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TRANSCRIPT

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[Dana Porcalla]

Hi. Good afternoon, everyone. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Elissa, a highly accomplished attorney specializing in healthcare law at Cohen Healthcare Law Group. She has over 20 years of experience. Elissa has made significant contributions to the healthcare industry, particularly in advising senior executives on compliance and risk management.

Welcome, Elissa.

[Elissa Brewster]

Hi, thanks for having me.

[Dana Porcalla]

Great. To start off, could you tell us a bit about your educational background and how it has shaped your career in healthcare law?

[Elissa Brewster]

Sure. So, I began my academic journey. I got a bachelor’s in English at the University of Texas at Austin, and then I went to law school at New England School of Law. I graduated in 2001 and took the bar in 2003.

I realized early on that my passion was healthcare, and that led me to go back to school and get a master’s in healthcare administration in 2011 from the University of Houston Clear Lake from their program. And then I also got a graduate certificate in health and hospital law from Seton Hall University in 2016.

[Dana Porcalla]

That’s great. Well, you have a rich history of working with various healthcare organizations, which is good, right? Can you share some highlights from your recent roles?

[Elissa Brewster]

Sure. So most recently, I was a corporate attorney at a company called Acclara and they did revenue cycle management. There, I was the legal counsel, or prior to that, I’m sorry. I was also legal counsel and privacy officer for Christus Hospital TLRA, and then I also worked in the oil and gas industry as a contracts manager.

Throughout these various roles, I’ve done a lot of reviewing, drafting, negotiating contracts, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws, and advising on privacy matters. Each position has allowed me to contribute to the overall improvement of technology, revenue and operations within these organizations.

[Dana Porcalla]

Impressive. How do you approach the challenges of managing legal operations and ensuring compliance in the healthcare industry?

[Elissa Brewster]

Healthcare law is increasingly complex and constantly evolving. My approach involves staying abreast of the latest legal developments and understanding their implications to my clients.

I prioritize clear communication and collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that compliance measures are practical and effectively integrated into daily operations. It’s also about balancing legal requirements with the business needs of that organization.

[Dana Porcalla]

That’s great. Well, in 2012, we heard that you were a finalist for the Houston Business Journal’s “Outstanding Solo general counsel award.” Can you tell us a bit about that?

[Elissa Brewster]

Sure. That was a great honor. Being a finalist for outstanding solo general counsel was awarded to me, or the recognition was bestowed upon me through a colleague that I was working with at the time.

When I was an attorney at Texas Medical Center Corporation. I brought to this role my ability to collaborate across different business lines, and this recognition really enforced the importance of adaptability and the continuous learning in my career encouraging me to keep pushing the boundaries in healthcare law.

[Dana Porcalla]

Fantastic. Also, recently you served as a panelist at the Texas Healthcare Transactions conference. Am I right? Can you share your experience and the key takeaways from that event?

[Elissa Brewster]

Sure. Serving as a panelist at the Texas Healthcare Transactions conference was a really rewarding experience. It provided an opportunity to engage with other experts in the field, discuss current trends, and share insights on healthcare transactions. A key takeaway was the growing importance of technology in healthcare transactions and the need for robust legal frameworks to support this evolution.

[Dana Porcalla]

Great. Well, thank you so much Elissa, for sharing your insight and experience with us today. It’s been a pleasure learning more about your work and contributions to the healthcare space and in particular the healthcare law space. And yeah, thank you so much. You have a great day.

[Elissa Brewster]

Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure.