UCSF/Hastings Consortium
Law, Science, and Health Policy
Faculty and administrators at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law have developed a Consortium dedicated to issues in law, science and health policy. The UCSF/Hastings Consortium is a broadly based initiative to support interdisciplinary collaboration between these two great institutions. A wide variety of subjects lie at the myriad intersections between law and science, from assisted reproductive care to stem cells and from clinical services for the underserved to trade secrets and patent protection. The Consortium will concentrate its efforts in three broad areas: Education, Research, and Service.
Focus on Education, Research, and Service
Cross-Registration Available
Students of UCSF and Hastings can take up to six (6) credit hours at the other school and apply it to their respective degree requirements. The Consortium expects to coordinate cross-registration between the two institutions and publicize these opportunities as widely as possible.
Development of Certificate Programs for Currently Enrolled Students
In the near future, UCSF and Hastings will offer currently enrolled students the opportunity to focus their studies on subjects that lie at the intersection of law and health sciences and, moreover, to receive recognition for this work upon graduation from UCSF or Hastings. The Consortium will be developing a number of these concentrations, with the first two expected to be in Law and Health Policy and Law and Intellectual Property. With the successful completion of a minimum number of credit hours, students will receive a certificate upon graduation from the UCSF/Hastings Consortium.
Development of Integrated Graduate Degree Programs
The Consortium plans to develop two basic graduate degree programs, one for students with a degree in law (J.D.) and one for students with a degree in a health sciences or science related disciplines (e.g., Ph.D., M.D.., M.A., M.S., M.S.W.). The first will be an accredited L.L.M. program in Law, Science and Health Policy. The second will be an accredited Masters in Legal Studies (M.L. S.) program in Law, Science and Health Policy.
Regular Speaker Series and Occasional Panels, Symposia and Conferences
In an effort to bring the expertise of scholars from each respective institution to the attention and benefit of the other institution, the Consortium will sponsor speakers, panels, symposia and conferences to be held on the campuses of the two schools. In addition, the Consortium will support an ongoing program inviting nationally and internationally renowned scholars in law, science and health policy to give talks to faculty and students of UCSF and Hastings.
Research
The Consortium will promote research opportunities in a variety of ways. The key to successful collaboration between legal scholars and scientists is to provide numerous grassroots opportunities for interactions to occur between these professionals. This will be accomplished in several ways. These include (1) joint presentations and panel discussions on subjects of interest to the two institutions; (2) symposia and conferences in which scholars from UCSF and Hastings participate; (3) informal functions at which faculty and students from the two schools can meet and discuss on-going research; (4) works-in-progress by scholars from the two schools; and many others.
Clinical and Community Service
A principal and core component of the Consortium will be to develop service opportunities, especially for the benefit of underserved populations, which create synergies between legal and health care professionals. One area in particular worthy of considerable attention is the creation and ongoing support of joint law-health clinics, in which clients seeking assistance with a problem in one area will have the opportunity to consult with students and professionals from other areas. One possible model for such a joint effort would be to place legal consultants – law students and representatives from community law organizations – at health and human services clinics, and medical practitioners – medical students and faculty – at law clinics. Another area of possible collaboration in the service area is negotiation and mediation services, which might operate in many of the intersections between health services and the law.
Please contact Professor David Faigman for details.