Baker Donelson has added Melodie Hengerer to the Firm's Baltimore office as a member of the Baker Ober Health Law Group.

Ms. Hengerer, who joins as of counsel, represents health care providers, health care related entities, and organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in navigating complex legal and regulatory challenges. She focuses on advising clients on matters involving organ transplant and donation, and she regularly provides guidance on federal and state regulatory and compliance issues, analysis and policy implications of proposed rules, responses to federal and state inquiries and investigations, and the navigation of organ allocation policies. Ms. Hengerer also serves as outside general counsel to OPOs, providing advice and counsel regarding the negotiation of federally-mandated agreements, vendor contracts, research agreements and other special projects. Ms. Hengerer comes to Baker Donelson with a strong litigation background, having defended health care institutions and providers in medical malpractice and professional liability matters, as well as corporate and municipal clients in general and commercial litigation matters.

"Melodie has developed a unique niche in the organ procurement world," said William T. Mathias, co-chair of the Baker Ober Health Law Group. "Her understanding of this complex regulatory area is invaluable to OPOs as well as academic medical centers, transplant centers, and community hospitals. We welcome Melodie and the perspective she provides our clients given the breadth of her experience defending medical malpractice cases and navigating the halls of municipal government."

A graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, Ms. Hengerer is a member of the American Health Law Association as well as the Bar Association of Baltimore City and the American and Maryland State Bar Associations.

Baker Ober Health Law is comprised of more than 200 attorneys across ten states and Washington, D.C. and is regarded as one of the premiere health law practices in the country, receiving national recognition by Modern Healthcare, Chambers USA and the American Health Law Association. The group's size, scale and collective experience gives clients a competitive advantage by partnering with a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team that not only has experience in and detailed knowledge of health law, but also understands the complicated ways in which the industry operates.