The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.
Issue link: https://louisville.epubxp.com/i/43017
Highlights Law students rack up moot court honors Law students Marilyn Osborn Patterson and Whitney True bested 78 teams from across the nation to win the prestigious Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competi- tion this year at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. The win resulted in a national championship at the event, at which issues related to U.S. trademark law and unfair competition are the topic. UofL alumnus Jack Wheat, 79L, of the law fi rm Stites & Harbison, PLLC, coached the team. Other UofL law students are putting their legal skills to the test in moot court competitions across the nation and around the world. The extracur- ricular program gives students a chance to sharpen their skills and get resume-boosting experience in the courtroom. Moot court participants can choose an area of law that complements their studies, such as immigration, environment, animal rights, trade- mark, health and more. Patterson also competed in the Trademark Moot Court Competition at Oxford University, England. She and fellow student Meg Stewart were invited to the competition after a team of British judges evalu- ated their legal brief. Only four U.S. teams received invitations. The pair was coached by faculty member John Cross, who helped them become familiar with Brit- ish courtroom protocol, which includes addressing the judge as "my lord." Patterson, who was moot court board president for the 2010–2011 academic year, said her interna- tional experience gave her a better overall under- standing of intellectual property law. "As a result of my exposure to international intellectual property law, my understanding of our domestic laws has increased substantially," said Patterson. Global travel expands view of public health What's the best way to learn about the impacts of public health across the globe? Travel to a country in need! It's an experience Ghana native MaAdwoa Asamoah and three other students from UofL's School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) had when they trav- eled to the country with Associate Professor Muriel Harris to conduct a feasibility study on improving maternal health. Ghana loses 560 mothers for every 100,000 live births. "That is a tremendous loss to the country, many of which can be avoided," said Harris. Harris and the students spent three weeks in and around Tamale visiting with com- munity leaders and members, health care professionals, offi cials at the University for Development Studies (UDS), and with traditional birth attendants to learn about some of the issues they face. They identifi ed a lack of health care facilities, shortage of health care providers, lack of basic amenities and lack of transportation to the available facili- ties as critical factors in poor maternal health. The trip has left a lasting impact on Asamoah, who plans to return home to Ghana as a medical doctor to pass on the knowledge she acquires from her studies at UofL. In the meantime, Asamoah will be working alongside Harris and SPHIS students to compile their recommendations into a report. They're also seeking ways to collabo- rate with Tamale Teaching Hospital and UDS to expand resources for service delivery, research, teaching and learning. Traveling and working in Ghana, says Harris, helps students learn the global nature of public health and the difference in resources, as well as the resilience and determina- tion of a committed people to improve the health of the population. "This opportunity was the experience of a lifetime, and I will carry the lessons I have learned with me in everything I do in public health," said fi rst-year SPHIS student Caitlin Wills. 38|LOUISVILLE.EDU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEAL TH AND INFORMA TION SCIEN CES LOUIS D. BRANDEIS SCHOOL OF LA W