Études supérieures en
droit de la santé

Alicia Czarnowski completed her law degree at the University of Ottawa, where she received the McCarthy Tetrault LLP Second Year Prize for highest standing in the J.D. Program, as well as the Osgoode Society Prize for Canadian Legal History, awarded to the top ten graduating students. Alicia went on to clerk for Justice Fothergill at the Federal Court of Canada before returning to her formal studies. Alicia's research focuses on health law with a particular interest in assisted human reproduction. Her LL.M. examined how Canadian Blood Services could serve as a model for pan-Canadian governance of reproductive technologies. Her current research employs empirical methods to better understand the role of surrogacy consultants in Canada.

Lauren M. Hancock has a B.Sc.Hons. from the University of Toronto where she cultivated her passion for equitable healthcare access. Over the course of five years experience in administrative roles in the healthcare sector she gained valuable insights into systemic barriers and operational challenges impacting patient-centred care. This inspires her research which examines the ethical and legal frameworks governing Indigenous healthcare in Ontario. She is particularly interested in how colonial structures undermine equitable access to care, often failing to meet legal obligations outlined in Joyce’s Principle and the UNDRIP Act. By highlighting gaps in existing literature, which predominantly frame Indigenous autonomy in terms of economic or land rights, her work seeks to foster a more inclusive and equitable discourse centred on health.

Zainab Lawal’s research focuses on patient safety and women’s reproductive rights, particularly on how the law can be wielded as a tool for protection of women undergoing obstetric care. Her research also highlights the inequities in healthcare as it affects minority and Indigenous women in Canada and globally. Her interdisciplinary background inspired her role as lead instructor at The Shield Institute, which provides free and accessible tutoring on torts law, human rights law and health law to undergraduate, graduate and law school students.

Emmanuel Ihuoma Nwatu, LL.B (University of Nigeria), LL.M (University of Bristol) is a doctoral researcher with a background in law. With extensive experience as an attorney, he has specialized in commercial law, contract law, property law, corporate law, and health law, serving as legal counsel for leading commercial banks in Nigeria and representing high-profile clients. Under Professor Emmanuelle Bernheim he is contributing to a SSHRC-funded project on coercive psychiatric practices involving Black and Indigenous people in Ontario and Quebec. His doctoral research focuses on the decolonization of mental health law in the global south, advocating for legislative and policy reforms that integrate Indigenous knowledge with contemporary mental healthcare approaches.

Jacob Saumure, LL.L. is currently pursuing dual graduate studies in the form of an LL.M. in Culture juridique at the University of Ottawa and a Master 2 in Droit civil avancé at the Université Jean-Moulin Lyon 3, France. His research focuses on medical assistance in dying (MAID), exploring its legislation, societal perspectives, and healthcare organization in Québec and France, with a broader analysis of its ethical and legal dimensions in the European context. His areas of specialization and interest in health law more broadly include end-of-life decision-making (balancing individual autonomy with societal and ethical considerations), patient rights and dignity (ensuring equitable access to healthcare and protecting vulnerable populations), and comparative legal systems (analyzing health law frameworks to identify best practices and promote policy innovation). Jacob has a background as a policy advisor with Minister Duclos at Health Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada. A lover of both law and travel, Jacob has a passion for immersing himself in the cultural and legal systems of Canada and France.

Joackim earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with honours from Makerere University and previously completed an Advanced Certificate in History, Economics, Literature, Mathematics, and General Paper from King’s College, Budo. His research focuses on a human rights-based approach to health, with particular interests in immigrant and refugee health, public health, reproductive health, healthcare accommodation and financing, malpractice litigation, and medical defence. Under the supervision of Professor Y.Y. Chen, Joackim is currently examining law as a determinant of health amongst refugees in Ottawa. Professionally Joackim has held leadership roles including serving as Director and Board Member of Kuddiza School in Uganda and the Sid Ecole Foundation in Switzerland. His legal experience includes positions as Junior Legal Officer at Katende Serunjogi & Co. Advocates and School Lawyer for King’s College, Budo. He is currently a researcher at the Rotel Foundation Inc. in Ottawa. Beyond his professional engagements, Joackim has held leadership roles in organizations like the Rotaract Club of Kampala and the Old Budonians Club, where he served as Vice President.

Marianne Tétreault is a lawyer and Master of Laws candidate at the University of Ottawa specializing in human rights, children's rights, and ethical issues in the health field. Her thesis explores the consent of minors to mental healthcare with a focus on institutional power as a barrier to the refusal of care. Marianne earned her LL.B from the Université de Sherbrooke. Professionally she works as a lawyer at the Centre de justice de proximité de l’Estrie. As a citizen member of the Consultation Forum of the Health and Welfare Commissioner and a member of the Association des personnes handicapées visuelles de l’Estrie, Marianne is deeply committed to advancing the rights of healthcare system users in Quebec.