Adam White's Interest in Health Care 2/01/13 02/01/13 11:03:00 AM
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Adam White’s interest in medicine is a “good fit” for his career in law.
By Elizabeth ElliottInterest in Health Care Proved Pivotal In Ultimate Career Choice as a Lawyer The Daily Record His studies began in the pre-med world as a freshman at Creighton University. Yet, taking classes toward a major in Health Administration and Policy, Adam White decided it was not a good fit. He also discovered that he enjoyed more of the policy and business issues in health care. “I felt that a career in the field of law would be rewarding and a good fit for my personality and skill set,” he said. White is an associate at Erickson Sederstrom, P.C., which is a general practice civil law firm that maintains lawyers specializing in many areas of the law. “While our firm does not practice in criminal law or divorce, we maintain good relationships with other practitioners that specialize in these important areas. Our firm has a large litigation department that mostly handles general liability defense cases as well as worker’s compensation issues,” he said. White’s main area of focus is on health care law. “I regularly advise health care clientele such as hospitals, clinics, physicians, long term care providers, mental health practitioners, and therapists across a broad range of specialties on legal issues affecting health care providers,” he said. “I assist these clients and others that are reimbursed under the federal health care programs in analyzing situations that present issues under Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Law, EMTALA, HIPAA, and other confidentiality laws.” White also assists clients in forming new corporations, acquiring or selling existing businesses and providing general counsel to corporate entities on a wide range of legal issues. He started working exclusively in litigation prior to working in health care. White said he is consistently surprised at the variety in his work. He said there are no two days, cases or clients that are exactly the same. “Each issue comes with its own nuance and subtlety that has to be carefully weighed and considered when assisting a client in choosing a particular course of action, whether it is in litigation or in advising on future conduct,” he said. “In the health care field, I am surprised how quickly things change and develop in the law. In the last couple of years since the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the laws affecting the delivery of health care have changed dramatically.” His favorite work remains in the health care industry. “I enjoy assisting my clients with analyzing potential opportunities to grow their business and to help them do so in ways that are compliant with the vast array of health care rules and regulations,” said White. White encourages young attorneys to seek out a good mentor. “I think the most important asset any young attorney can have is a good mentor with whom the new attorney can be open and honest,” he said. “There are many aspects of being a practicing lawyer that cannot be replicated or taught in law school. “While finding a mentor is an easier task for those law students going into private practice at a firm with several lawyers, the solo practitioners and new lawyers working for small firms would also greatly benefit from finding an older, more experienced attorney that can provide them with some general advice and counsel as they begin their practice,” he added. White learned how intimidating it can be going in front of a judge shortly after passing the bar. “It was on a motion for summary judgment and, being the inexperienced, yet confident young lawyer that I was, I fervently believed that my position on the matter was correct. I remember preparing at length for the oral argument. After toiling for countless hours on my brief, I walked into chambers firmly convicted in my view of the law on the issue and was very confident in my argument. The judge looked at me skeptically and asked briskly, ‘Who are you?’ “After introducing myself, the judge walked back in his office without another word. Then opposing counsel showed up. The judge instantly came out of his office and the opposing counsel and judge smiled at each other and had a warm handshake before digressing into a seemingly endless conversation about each other’s kids and whom had seen who recently at the golf course and what other law school classmates they had kept in touch with.” He said after watching the two friends catch up, he felt his confidence waning and thought he would lose the case. “After simply conceding to the judge that my entire argument was already in the brief and failing to make any further argument due to my nervousness, I figured my motion would be denied for sure. A week later, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief when I received an Order from the Court consisting of one page that had only one substantive sentence: ‘Defendant’s motion is granted.’” White said he remains active with assisting in mock trial competitions at the high school, undergraduate and law school levels. “As a participant in a competitive trial team that traveled to a competition in Buffalo, N.Y., while a law student, I maintain a passion for mock trial and definitely can attest to its usefulness for aspiring lawyers,” he said. “I also volunteer in various leadership positions at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.” In his spare time, White spends time with family and being a sports fan. “I most enjoy spending free time with my wife of nearly 10 years, Jennifer, and our two wonderful little daughters, Allison, 6, and Jillian, 2. We thoroughly enjoy trips to the zoo on weekends when the weather permits, as well as frequent visits to my wife’s family farm outside of Carroll, Iowa. “Otherwise, I am an avid Creighton Bluejays basketball fan and also enjoy watching hockey.” |
