Central Texas Healthcare Diversity Summit

As a child living and working alongside those I loved in the migrant fields of Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington, I never conceived a place like Seton Family of Hospitals existed. My world was my parents, my school and the asparagus, strawberry, raspberry blueberry, orange and grapefruit orchards. My family and I were so poor and removed from mainstream society – including hospitals – no one seemed to know we existed, let alone discriminated against us. A trip to the hospital under anything but dire circumstances would have been unthinkable. Fast forward to a day in August 1986, at a gathering of St. Edward’s University freshman, where I heard the university president, a woman from Maine, speak the truth to me. “Each of you is on a life journey that will challenge your values,” Pat Hayes said. “You will drop some values, add some, and strengthen others.” For me, family was the foremost value I strengthened because of our shared experiences forged a lasting relationship. Coincidentally, Pat would become chief operating officer of Seton Family of Hospitals. Later, I would join the same family to ensure Seton is able to deliver culturally competent care and be a strong reflection of the communities we serve. Growing up, one of my favorite verses called on me to “do good, act justly, love mercy and walk humbly on this earth.” The work done by Seton Family of Hospitals associates, grounded in the vision of Vincent de Paul, Louis de Marillac and Elizabeth Seton, puts these words in action. At Seton, we believe in our mission to provide health care to everyone, with a special concern for the sick and the poor. Seton treats every individual with dignity and respect, equal members of the human race. In finding a place that I could not have imagined in my youth, I have gained hope that each of us in our respective lives and roles will examine what it means to do justice and love mercy with humility. Inclusion and receptivity to other cultures will help us on our journey to ensure every patient is given the best health care in the world.

A member of the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team, Bill focuses his practice on administrative and regulatory defense and litigation within the healthcare industry. He advises both individual healthcare providers and institutional healthcare clients on state and federal licensure and compliance and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on proactive measures that ensure compliance and minimize litigation risk. Bill’s experience comprises all aspects of healthcare professional licensure and practice, long-term care licensure, regulation and enforcement, medical staff issues, credentialing and compliance with rules of state and federal regulatory agencies, and allegations of fraud and abuse matters. Bill has litigated on behalf of his clients in state and federal administrative courts, as well as in numerous Texas district courts. Bill’s work on behalf of clients has included: * Assisting healthcare professionals in obtaining license reinstatement before the Texas Health Professions Licensure Boards after suspension or revocation. * Representing physicians and advanced practice nurses in peer review and credentialing matters with healthcare systems. * Representing long-term care providers before state and federal regulatory agencies in compliance and enforcement matters, including litigating federal appeals. * Serving as first-chair in administrative appeals and cases against federal, state and local government regulatory agencies on behalf of entities and healthcare professionals. * Working with healthcare entities on compliance issues, including audits. Before joining Husch Blackwell, Bill was a partner at Brown McCarroll. Professional Associations and Memberships * American Bar Association, Commission on Law and Aging, 2013; Health Care Section, Long-Term Care Task Force, chair, 2013; Nursing and Allied Professionals Task Force, vice chair, 2013 * American Health Lawyers Association * Austin Bar Association, Health Law Section * State Bar of Texas Awards and Recognitions * Austin Under 40, legal category, 2006 * Texas Diversity Council, Individual DiversityFIRST Award, 2011, 2014 * Texas Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Health Care, 2006 Civic Involvement * American Red Cross of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2010-present * Austin Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2009-present * Austin Symphony, BATS Young Member Group, Board of Directors, 2002-present * Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Board of Directors, 2002-2006; Foundation Board, 2006-present, chair, 2005-2007 * Central Texas High School, Mock Trial Competition, administrator and regional coordinator, 1996-2005 * Leadership Austin, Essential Class, 2008 * National Black Graduate Students Association, Legal Affairs, associate director, 1996-2001; Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors, 1996-2001 * Samaritan Center for Counseling, Board of Directors, 2005-2010; president, 2009-2010 * Texas Appleseed Project, One-to-One Mentorship Program, Steering Committee, 1999-2004; mentor, 1999-2001 * University of Texas at Austin Law School, Career Services Mentorship Program, mentor, 1999-present * Young Women’s Alliance, Advisory Council, 2013-present

Dr. Lawson is currently Associate dean for health disparities at the Dell Medical School and Professor at Huston-Tillotson where he is directing the Sandra Joy Anderson Community Health and Wellness Center. He received a BS in psychology from Howard University, an MA from the University of Virginia, and PhD in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire. He received his MD from the Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago, did his residency at Stanford University and a fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has held faculty positions at the University of Illinois, Urbana, University of California, Irvine, Vanderbilt University, University of Arkansas, and recently left after15 year as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Howard University. He has held numerous senior positions and received national recognition including past President of the DC chapter of Mental Health America, Past President of the Washington Psychiatric Society, past Chair of the Section of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the National Medical Association, and past president of the Black Psychiatrists of America, received the American Psychiatric Foundation Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health, the 2014 Solomon Carter Fuller Award by the American Psychiatric Association, the Sigma XI the scientific honor society and Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical honor society, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Exemplary Psychiatrist Award and Outstanding Psychologist Award. the Jeanne Spurlock Award from the American Psychiatric Association, and he E.Y. Williams Clinical Scholar of Distinction Award from the NMA. He has over 200 publications and has continuously received federal, industry, and foundation funding to address mental and substance abuse disparities.