Health Law and Policy Kahan Health/FDA Law Fellowship

Partner at Hogan Lovells

About Professor Kahan

Jonathan Kahan is a partner at Hogan Lovells and former director of the firm’s Medical Device and Technology Practice. He presently serves as a member of the George Washington University President’s Leadership Advisory Council and he is also the general counsel of the Association of Medical Diagnostics Manufacturers. In 2020, Mr. Kahan funded the creation of GW’s Health Law Initiative directed by Sonia Suter, the Kahan Family Research Professor of Law. Mr. Kahan hopes the Health Law Initiative will inspire greater interest in health law among GW Law students and ultimately build a pipeline of practice-ready health care lawyers to fuel the burgeoning field.

Tarra Olfat is a 3L Kahan Fellow from Great Falls, Virginia. Tarra graduated from William & Mary with a double major in Government and Public Health. In her 2L year at GW Law, Tarra was the Vice President of the Student Health Law Association and Director of Communications of the Law Association of Women. This year, she is the Membership & Projects Editor for the George Washington Law Review, Director of Membership for the Moot Court Board, and a Dean’s Fellow. Over the summer, Tarra has worked at the Office of Special Master in the Court of Federal Claims doing vaccine injury litigation, and at Hall Render, a health-centered law firm. Last year, she externed with the Risk Management Department of Children’s National Hospital. This year, Tarra is externing with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Joefred is a 3L from Dallas, Texas. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2022 with a degree in African and African American Diaspora Studies, and a Minor in Business Administration. Joefred served as a committee member of the Patricia Harris Awards with the Black Law Students Association. He is Notes Editor for the Public Contracts Law Journal, and member of the Moot Court Board. Over the summer Joefred has worked at Enhesa doing environmental, health and safety regulatory research, and at Keller and Heckman, an FDA regulatory law firm. During the semester Joefred has worked as a Research Assistant researching the submissions of State Medicaid waivers, and at the Court of Federal Claims as a judicial extern.

Grace is a 3L from McLean, Virginia. She graduated from Miami University with a double major in Kinesiology and Public Health, and a minor in Nutrition Sciences. Grace went on to earn her Masters of Science in Nursing from Columbia University. As a registered nurse, she cared for a range of patient populations, including those in the pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric heart and lung transplant patients, and served on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. During law school, Grace has interned with the Department of Health & Human Services, including roles in the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and the Office of the General Counsel, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Division. Additionally, she interned with the Office of Chief Counsel at the Drug Enforcement Administration within the Department of Justice. She is also a member of the GW Business & Finance Law Review.

Amanda is a 2L passionate about health law with a special interest in privacy and digital health. Amanda received her undergraduate degree in psychology and public health from the University of Florida. This past summer, Amanda interned at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Medicare Operations Division Departmental Appeals Board. In addition to being a Kahan Fellow, Amanda is a Writing Fellow, a member of the International Law Review, Moot Court Board, President of the Student Health Law Association, and Director for SBA Student Affairs. In her (little) free time, Amanda enjoys practicing hot yoga, eating a sweet treat, and exploring the city with friends.

Jacob is a 2L from West Michigan. He studied kinesiology with a minor in Spanish at the University of Michigan, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 2022 and receiving his BS with Highest Distinction. Following graduation, Jacob worked as a project coordinator at the Michigan Performance Research Laboratory where he collaborated with tech-industry partners to collect algorithm development data for health and performance metrics on wearable devices. At GW, he is also a Dean’s Fellow for the Fundamentals of Lawyering Program and a member of the George Washington Law Review. Jacob will be joining Hogan Lovells as a 2025 Summer Associate following his 2L year.

Jaylah Richie is a 2L from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended Dillard University for her undergraduate degree, where she studied Criminal Justice and English. At GW Law, Jaylah is the President of the Black Law Students Association, a Student Advisor for the Inns of Court Program, a member of the GW Journal of Energy and Environmental Law, and a Student Attorney in the Health, Equity, Policy and  Advocacy Clinic. She is currently a Research Assistant for Professor Sonia Suter and a Judicial Intern in the Chambers of the Honorable Judge Errol Arthur.