Center for Law, Health & Society | News and Events | Center News | 2011 Archive | First Health Law Award at College of Law First Health Law Award at College of Law
April 18, 2011
ATLANTA - Raymond J. Lindholm, 3L, received the first Health Law Award given by the College of Law during Honors Day celebrations on April 6. This generous monetary award was made possible by the Health Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, which inaugurated the award this year for the law schools at Georgia State University and Emory University. The award is given to the law student who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the area of health law.
Lindholm’s involvement with health law spans his course work, extracurricular activities, independent research, and work experience. In addition to numerous health law classes, he undertook an independent study project with Professor Charity Scott, Director of the Center for Law, Health & Society. This project culminated in a paper, "Combatting Childhood Obesity: A Survey of Laws Affecting the Built Environments of Low-Income and Minority Children," which is slated for publication this year in the international scientific journal Reviews on Environmental Health.
"Raymond did excellent research on how laws that address the built environment in which children live can impact their health, specifically affecting their risk of becoming obese," said Scott. "The paper had been invited by the Institute of Disadvantage and Disability at Emory University to be presented at their annual conference on environmental health disparities in May 2010, which featured graduate and professional students from numerous universities around the country. He has since been invited to present this research in other forums as well."
Last fall, Lindholm coached the moot court team competing in the National Health Law Moot Court competition. He also helped with coaching the Student Health Law Association team, coordinating practice rounds for both teams and securing practicing health law attorneys to judge practice rounds at the law school and two final rounds at local law firms.
For most of the past year, Lindholm has been working part-time with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He was first hired for a special project with the Public Health Law Program and the Injury Prevention group last summer, and was invited to remain with the program through his 3L year.
"As part of the summer project, I conducted original research analyzing state statutes and regulations to identify how states are regulating prescription drugs in response to the sharp rise in prescription drug-related poisoning and overdose rates," said Lindholm. "This research was then incorporated into a journal article that I co-authored, which will be submitted for publication later this year." The paper is entitled, "A Comprehensive Review of State Legal Strategies Governing Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion in the United States."
Lindholm’s research was recently highlighted at the CDC’s Public Health Grand Rounds during its program, "Prescription Drug Overdoses: An American Epidemic," and was simulcast around the globe.
"Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Honors Day celebration because I had been invited to present a poster on my research findings at the annual Alliance for Safe States conference in Iowa," Lindholm said. "I was so glad that my wife Erika could attend and accept this award for me."
Lindholm plans to pursue a Master of Science in Health Administration at the Robinson College of Business after he graduates from the law school in May. "I am very honored by this award, and deeply appreciate all the support shown me by the College of Law and the Health Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia."
For a prior profile about Lindholm, click here.