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“Embrace change” is the advice attorney Patsy Powers often shares with colleagues about practicing healthcare law. Considering the industry’s myriad regulatory issues and frequent legal alterations, it’s certainly an appropriate mindset. Despite the unique environment, there’s no other area of the law Powers enjoys more. “I started practicing law in 1991 and knew at that time that I wanted to practice in healthcare. Our law firm has been involved in the healthcare industry for more than 30 years so I knew I was at the right firm starting the right career,” she said. After growing up in Miami, Powers came to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt, followed by law school at the University of Tennessee. Between her second and third year of law school, she spent the summer working at Waller Lansden. Partners George Bishop and Beth Guest quickly became two of Powers’ mentors. They recruited her and “to this day continue to encourage and foster my career. Both Beth and George provide guidance on all matter of things,” she said. Today, Powers is the practice group leader for healthcare overseeing regulatory attorneys and paralegals, as well as supporting other lawyers working on healthcare matters. “Practicing healthcare law in Nashville has been very exciting, and I am blessed to have challenging work with great clients,” she said. Certainly the work never becomes predictable. “It is a challenge to practice healthcare law because it is always changing … and not just in small adjustments but wholesale changes to every aspect of the law from reimbursement regulations to the Stark Law and regulations to fraud and abuse enforcement.” Although healthcare law is broad in nature, Powers pointed out that it is also very concrete in terms of how it affects physicians, hospitals and patients. It’s particularly difficult for smaller practices that don’t have as many resources to stay compliant on all fronts. One thing that is very important to her is to try to break down the complex and make “the elegant and minimal changes.” She noted, “I try to pull away the unnecessary. I also try not to speak in legalese if I can avoid it.” When she’s not working on behalf of healthcare clients, Powers is busy working with the state’s pediatricians. As a board member of the Tennessee Pediatric Society Foundation, she is involved with the organization’s efforts to secure educational grants to address major issues impacting our children … from obesity to clearing up misinformation surrounding vaccines. “I’m very interested in kids’ issues. This seemed like a good way to lend my legal expertise. It’s really fun, too. The doctors are amazing in their commitment to children.” Powers is committed to her own two children with husband, Matt, as well –– Hank, 14, and Ellie, 12. The whole family enjoys Vanderbilt basketball and both children are athletic. Hank plays lacrosse; Ellie is a tennis player; and both swim. “It’s just so much fun to watch them grow up and come into their own,” Powers said. Whether it’s watching her children change over time or awaiting the wholesale healthcare reform that seems to be on the horizon, Powers is eager to embrace what comes next. “I hope over the next five-10 years I will be working with our clients to implement the changes required with the reform of the healthcare system so that it works for everyone.” As long as she’s building strong relationships with her clients and nurturing the ones at home, Powers is ready to meet any challenge.

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