It feels strange to write this, but this is the final JLME issue of the 2010s. As we enter a new decade, we are reminded of the momentous academic work and treasured friendships we've had the opportunity to be a part of for the last ten years. We've published dozens of important symposiums, traveled all over the country for conferences, met new friends, moved offices twice, worked with countless students, and created the best “work family” one could imagine. What a ride this past decade has been for our team! Yet, in our ever-changing world, sometimes the things that never change are the most reassuring. You can always count on us to be the supporting cast for our fantastic contributors — whether it's with our publications, conferences, or events. These are our constants, and we believe they are what keeps ASLME part of your academic community.
With this supplement issue, we are proud to combine two of our strengths — publications and conferences — in one. The annual Health Law Professors Conference has become a mainstay for many health law academics. In an increasingly digital world, these face-to-face interactions are irreplaceable. We are honored to continue the conversations from the conference in the pages of JLME, in “Current Topics in Health Law: Papers from the 2019 Health Law Professors Conference.” These papers were first presented this summer at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where the authors presented their ideas and works-in-progress to their expert colleagues. Professor John D. Blum guest edited this collection of papers, which represent the many diverse topics presented at our uniquely broad and welcoming conference. These articles address a wide variety of aspects of health law, such as pharmaceutical and biologics pricing and regulation, feminist legal theory, cybersecurity reform, Medicaid for the educated young, brain death, federal Indian law as a structural determinant of health, opioid use disorder, and legal decision making alternatives for those with dementia. We hope that these gatherings — whether in person or via JLME — spark curiosity, lead to new ideas, and foster community. Cheers to a whole new decade of great work!
