The Health Law Partnership (HeLP) has new people in new roles this year. HeLP, a medical-legal partnership among Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, provides civil legal services to low-income patients of Children’s and their families.
Sylvia Caley (M.B.A. ’86, J.D. ’89), now professor emeritus, served as HeLP director and Georgia State Law HeLP Legal Services Clinic co-director until her 2018 retirement. These responsibilities are now divided among two positions. In August, Georgia State Law welcomed Margaret Middleton as co-director of the clinic along with Lisa Bliss, associate dean of experiential learning and clinical programs.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society executive director Steve Gottlieb promoted Pam Kraidler to HeLP’s Legal Aid Director. “Pam is an exceptional attorney,” said Gottlieb. “She has worked with HeLP for nearly eight years and is truly devoted to achieving HeLP’s goal of fostering the relationship among attorneys, doctors, health care professionals to improve children’s health outcomes.”
“HeLP has a great team of lawyers who work tirelessly for our clients,” said Kraidler. “I am excited to move the mission of HeLP forward to address the social determinants of health that impact our clients on a daily basis.”
Bridget Beier, HeLP’s office manager, also retired this fall. She coordinated the day-to-day activities of the main office for more than a decade. Fluent in English and Spanish, she also provided intake services for families seeking HeLP’s assistance.
To fill this position, Gottlieb turned to another long-time Legal Aid employee, JoQuita Etchison. Etchison, now HeLP’s paralegal office manager, started at Legal Aid as a receptionist in 2005, before becoming a paralegal for the domestic relations and health law units. She has also worked closely with Legal Aid’s pro bono group. “JoQuita’s deep roots at Legal Aid will be a great benefit to HeLP,” said Kraidler. “
In addition, HeLP recently hired Christina Scott (J.D. ’18), who joins Sarah Mamood and Roxy Richardson as a staff attorney. Her position was made possible by a generous grant from the 1998 Society a physicians' philanthropic group named for the year Egleston and Scottish Rite merged.
Scott’s office is at Children’s new Center for Advanced Pediatrics. This state-of-the-art facility brings together specialists under one roof to enable coordinated, multi-disciplinary outpatient care for children with complex conditions. “I feel well prepared for this role,” said Scott. “I spent two semesters in the HeLP clinic, which provided the opportunity to develop my skills in interviewing, counseling, research, drafting, and case management.”
Dr. Robert Pettignano, a Critical Care physician at Children’s and HeLP’s medical director, reflected on the transition. “While no one can replace Sylvia and Bridget, we are lucky to have such a depth of talent within HeLP to facilitate a smooth transition,” he said. “This transition has also provided an opportunity to reflect on and refocus goals for HeLP’s as we move into the future.”