Associate professor of law Patricia J. Zettler brings her expertise in the regulation of medicine, biotechnology and biomedical research to the College of Law.
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“There’s a big regulatory science initiative in progress at the School of Public Health, and there are natural overlaps with FDA regulations,” she said. “I look forward to developing relationships and engaging in interdisciplinary work with colleagues in both the law and public health schools.”
Zettler is one of two Second Century Initiative hires at the College of Law for the interdisciplinary cluster of four new faculty around the research theme of advancing the scientific regulation of tobacco. The college is partnering with Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the School of Public Health for this cluster.
Her research focuses on the interaction between state and federal regulation of medicine and science, the challenges that innovation poses for the FDA’s regulatory scheme and the treatment use of experimental drugs and devices outside of clinical trials.
“Georgia State Law has a fantastic health law program. I am excited to join a school with such great resources and so many students and faculty interested in this area,” she said.
Before joining Georgia State Law, Zettler was a fellow at the Center for Law and the Biosciences at Stanford Law School. She also served as an associate chief counsel in the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. She decided to pursue a career in academia because it combines her passion for being a lawyer and mentoring.
“I loved being a lawyer. It is one of the most interesting and exciting jobs because you have the opportunity to think creatively and problem-solve on behalf of your clients,” she said. “When I was practicing, I ran the internship program in my office. I enjoyed mentoring students while I was in practice, and teaching is a more direct way to do that.”
Zettler will teach torts in fall and food and drug law in the spring. She looks forward to starting with the incoming class of students. “We’re all starting at Georgia State Law together,” she said.
Originally from Ohio, Zettler’s family has owned and operated a hardware store in Columbus since 1844. Though she left the state to purse a legal career, she remains a loyal fan of the local sports teams, especially the Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers.