner at his firm, Foley & Lardner and has three decades of experience representing hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and a variety of other health care providers. His practice involves regulatory and transactional matters, including Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement compliance advice and appeals; mergers, acquisitions, and financings; state regulatory issues, fraud and abuse/Stark law analyses; managed care contracting; and general corporate and business planning in health care. Larry is also the department chair for the firm’s Industry Teams Department, responsible for overall strategy and leadership across all industry teams. Prior to that, he served for eight years as chair of the firm’s Health Care Industry Team. Larry is a board member of the firm’s Federal PAC and is a member of its Partner Selection Committee. Larry serves as outside policy counsel for the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association and runs strategic planning programs for senior management and governing boards. A lecturer at Boston University’s School of Law and a frequent contributor to national health care conferences and publications, Larry is committed to encouraging the next generation of health care lawyers. He is a member of the bars of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York. 

AHLA Achievements

Larry joined AHLA in 1992. He served as a member of the Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Issues program planning committee from 2013-2018 and is a frequent educator and speaker at AHLA’s in-person programs. Larry has also been a contributor to the Association’s publications and is a member of the Dispute Resolution Service.

Watch: 2024 Fellows Class Conversation with AHLA CEO David Cade and Lawrence W. Vernaglia
 

Meet the Class of 2023 Fellows

Meet the Class of 2022 Fellows

Listen to CEO David Cade speak with the 2020 and 2021 Fellows classes.