John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Michelle Mello, a distinguished scholar in empirical health law, has been awarded the 2024 Babcock Award for Excellence in Teaching. This accolade is reserved for instructors who teach first-year courses and promote inclusion, intellectual rigor, and professional integrity.
Mello holds a joint appointment at Stanford University School of Medicine in the Department of Health Policy and teaches Torts to first-year students at Stanford Law School (SLS). Her work focuses on understanding the impact of law and regulation on healthcare delivery and population health outcomes.
The Babcock Award was established in 2020 to honor Barbara Babcock, the first woman appointed to the faculty of Stanford Law School. Babcock was recognized as a pioneering lawyer who significantly influenced women in the legal profession.
"Barbara is legendary for bringing her powerful experiences as a legal advocate to her classroom," said Mello. "It’s an honor to have my name in the same sentence as hers."
Students who nominated Mello praised her teaching style. One student remarked, “She didn’t just teach me torts. She inspired me to turn my weaknesses into strength.” Another student noted that Mello commanded "an unparalleled level of respect from every student."
SLS Dean George Triantis commented on Mello's influence: “When I hear students rave about her class, they typically speak about how Michelle made them feel challenged but confident.”
David Studdert, SLS Professor and Stanford Vice Provost and Dean of Research, added: “Michelle is a phenom in the classroom. She is deeply committed to her students’ success.”
Mello has authored over 260 articles covering various topics such as medical liability, public health law, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, data ethics, biomedical research ethics, and governance. Her publications appear across multiple journals related to medicine, health policy, and law.
Barbara Babcock's legacy continues through this award named after her. Before joining Stanford's faculty in 1972, she served as director of the Public Defender Service of Washington D.C., among other notable roles.
Alerts Sign-up