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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The AHLA Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election and appointment of an outstanding slate of new Association leaders.
"Each of these individuals has given generously of their time and talent to AHLA over many years, and I am honored to welcome them into these new leadership roles. Their experience, dedication, and genuine commitment to our members reflect the very best of what makes AHLA a welcoming home for all health law professionals. I look forward to the meaningful contributions they will make — and to the collaborative camaraderie they will both model and inspire." stated Mark S. Kopson, President of the American Health Law Association.
These newly appointed leaders will assume office after the Annual Meeting in July 2026.
President-Elect Designate/Treasurer
Carol Carden, PYA, Knoxville, TN
Carol has been on the AHLA Board since 2021 and has served on the Education, Finance, Governance, Membership-IDEA, and Nominating Committees, as well as the Development and Advancement Council. Prior to her Board service, Carol chaired the Women's Leadership Council from 2016–2019 and served as an inaugural member from 2013–2016. She speaks at AHLA's in-person programs and contributes to AHLA's publications. Carol is Managing Principal of Compensation Valuation, Planning & Design at PYA. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which inducted her into the Business Valuation Hall of Fame, and was recognized as a 2025 Best-in-State CPA in the Forbes inaugural list.
Board of Directors Elected to a 5-Year Term
Ryan S. Johnson, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis, MN
Ryan served as vice chair of the HIT – Tech Licensing and Intellectual Property Affinity Group from 2020–2022 and as vice chair of the Life Sciences Practice Group for six years from 2013–2019. He has been a speaker and author for AHLA, contributing to Annual Meetings, webinars, and publications on digital health, interoperability, innovation, and emerging regulatory frameworks, and is active in AHLA's mentoring program. A nationally recognized lawyer for health care innovation, Ryan advises digital health companies, health care providers, and life science companies on regulatory compliance, transactions, and emerging technologies. He is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas MBA in Medical Group Management program and previously studied European health care innovation as a German Marshall Fund Memorial Fellow. Ryan is a Shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., where he co-chairs the firm's Life Sciences Group.
Annie H. Shieh, Optum Health, Los Angeles, CA
Annie chaired the Payers, Plans, and Managed Care (PPMC) Practice Group from 2021–2025, served as vice chair from 2020–2021, and chaired the PPMC Affinity Group from 2017–2020. She was an at-large member of the Nominating Committee from 2018–2019, served on the Technology Task Force and the Young Professionals Council, and was the first AHLA Law School Intern when the program launched in 2007. Annie is a frequent speaker and author for AHLA, contributing to Annual Meetings, webinars, practice group toolkits, and podcasts, and is active in AHLA's mentoring program. Annie is Vice President of Compliance at Optum Health, where she leads enterprise-wide compliance programs across Medicare Advantage and other lines of business.
Patrick D. (Pat) Souter, Gray Reed, Dallas, TX
Pat served as chair of the Physicians Organizations Practice Group from 2022–2024, as vice chair from 2018–2022, and as social media coordinator from 2017–2018. He participated in the AHLA Leadership Development Program from 2014–2015 and has served as co-chair on both the AHLA On-Line Dispute Resolution Working Group and the AHLA State Associations Coordinating Council. Pat is a prolific speaker and author for AHLA and has co-authored multiple editions of Representing Physicians (AHLA) and the American Bar Association's annual Physician Law: Evolving Trends and Hot Topics. He is Board Certified in Health Care Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has completed AHLA training as a Mediator and Arbitrator. Pat is Of Counsel at Gray Reed, where his practice encompasses transactional and administrative health care law, antitrust, and corporate matters, and also serves as a Professor of Health Care Studies at Baylor University School of Law.
Brian A. White, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Brian is currently serving on the In-House Counsel program planning committee. He previously chaired the In-House Counsel Practice Group from 2022–2024, served as vice chair from 2018–2022, and served as social media coordinator from 2017–2018. He participated in the AHLA Leadership Development Program from 2016–2017, has been a speaker and author for AHLA, and is active in AHLA's mentoring program. Brian is Vice President and General Counsel at Wake Forest University.
Board of Directors Elected to a Second Term
At-Large Nominating Committee Members
A Special Thank You
AHLA thanks the members of the Nominating Committee for their time, energy, and dedication to the nominating process.
To see a full list of AHLA’s new leaders, visit AHLA’s website.