Intro
Natalie brings extensive in-house experience advising on complex medical staff and academic medical center matters. Most recently serving as an in-house counsel for University of California San Diego Health, Natalie's experience includes counseling medical staff leadership on credentialing and privileging, peer review investigations, the fair hearing process, and reporting obligations. She also regularly advises on high-stakes, real-time issues such as practitioner professionalism and misconduct, and Health & Safety Code §1278.5 retaliation claims.
Natalie routinely assists Medical Staffs with bylaws, and governing documents and policies. She has also advised Medical Staffs on the establishment of committees to review and address practitioner conduct, disruptive behavior, peer review, and professionalism.
Additionally, she advises Residency Training Programs on academic due process, resident and fellow academic action and discipline, union grievances, and mandatory reporting. Natalie's practice also spans issues related to Title IX, sexual harassment and discrimination, disability accommodations, enterprise risk management, and internal policy development for medical education and training programs.
Natalie has a nuanced understanding of healthcare operations and culture, making her a trusted advisor to hospital executives, physician leaders, and academic medicine stakeholders alike.
Areas of Focus
Education
Admissions and Courts
American Health Law Association
California Society for Healthcare Attorneys; Co-Chair, Membership Committee
State Bar of California
“The Medical Staff Professionalism Committee,” co-presenter, California Association of Medical Staff Services (CAMSS) 54th Annual Education Forum (May 2025)
“APP/AHP Grievance Process and Looking to the Future,” co-presenter, California Association of Medical Staff Services (CAMSS) 54th Annual Education Forum (May 2025)
“The Medical Staff Professionalism Committee,” co-presenter, CAMSS San Diego Chapter (March 2024)
“Business and Professions Code Section 805.8,” presenter, CAMSS San Diego Chapter (April 2021)
“Medical Staff Investigations: How to Complete a Thorough Investigation That Will Hold Up In a Judicial Review Hearing,” co-presenter, California Association of Medical Staff Services (CAMSS) 48th Annual Education Forum (May 2019)
“Credentialing Policies and Procedures: Annual Check-up,” presenter, CAMSS Managed Care Chapter (April
2019)
“Bylaws: Annual Check-up,” presenter, CAMSS San Diego Chapter (January 2019)
“2018 Legal Update: NPDB Reporting, Retaliation, Physician Well-Being and Medical Staff Litigation – Preparing for a Successful Judicial Review Hearing,” co-presenter, CAMSS Orange County and San Diego County Chapters 2018 Joint Education Conference (February 2018)
“Patient Safety, Peer Review and Credentialing – Navigating Sovereign Immunity and Balancing State and Federal Law in Your Quality Department,” co-presenter, 8th Annual Native American Healthcare Conference (November 2017)
“Physician Burnout: Approaches, Strategies, and Legal Implications,” co-presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Health Law Roundtable (November 2016)
“Managing the Multiple Layers of Physician Oversight,” co-presenter, SD CAMSS Chapter (October 2016)
“Confidentiality and Reporting Requirements for Physician Well-Being Committees,” co-presenter, California Public Protection & Physician Health (CPPPH) (May 2016)
“Navigating Health and Safety Code Section 1278.5,” co-presenter, ACC-SD (August 2015)
“Flu Vaccines - Legal & Practical Implications for Medical Staffs and Employees,” co-presenter, ACC Health Law Roundtable (June 2015)