About Kenya S. Woodruff

Kenya S. Woodruff works with hospitals, physicians and other health care 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 health care 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.

"Kenya is a joy to work with. She is highly capable, practical, approachable and communicative." "Kenya is a go-to resource for really difficult healthcare regulatory questions."

Chambers USA 2023
(Texas, Healthcare) survey response

Practice Focus

  • Creating compliant operating structures for health care providers
  • Health care 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 health care operational and privacy issues unique to the provision of health care in a mobile environment.
  • Provide counsel to various 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 health care providers and business associates.
  • Represented MSSP accountable care organization with more than 350 independent physicians and an investor entity in the formation, application process and operational phase of ACO and related contracting; counseled ACO on contracting with Medicare Advantage plans and multiple joint venture partners. *
  • Represented Dallas-based physician group in negotiations with a Texas hospital district and a large regional private hospital system to outsource the provision of emergency medical services for county hospitals and provide graduate medical education programs for medical residents and fellows. *
  • Represented a subcontractor that provided onsite medical testing and screening services under an employer-sponsored wellness plan in electronic breach response and in subsequent investigation by the OCR. The investigation resulted in no fine being levied by OCR against the subcontractor. *
* Experience prior to Katten

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
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
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association, Health Law Section, Council Member, Chair of the Business and Transactions Interest Group and Co-Chair of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Washington Health Law Summit
  • 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, Conference Chair
  • Southwest Transplant Alliance, Board of Directors
  • Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Public Member (appointed by Governor for two six-year terms ending 2018)
  • The Health Industry Council Foundation, past Chair
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Board of Directors
Kenya Woodruff and Ramana Rameswaran Discuss COVID-19 Testing Plan and Vaccine Distribution Strategy
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Health Care Law, 2019–2025
    Lawyer of the Year
    Health Care Law, 2024
  • Chambers USA
    Healthcare, 2015–2025
  • Dallas Business Journal
    Leader in Diversity
  • D Magazine
    Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2014–2025
  • Katten John P. Sieger Excellence in Mentoring Award
    2023
  • National Women's Council Top 15 Business Women
    2017
  • 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, 2024–2025
Award Methodologies