3rd Annual Symposium

SYMPOSIUM DATE: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Abstracts are due by May 27, 2026

Call for Papers

In an era defined by a shifting constitutional landscape, public health law is no longer just a regulatory framework — it is the foundation of our nation’s health. As we navigate the current political complexities, the legal powers of the state and the rights of the individual are being constantly redefined.

The goal of this conference is to move beyond theory and to focus on the practical applications of law on the current public health landscape. Through a policy-centric lens, we will dissect the legal foundations, ethical flashpoints, and bold public policies that determine who stays healthy and who gets left behind. We invite scholars, clinicians, policymakers, and public health experts to join us in an interdisciplinary exploration of the future of American health.

We are looking for bold, provocative, and evidence-based proposals. Whether you are a legal scholar analyzing case law, a public health leader, a practicing attorney, or a healthcare practitioner on the ground, your voice is essential to this dialogue.

• Scientific Research - Advances, Funding, and Political Power: Medical research is the essential foundation of all public health advancement, leading to the prevention of disease, improvement of treatment, and the improvement of population health. As federal budgets tighten and political scrutiny of "Big Science" intensifies, the quest for population health faces unique challenges. Proposals should consider the influence of shifting federal and state budget priorities, legislative agendas, heightened political scrutiny of scientific endeavors, and the potential for private funding and its benefit. The session will seek to address challenges in translating research into public health policy in the evolving political landscape.
  
  • The Vaccine Paradox - Mandates, Autonomy, and Trust: Vaccination has long played a significant role in efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and yet in recent years vaccination has become the subject of significant public health contention. Current pediatric vaccine recommendations vary between primary advisory bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics. This lack of consensus leaves a legal and policy quandary in its wake that confuses decades of public health efforts. The session aims to provide a practical, data-driven analysis of the current state of vaccine policy and the downstream effects on public health.
  
  • Pandemic Preparedness -The Post-COVID Architecture: Nearly half a decade after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt, memory fades for some while the public health infrastructure continues to strengthen preparedness for the next outbreaks. This session aims to address systems necessary to protect public health in the event of future pandemics, highlighting both public and private sector responses.
  
  • Sovereignty & Survival - Maternal and Reproductive Health Equity: The health of a nation is written in the health outcomes of its mothers and children. Public health targets women of gestational age for healthcare improvement with the theory that by making a pregnant woman healthier, she will have a healthier pregnancy and the resulting child will subsequently be healthier, thus improving the health of a population. The current legal climate leaves reproductive health as one of the most contested fields in public health. This session hopes to address the full range of reproductive care, support early childhood development, and bridge the chasm of reproductive health, while evaluating the use oflaw as a tool to dismantle systemic reproductive care access.

All invited speakers will be offered the opportunity to publish in the symposium edition of the Touro Law Review. Articles may be a variety of lengths but should focus on the topic of AI in health care.

Please direct all questions to Professor Rebecca Feinberg, rfeinber2@touro.edu, Director of the Health Law Institute.