Zabawa bridges gap of medical and legal communities

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The well-being of the State Bar’s Health Law Section has improved during the past few years thanks to the nurturing of past chairperson Barbara Zabawa.

An associate at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC since 2007, Zabawa, 40, recently wrapped up a two-year term as section chair. She helped bridge the gap between the medical and legal communities by helping develop a joint professional education program for lawyers and physicians.

“It was a unique experience putting on a program that would be attractive to physicians and other health care providers, as well as lawyers who practice in those areas,” she said.

Zabawa chairs her firm’s health law section. Her practice involves a mixture of health care compliance and business litigation.

Prior to going into law, she earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

While focusing on health management and policy, a professor encouraged her to consider law school “because it would open more opportunities in the health policy world,” Zabawa said.

That recommendation proved prophetic. Zabawa has been involved with several legislative and administrative committees focusing on health reform. She has proven herself to be a health care leader through her legal practice, outside professional efforts and legislative activities.

— Tony Anderson

What was your worst law school course?

Civil Procedure

What is the best part of being an attorney?

Being able to impact lives in a positive way

What song is on heavy rotation on your iPod?

“Gonna Fly Now” from the “Rocky” soundtrack

What would you never wear?

A tattoo

What can you spend hours doing that’s not law-related?

Observing the local real estate market

If you could be a superhero, who would you be?

Superman

What is your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?

American Players Theatre

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Being able to run long distances

What trait do you most like in others?

Honesty

What is the first concert you went to?

Loretta Lynn in 1980 in Wausau

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Interesting

Who are your favorite writers?

I love Hemmingway and I love Jane Austin