Denise M. Hill

Denise M. Hill, JD, MPA is an of counsel attorney practicing primarily in health law. She is also an experienced mediator trained by the American Health Lawyers Association and the International Academy of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

In addition to serving clients, Denise brings over 25 years of health-law related experience to graduate students at Drake University, where she is a full-time Associate Professor of Public Administration Practice. She is also a clinical guest lecturer at Des Moines University and has taught health law for the University of Iowa’s Executive Master's in Healthcare Administration. From 2007 to 2015, Denise was an Assistant Professor and the primary attorney on faculty at Des Moines University, where she had a joint appointment in the Colleges of Health Sciences, Medicine, and Podiatric Medicine. She is a recipient of multiple faculty awards.

Denise is a sought-after speaker, author, media commentator, and thought leader on a wide variety of health law, public health law, employment law, bioethics, regulatory, and corporate compliance issues. Most recently she authored Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace: A Legal Primer for Employers published by the American Health Law Association.

Denise was named the Vice-Chair for the first National Vaccine Law Conference to be held at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in September 2022. She is on the board of teh National Vaccine Law Association in recognition of her extensive experience advising organizations, writing, and presenting on public health and vaccination law issues at the state and national levels. For example, two decades ago Denise helped to negotiate the Public Health Disaster Emergency provisions in the Iowa Code that were utilized during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Denise was selected as one of 15 nationally known health law experts to contribute to the 30th anniversary addition of the highly regarded Health Law Handbook series published by WestGroup in spring 2018. Her article “Patient-Centered Compliance in a World of Pain” provides insights and guidance on legal and compliance issues related to pain management and opioids; an area that she has studied and presented on for many years. In addition to her health law-related scholarship, Denise is a co-author of the forthcoming text Maximize Student Retention and Persistence to Graduation: Proven Strategies for Higher Education as well as the book Powerful Learning Communities: A Guide to Developing Student, Faculty, and Professional Learning Communities to Improve Student Success and Organizational Effectiveness that was published by Stylus.

Prior to entering private practice at Whitfield & Eddy, Denise was an in-house attorney and Manager of Public & Regulatory Affairs at the Iowa Medical Society, and a Labor Relations Attorney with the Iowa Department of Personnel. She was a 1990 Harry S. Truman Congressional Scholar and graduated with honors from Drake Law School. Denise received her Master's in Public Administration from the Drake College of Business & Public Administration and her undergraduate degrees were from Wartburg and Waldorf Colleges.

Contact Denise today or call 515-288-6041 for more information. 

Honors & Recognitions

• Vice-Chair for the National Vaccine Law Conference, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, September 2022, 2023

• Des Moines University MHA Faculty of the Year Award, May 2015
• Commencement Keynote Speaker, Waldorf College, May 2015
• Des Moines University MHA Professor of the Year, 2010
• Des Moines University MPH Professor of the Year, 2007

• Harry S. Truman Congressional Scholar

Thought Leadership

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

2023

• Interview, "Having Difficult Conversations About Death," Iowa Public Radio Talk of Iowa, August 2023

2022

• Vice Chair and Speaker, "Introductory Program and Vaccine Law Year in Review," and "Employer Vaccine Mandates: Lessons Learned from the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic," National Vaccine Law Conference, September 2022
• Author with Abramson, B., “Navigating Legal Aspects of Vaccine Mandates After a Global Pandemic.” Health Law Weekly, American Health Law Association, Spring 2022
• Presenter, "Long-Term Implications of Pandemic Court Rulings on Vaccination Law & Practice," American Health Law Association, National Education Call, March 24, 2022
• Presenter, "COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Health Care: Where Do We Go From Here?" Nebraska Healthcare Finance Management Association, March 16, 2022
• Podcast and video interview, "Latest Trends in Vaccine, Vaccination, and Immunization Law," with Brian Dean Abramson, Author of Bloomberg Law and AHLA's Vaccine Law Treatise, March 2, 2022
• Presenter, "HIPAA & Conflicts of Interest in Public Health," Iowa Public Health Leadership Academy, February 28, 2022
• Podcast interview, "COVID-19 Vaccine Legal Actions," FOCUS Public Affairs Program, February 24, 2022
• Interview, "How Republicans May Push Back on COVID Vaccine and Mask Mandates," The Des Moines Register, February 13, 2022
• Presenter, "From the Frontlines: Mandatory Vaccination Policies," AHLA Physicians & Hospitals Law Institute, New Orleans, LA, February 4, 2022 (Selected in peer review process)
• Commentary, "Court Reverses Injunction on Mask Mandate Ban, Muddying the Waters for School Districts," KCCI TV-8, January 26, 2022
• Commentary, "Schools Readjust After Federal Court Rules Mask Mandates OK in Some Places," KCCI TV-8, January 25, 2022
• Presenter, "Navigating the Legal Uncertainty of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace," Iowa Hospital Association Webinar, January 25, 2022
• Interview, "With Biden's Mandate Overturned, CRE Can Write Its Own Vaccine Rules. Will It?" Bisnow National, January 18, 2022
• Commentary, "Supreme Court Vaccine Ruling," KWQC, January 13, 2022
• Commentary, Iowa's Labor Commissioner Says the State Will Not Enforce the Biden Administration's Vaccine Mandate," KCCI TV-8, January 8, 2022
• Co-author, "What to Look for in the January 7, 2022 Supreme Court Vaccination Mandates Hearings," Vaccine, Vaccination, and Immunization Law, with Abramson, B., January 4, 2022

2021

• Author, "Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace: A Legal Analysis for Employers," E-Book. Eagan, MN: American Health Law Association.
• Commentator, "Can Iowa Employers Require Employees to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?" KCCI TV-8, December 16, 2021
• Presenter, "Navigating the Legal Uncertainty of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace," Iowa Hospital Association Webinar, December 15, 2021
• Commentator, "200+ Fired for Refusing COVID-19 Vaccine Have Filed for Unemployment," KIWA radio, December 15, 2021
• Commentator, "Dozens Fired for Refusing Covid-19 Vaccine Mandate File for Unemployment," Radio Iowa, December 13, 2021
• Special Interviewee, "The Vaccine Mandate," Morning Wave in Busan, Busan [South Korea] English Broadcasting, December 1, 2021
• Author, "Navigating Vaccine Mandates in the 'Path out of the Pandemic," Health Law Weekly, American Health Law Association, December, 2021
• Commentator, "Vaccine Law & Regulation - Understanding Federal COVID Mandate Standards (OSHA, CMS, Federal Contractor)," Practicing Law Institute Webinar, December 2021
• Commentator, "How Red States Are Using Religion to Fight Vaccine Mandates," Deseret News, November 29, 2021
• Commentator, "Republicans are Changing State Laws to Try and Get Out of Federal Vaccine Mandates," WAMU American University Radio, BBC World Service, November 22, 2021
• Commentator, "Some Iowa Employers Say They're Stuck Between Federal Mandates and New State Vaccine Waiver Law," Iowa Public Radio, November 17, 2021
• Panelist, "COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Panel," Villanova Law School, November 16, 2021
• Author, "Moving Targets: Vaccine Mandates in the Iowa Workplace," The Iowa Lawyer Magazine, November 2021
• Presenter, "Vaccination Mandate and ADA Compliance: What Employers Need to Know," National Business Institute Webinar, November 2021
• Commentator, " Federal Judges to Decide Fate of Iowa Mask Mandate Law," KCCI TV-8, November 18, 2021
• Commentator, "Iowa Mandate for Unvaccinated Workers Frustrates Business Owners," CNN, November 2021
• Commentator, "Iowa Joins Lawsuit Challenging Federal Vaccine Mandate for Medicare, Medicaid Health Care Workers," KWWL NBC-7, November 10, 2021
• Commentary, "New Iowa Law Would Allow Those Fired Because of Vaccine Mandates to Collect Unemployment," WKRC/CNN Newsource, November 14, 2021
• Commentary, "Most CRE Firms Mum on Mandates As Biden Vaccine Rule Faces Court Challenge," Bisnow, November 9, 2021
• Panelist, "Recent COVID Litigation," Polk County Bar Association 2021 Fall General Practice CLE," November 5, 2021
• Commentary, "The Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Goes Into Effect Jan. 4. Here's How It Affects Iowans," The Des Moines Register, November 4, 2021
• Commentary, "Iowa Employers May Have An Especially Hard Time Complying With Biden's Vaccine Mandate, Given New State Exemptions," The Des Moines Register, November 4, 2021
• Presenter, "Iowa Employers and the Great COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Debate," Membership Meeting of the Central Iowa Chapter Mechanical Contractors Association of Iowa, Inc., November 3, 2021
• Author, “Moving Targets: Navigating Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace.” The Iowa Lawyer, Iowa State Bar Association, November 2021
• Commentary, "Iowa and Federal Vaccine Mandate Laws May Not Conflict," KCRG ABC-9, October 29, 2021
• Commentary, "Iowans Fired for Defying COVID Vaccine Mandates Would Get Unemployment Benefits Under Bill Passed by Legislature," The Des Moines Register, October 28, 2021
• Panelist, Navigating Mandates: Leadership, Legal, and Policy Insights, American Health Law Association Webinar, October 26, 2021
• Commentary, "Federal Judge Grants Temporary Injunction Against Iowa Law Banning Mask Mandates," KCCI TV-8, October 8, 2021
• Commentary, "Do I or My Child Qualify for a Religious Exemption from Masks and COVID Vaccines?" Des Moines Register, September 29, 2021
• Commentary, "Are Metro Schools Granting Exceptions to Mask Mandates?" WHO TV-13, September 24, 2021
• Commentary, "Investigation into Iowa's Mask Mandate Ban Could Be Fast-Tracked," KCCI TV-8, September 2, 2021
• Commentary, "Mask Mandate Ban Investigation," KETV ABC Newswatch 7, September 2, 2021
• Commentary, "Should Iowa's Non-Vaxxed Pay a COVID Surcharge," AXIOS, September 2, 2021
• Commentary, "Federal Funding at Stake as U.S. Department of Education Investigates Iowa for Disability Discrimination," KGAN CBS-2, August 30, 2021
• Commentary, "Iowa Mom Files Injunction Over Mask Mandate Ban," KCCI TV-8, August 25, 2021
• Commentary, "Iowans Protest Vaccine Mandate at Hospitals," KCCI TV-8, August 19, 2021
• Commentary, "Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace: What Employers Need to Know" American Health Law Association Podcast, August 10, 2021
• Commentary, "MercyOne, Broadlawns Join Other Des Moines Hospitals in Requiring Employee COVID Shots" Des Moines Register, August 10, 2021
• Commentary, "Legal Challenges for Iowa Employers and COVID-19 Vaccinations," WHO TV-13, August 4, 2021
• Commentary, "Can Your Employer Require You to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine" KWWL TV-7, August 3, 2021
• Commentary, "Unclear if Employers Can Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines" KCRG TV-9, August 2, 2021
• Commentary, "Can Iowa Employers Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations" KCCI TV-8, August 1, 2021
• Author, "Vaccine Mandates in the Health Care Workplace: A Legal Analysis for Employers," American Health Law Association, August 2021
• Commentary, "Businesses Navigate Mask Policies," WOI TV-5, May 17, 2021
• Commentary, “Governor Expresses Opposition; Issues Surrounding Vaccine Passports,“ KCCI TV-8, April 7, 2021
• Commentary, “Iowa Lawmakers Advance Bill Banning Employer Vaccine Mandates, Adding Exemption,“ KCCI TV-8, February 16, 2021
• Commentary, “The Laws That Protect You From Surprise Medical Cost Billing,“ KETV ABC-7, February 2, 2021
• Presenter, "Doomed or Illuminated? Legal, Ethical and Policy Responses to COVID-19," Drake University Ray Society, February 2021

2020

• Commentary, “Can Iowa Employers Require Employees to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?,“ KCCI TV-8, December 16, 2020
• Commentary, “Iowa Employers Can Require Employees To Take COVD-19 Vaccine,“ WHO-TV 13, December 10, 2020
• Speaker, Iowa Public Health Leadership Academy Webinar Training for Iowa Local Public Health Agencies and Boards of Health, "The Public Health Law Toolbox: Social Distancing, Isolation and Quarantine in Iowa," February 2020

2018 and prior

• Speaker, Midwestern Public Health Training Center, "Quarantine and Isolation Law" January 2018

• Hill, D.; Gosfield, A.G. (Ed.) (2018). “Patient-Centered Opioid Compliance in a World of Pain.” Health Law Handbook (1st ed., Vol. 30, pp. 3-120). Eagan, MN: Thomson Reuters.

• Faculty, CDC and American Health Lawyers Association Joint Webinar, "Exploring Trends: Antibiotic Resistance and the Law," October 2016

• Presenter, "Quarantine and Isolation Law," Midwest Public Health Training Center, August 2016
• Presenter, "Aging and the Law: It's Time To Get Your Legal Decision Making House in Order," Embracing Aging Community Action Series, June 2016
• Presenter, "Making Crucial Connections: Local Boards of Health and Public Health Law," Upper Midwest Public Health Training Center, May 2016
• Author, "If We Build It, Will They Come: Development of an On-campus Residency for Online Students," The Journal of Health Administration Education, Spring 2016
• Presenter, "HIPAA Privacy Training For Pharmacists and Other Healthcare Workers," Collaborative Education Institute, March 2016
• Presenter, "Five Years After the Affordable Care Act: Now What?" Drake Law School Iowa Attorneys General Practice Seminar," December 2015
• Presenter, "Improving Student Critical Thinking Skills," Drake Learning Symposium, August 2015
• Presenter, "Healthcare Compliance 101," College of Law, University of Nevada Las Vegas, April 2015
• Presenter, "Mandatory Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Reporting" and "Caution: Crossing Professional Boundaries," Iowa Chiropractic Association Annual Meeting, April 2015
• Legal Panel Member, "Responding to Sexual Assault," Panel on Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Des Moines, Iowa, April 2015
• Presenter, "Who Told You Could Sell My Spleen? Legal and Ethical Implications of the Henrietta Lacks Case," Des Moines University and Drake University, Author Rebecca Skloot's  Book Forum, March 2015
• Legal Panel Member, "Open Minds Open Discussions: Every Voice has Value." Health Disparities Panel, January 2015
• Test Item Writer and Reviewer (Health Care, Law or Ethics Areas), Certification Management Services, 2014-2016
• Peer Reviewer, Journal of Health Administration Education, May 2013-2015
• Hill, D. (2013) “Protecting Patient Privacy.” Pharmacy Technician TEAM Monograph. Collaborative Education Institute.
• Assistant Professor/Faculty Member with Des Moines University Dual Appointment to College of Medicine and College of Health Sciences since 2007 and clinical Associate Professor/Practitioner Scholar Faculty Member at Des Moines University, College of Health Sciences, 2002-2007
• “A Comprehensive Approach to Optimum Learning Communities,” Scholarly Paper and Presentation at Association for Institutional Research 50th Annual Forum, Chicago, IL: June 1, 2010
• “Comprehensive Planning for Disruptive Patients in Iowa Emergency Departments,” Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Johnston, IA: May 9, 2010
• “Medicaid Planning for Aging Clients,” Elder Law Class, Drake Law School, Des Moines, IA: February 10, 2010
• “To Disclose or Not Disclose: That is the Question,” Article in DMU Magazine. Winter 2010 
• “A Physician’s Role in Disclosing Adverse Events” Iowa Lutheran Hospital Physician Residency Program, Des Moines, IA: January, 2010