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Practice Focus
Melissa joined Sheehan Phinney in 2001 and has focused her practice entirely on Health Care Law. She assists as general counsel to New Hampshire hospitals, health care institutions and professional practices. Since joining the firm, she has developed a broad knowledge base in the areas of patient care issues, federal and state compliance issues, litigation management, Medical Staff bylaws, contract drafting and negotiation, institutional review board protocols, and insurance coverage disputes. Melissa has developed particular expertise in EMTALA.
Before attending law school, Melissa was a project manager and research assistant for a multi-site, National Institutes of Health-funded human subjects study at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction and Dartmouth Medical School.Sample Matters
Advises hospitals on compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations, including EMTALA and licensure issues.
Drafts and updates policies and procedures, including for informed consents, advance directives, medical records management, patients' rights, and institutional review boards.
Assists with litigation management and serves as corporate/excess counsel to hospitals and other entities in insurance coverage disputes.
Education
A.B., Dartmouth College
J.D., Franklin Pierce Law Center
Honors
Student Co-Editor-in-Chief, RISK: Health, Safety and Environment A refereed interdisciplinary journal exploring public and private efforts to manage science and technology, 2000-2001, Franklin Pierce Law Center.
Memberships and Admissions
Melissa is admitted to practice in New Hampshire state and federal courts. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, the New Hampshire Bar Association and its Health Law section and the Dartmouth Lawyers Association.
Community Involvement
She is a former co-leader of the Charlie Battery Family Readiness Group, serving as a volunteer "point of contact," assisting with deployment issues for the families of soldiers deployed to Iraq from the Charlie Battery (Portsmouth), 1st Battalion, 172nd Field Artillery National Guard unit. Melissa also continued her involvement with Dartmouth College as the Marching Band Director’s Assistant during the 2002 and 2003 football seasons. She also has contributed time to the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra as a former member of its Board of Directors.
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