Heather B. Deixler

As an adviser to health care clients on data privacy, data sharing, security and regulatory issues, Deixler has had a very busy year.

With the pandemic spurring growth in virtual health care, concerns about data privacy and security "have really been top of mind, both for companies entering the space and companies that are taking advantage of new regulations with respect to new, innovative delivery systems and value-based care," she said.

One interesting area for her are privacy and security issues raised by clients developing health care applications, using artificial intelligence and machine learning and who therefore "need a vast amount of data to train those algorithms."

For instance, she represents Decoded Health Inc. in developing a sort of computerized triage nurse and medical assistant for patients coming to emergency rooms or clinics. In conjunction with Vituity, a nationwide network of emergency and acute-care doctors, the startup launched last year what it calls its "virtual front door" to the health care system.

Another trend among some of her clients is medical-device makers and tech companies also becoming medical providers. Deixler led the diligent efforts regarding security and health care data privacy for Varian Medical Systems Inc., which makes radiation-therapy equipment and software, as it acquired Cancer Treatment Services International, which operates a series of cancer centers in Southeast Asia, among other deals.

Deixler led a large project on a very tight timetable when Curative Inc. wanted to broaden its virus testing operations to include vaccinations. She advised the start-up on licensure, scope of practice and other regulatory issues and on arrangements with counties and employers for vaccine administration. Curative's operation now encompasses 13,000 sites across 18 states.

In a different vein, she represents for-profit hospital company HCA Healthcare to oversee its affiliation with the University of South Florida and to manage certain physician arrangements for the trauma services they provide.

She also works with Latham corporate attorneys on mergers and acquisitions of healthcare companies. For instance, last year she assisted the acquisition of community health pioneer Blue Zones by the hospital and clinic system Adventist Health. This past spring and summer, she worked on Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.'s $15 billion de-SPAC merger with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp.

A former medical student with a master's degree in neurophysiology from Cambridge University, Deixler said she went to law school "with the idea I could combine science and medicine and law, and I have been fortunate to do exactly that."

-- Don DeBenedictis