by James M. Barclay

The Health Law Section of The Florida Bar is a national leader in creating innovative programs for its members. From its inception, the Section has excelled in making high-quality educational programs available to its members, and the public, through live programs.

The natural progression of the Section’s early efforts led to robust live and recorded continuing legal educational programs, the development of current Health Law Handbooks, periodic Newsletters, certification of qualified healthcare lawyers and development of a vibrant website.

FLORIDA HEALTH LAW JOURNAL was inevitable. From dedicated Health Law Section leadership inspired by those who formed and nurtured the Section, including the then-novel certification

of recognized experts, legendary continuing education programs and publications, came the impetus for this publication, in large measure stemming from Health Law Section activities of

Barbara Pankau from its inception to the conference call about this publication the Wednesday before her untimely death the following Saturday.

No project of these proportions is accomplished by a single person, or just a few people, and FLORIDA HEALTH LAW JOURNAL is no exception. Surfacing as a test of the Section’s maturity and

moving through various stages of conceptualizing, design, staffing and recruitment of authors and editors to publication, FLORIDA HEALTH LAW JOURNAL has enjoyed the unwavering support of

leadership at all levels of the Health Law Section, The Florida Bar and The Florida State University College of Law.

Authors and editors, especially the invaluable student editors, were generous beyond gratitude with their time, efforts and energy to prepare, edit and publish FLORIDA HEALTH LAW JOURNAL

on schedule. Each of them took a great deal of time from their other pressing tasks to make this publication possible. Their work is very much appreciated.

* BS, The University of Florida; JD, The Florida State University College of Law. Law Office of James M. Barclay, P.A., Tallahassee.