About Kenya S. Woodruff

Kenya S. Woodruff works with hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers looking to improve the performance of their clinical operations and ensure regulatory compliance. She also helps those organizations merge and expand, whether through joint ventures, mergers or acquisitions or other collaborations.

A business perspective on healthcare operations

Due to her prior experience as deputy general counsel at the Parkland Health & Hospital System and as a privacy officer for a publicly traded radiology company, Kenya approaches operational issues from the client’s perspective, taking into account both technical issues and practical concerns. She structures arrangements that will be both clinically and financially beneficial to her client, while giving keen attention to regulatory compliance. Described as “extremely connected within the industry,” clients say Kenya “truly has her finger on the pulse of both the healthcare industry and legal practice and ethics." Others praise how she “quickly grasps the nuances of [the] project, showing a deep understanding of industry trends and specific requirements (Chambers USA 2025)."

"I have known and worked with Kenya for a number of years and know her to be an extremely knowledgeable, dedicated and hard-working attorney."

Chambers USA 2026
(Texas, Healthcare) survey response

Practice Focus

  • Creating compliant operating structures for healthcare providers
  • Healthcare regulation
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Joint ventures
  • The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) and fraud and abuse laws
  • White-collar defense

Representative Experience

  • Represented national chiropractic entity in analyzing, forming and implementing chiropractic practice management, clinical and telehealth services in all 50 states.
  • Provide day-to-day regulatory and compliance counseling to a hospital district, including advising on governmental entity and regulatory requirements such as the public information act, government procurement and governmental contracting; and review policies and procedures related to ACGME, EMTALA, ADA, CMS Conditions of Participation and clinical trial compliance in preparation for upcoming surveys.
  • Provided counsel to a national COVID testing company under contract with the US Department of Health and Human Services that coordinates laboratory testing at retail pharmacies and various community sites regarding navigating healthcare operational and privacy issues unique to the provision of healthcare in a mobile environment.
  • Provide counsel to several provider types regarding various healthcare regulatory and operational matters including, patient privacy, end-of-life, peer review, guardianship and compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards and other accreditation standards.
  • Represented hospital districts, universities, private hospital systems and investors in forming 5.01(a)-type nonprofit health organizations and creating provider networks using them.
  • Provided HIPAA compliance advice and training for hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, electronic patient population management companies, and other healthcare providers and business associates.
  • Assist governmental university hospital in formation and operationalization of a Clinically Integrated Network to support the primary and specialty care needs of adults and pediatric patients in the region. This representation includes extensive attention to data privacy, access and mapping.
  • Represented regional anesthesiology group in formation and operationalization of Clinically Integrated Network and consulted on related out of network strategies.
  • Succcessfully represented several licensed providers before the Texas medical board, nursing board, chiropractic board, occupational therapy board and psychology board.
  • Represented several providers in their formation and operationalization of Patient Safety Organizations. Provided representation before state regulators regarding utilization of the confidentiality and privileges afforded by the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA).
  • Represented national entity in acquisition of several ASCs across the country.

News

Publications

Quick Reads

Presentations and Events

Practices
Education
  • Duke University School of Law, JD
  • Emory University, BA
  • The George Washington University, Associate's Certificate, Contract Management
Bar Admissions
  • Texas
  • North Carolina
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • US District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • US District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • US District Court, Western District of Texas
Professional & Community Involvement
  • American Bar Association, Health Law Section, Vice Chair
  • Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section, past Secretary, past Treasurer, past Vice Chair, past Chair
  • Dallas Theatre Center, Board of Trustees
  • DFW Hospital Council Foundation, past Board of Directors
  • Prism Health North Texas, past Board of Directors
  • State Bar of Texas, Health Law Section, Council Member, Immediate Chair
  • Southwest Transplant Alliance, Board Member 2018-2024, Ad Hoc Member of Governance Committee
  • Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Public Member, 2005-2018
  • The Health Industry Council Foundation, past Chair
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Board of Directors
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Health Care Law, 2019–2026
    Lawyer of the Year
    Health Care Law, 2024
  • Chambers USA
    Healthcare, 2015–2026
  • Dallas Business Journal
    Leader in Diversity
  • D Magazine
    Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2014–2026
  • Katten John P. Sieger Excellence in Mentoring Award
    2023
  • National Women's Council Top 15 Business Women
    2017
  • Modern Healthcare
    Leading Women, 2026
  • Profiles in Diversity Journal
    Women Worth Watching, 2016
  • Super Lawyers
    Texas, 2014–2024
    Top 50 Women, Texas Health Care, 2020
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars
    Texas, 2009, 2013
  • Texas Diversity Council
    Top Women Lawyer Award, 2018
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2024–2026
Award Methodologies