3rd Annual Symposium

Call for Papers - Abstracts are due by May 27, 2026

In an era defined by a shifting constitutional landscape, public health law is no longer just a regulatory framework — it is the foundation of our nation’s health. As we navigate the current political complexities, the legal powers of the state and the rights of the individual are being constantly redefined.

The goal of this conference is to move beyond theory and to focus on the practical applications of law on the current public health landscape. Through a policy-centric lens, we will dissect the legal foundations, ethical flashpoints, and public policies that determine who stays healthy and who gets left behind.

We are looking for bold, provocative, and evidence-based proposals. Whether you are a legal scholar analyzing case law, a public health leader, a practicing attorney, or a healthcare practitioner on the ground, your voice is essential to this dialogue, and we encourage you to join us in an interdisciplinary exploration of the future of public health in America. Panel discussions will focus on:

• Scientific Research: Advances, Funding, and Political Power
Medical research is the essential foundation of all public health advancement, leading to the prevention of disease, and improvement in treatment and the improvement of population health. As federal budgets tighten and political scrutiny of "Big Science" intensifies, population health faces unique challenges. Proposals should consider the influence of shifting federal and state budget priorities, legislative agendas, heightened political scrutiny of scientific endeavors, and the potential for private funding and its benefit. The session will seek to address challenges in translating research into public health policy in the evolving political landscape.

• The Vaccine Paradox: Mandates, Autonomy, and Trust
Vaccination has long played a significant role in efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and yet in recent years vaccination has become the subject of significant public health contention. Current pediatric vaccine recommendations vary between primary advisory bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics. This lack of consensus leaves a legal and policy quandary in its wake that confuses decades of public health efforts. The session aims to provide a practical, data-driven analysis of the current state of vaccine policy and the downstream effects on public health.

• Pandemic Preparedness: The Post-COVID Architecture
Nearly half a decade after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt, memory fades for some while the public health infrastructure continues to strengthen preparedness for the next outbreaks. This session aims to address systems necessary to protect public health in the event of future pandemics, highlighting both public and private sector responses.

• Sovereignty & Survival: Maternal and Reproductive Health Equity
The health of a nation is written in the health outcomes of its mothers and children. A significant focus of public health is on women of childbearing age, based on the idea that improving a woman's health during gestation leads to healthier pregnancies and, in turn, a healthier child. Reproductive health currently is one of the most contested genres in public health. This session seeks to address the full range of reproductive care, support for early childhood development, and bridge the chasm of reproductive health while evaluating the use of law as a tool to dismantle systematic reproductive care.

All invited speakers will be offered the opportunity to publish in a symposium edition of the Touro Law Review. Articles may be a variety of lengths but should focus on the topic of public health and the influence of law.

Please direct all questions to Professor Rebecca Feinberg, rfeinber2@touro.edu, Director of the Health Law Institute.