Mary Anne Bobinski

UH Professor Leads in Emerging Field and Community Service

Since arriving at UH as an assistant professor in 1989, Mary Anne Bobinski (at center in photo) has earned respect and reverence, not just for her widely known accomplishments as an educator and legal scholar but for her vast efforts to contribute to her community.

Leading the way in the rapidly developing and exciting field of health law, Bobinski has for several years been on the forefront of one of the newest and most talked about areas of research today. She has co-authored two leading law school texts in health law topics, while writing articles and contributing to other books. She has simultaneously proven that there is always time and energy to participate in the community at large. For these reasons, Bobinski is one of the featured scholars in UH’s revolutionary marketing campaign.

Bobinski began her research and teaching career by focusing on how to improve the American health care system. She was particularly interested in how our system of laws and divided political power stymied health care reform and left millions of Americans uninsured. Bobinski’s experiences teaching at UH led her to expand her interests into the legal aspects of HIV infection and into the legal and ethical problems associated with advances in reproductive technology. “Living in Houston,” she said, “meant that I was exposed to the promise and problems of medical advances for infectious diseases and for infertility that are created every day in the world’s largest medical center, right next door to the UH campus.”

What she enjoys talking about most, however, is her community service.

“That is one of the great things about Houston,” said Bobinski who spent her earlier years in New England. “There are so many ways to get involved and help out. I was on the board of a local organization within a year of arriving here. It allows me to give back to the community.”

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Though humble when asked about being awarded the prestigious Ethel M. Baker Service Award for Outstanding Community Service or the slew of other awards and honors she has received for her efforts, she smiles politely and explains that “professors who have been given the opportunity to study social problems owe a duty to society to apply their knowledge to help others.” Moreover, she describes it as being a privilege to be invited to help.

Other accolades she has received are the Students’ Advocates Award in both 1998 and 1999, the Texas Human Rights Foundation Award for Meritorious Service in 1995 and the Bar Association President’s Award for Human Rights.

When Bobinski finds time within her schedule for leisure she enjoys hiking and photography. In fact, some of her work beautifully adorns her office. However, she readily admits that her favorite way of spending time is in conveying the excitement and importance of her field to others, whether through teaching, research or public service.