Experts to examine how Supreme Court Affirmative Action decision impacts legal and medical education at upcoming University of Houston event

April 03, 2024 — National leaders in healthcare, the legal profession and academia will delve into the aftermath and ramifications of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in SFFA v. Harvard at an upcoming conference titled "Justice and Health for All: The Future of Affirmative Action in Legal and Medical Education" taking place on Friday, April 12, 2024.

“In SFFA v. Harvard, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the race-conscious admission policies of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution,” said UH Law Center Dean Leonard Baynes. “Given this shift and its impact on admissions practices, the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and the University of Houston Law Center decided to co-sponsor this conference in order to shed light, not heat on this very important topic.”

“The Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action have reshaped the landscape at medical schools across the country,” said Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine. “It is important to understand the impacts, so our students continue receiving the best health care education and our clinicians continue providing quality health care services to the community.”

The topics discussed at the conference will be wide-ranging. The panels and the full conference schedule can be viewed here.  

Speakers and panelists scheduled to present at the conference are:

• Leonard M. Baynes, J.D., Dean, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Chair, and Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center
• Stephen J. Spann, M.D., Founding Dean, Vice-President for Medical Affairs and Humana Endowed Dean’s Chair in Medicine, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston
• David S. Buck, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Dean for Community Health, Clinical Professor, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston
• Jada Bussey-Jones, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of General Medicine, the Vice Chair for DEI in the Department of Medicine, and Associate Dean for Professional Development, Emory University School of Medicine
• Jane E. Hamilton, Ph.D., M.P.H., LCSW., Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Co-Director, Center for Behavioral Health Equity and Outcomes Research, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
• Angela M. Heads, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychology, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
• Marc Robinson, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
• Leah Fowler, J.D., M.P.H., Research Director, Health Law & Policy Institute and Research Assistant Professor, University of Houston Law Center
• Sandra Guerra Thompson, J.D., Newell H. Blakely Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center
• Gina S. Warren, J.D., Professor of Law, A.L. O’Quinn Chair in Environmental Studies and Co-Director of Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Center, University of Houston Law Center
• Verna Williams, J.D., CEO, Equal Justice Works and former Dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law
• Kellen Zale, J.D., Associate Professor of Law and George Butler Research Professor, University of Houston Law Center
• Jessica Mantel, J.D., MPP, Co-Director, Health Law & Policy Institute, Professor of Law and George Butler Research Professor, University of Houston Law Center
• Seth J. Chandler, J.D., Law Foundation Professor of Law, University of Houston Law Center
• Mitchell Crusto, J.D., Henry F. Bonura, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
• Cory R. Liu, J.D., Attorney, Butler Snow LLP
• Joy Milligan, J.D., Ph.D., Martha Lubin Karsh and Bruce A. Karsh Bicentennial Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
• Kenya Steele, M.D., Assistant Dean of Outreach and Student Pathways and Clinical Professor, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston
• Meredith J. Duncan, J.D., Alumnae College Professor of Law and Assistant Dean for Opportunities and Community Engagement, University of Houston Law Center
• Geoffrey H. Young, Ph.D., Senior Director, Transforming the Health Care Workforce, Association of American Medical Colleges
• Turab Abbas, J.D. Candidate, University of Houston Law Center
• Brittanie Cockrell, M.D. Candidate, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, University of Houston
• Susan L. Krinsky, M.P.H., J.D., Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief of Staff, Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)
• Daniel Mateo, J.D., National President, Hispanic National Bar Association, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
• Leon McDougle, M.D., Professor of Family Medicine, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, The Ohio State University College of Medicine; Chief Diversity Officer, The OSU Wexner Medical Center
• Charles P. Mouton, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., Executive Vice President, Provost, and Executive Dean, John Sealy School of Medicine; Professor, Family Medicine, Thomas N. and Gleaves T. James Distinguished Chair, The University of Texas Medical Branch
• Mary Smith, J.D., President, American Bar Association; Vice Chair, VENG Group; Chair and Founder, Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation

The lecture will be in-person and virtual on Friday, April 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, 5055 Medical Circle, Room 2100 Houston, Texas 77204.

Attending healthcare and legal professionals will earn 6 hours of Texas MCLE credit or 6.25 CME credits, respectively.

Click here to register for the lecture.

Click here to learn more about the event.

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University of Houston Law Center media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, cacriado@central.uh.edu; Bryan Luhn, UH Interim Director of Media Relations, 713-743-0954, jbluhn@uh.edu; Bonnie Buffaloe, Communications Manager, 713-743-9137, blbuffaloe@uh.edu.
About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top-tier law school located in the nation’s 4th largest city. UHLC’s Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 12 centers and institutes that fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

About the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

The Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine is the City of Houston’s first new medical school in more than 50 years. The UH Board of Regents voted to establish it in 2017 and the Texas Legislature authorized the plan in 2019. The inaugural class of 30 students started in 2020. The Tilman J. Fertitta College of Medicine is built on an important social mission – to improve the overall health and health care of greater Houston, the state of Texas and beyond. It focuses on educating a diverse group of physicians with a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and a commitment to provide high quality, affordable health care to patients to underserved communities. 

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.

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