Key pioneer in health law

Laid groundwork for division at law firm, built up Loyola University Chicago
program

In the early 1980s, health law was a fledgling field. But a leading law firm, Gardner, Carton & Douglas in Chicago, sought out the talent of Mary Cosgrove Cosentino, a young St. Louis attorney who had already made her name known in the field."There were very few lawyers who were deeply interested in health law as a topic," said Edward Bryant, partner with Drinker, Biddle, Gardner & Carton. "I thought Mary was a highly empathetic lawyer, which is essential in health law.

You have to appreciate the needs of the patients and clients and have to have that as a foundation ... Clearly she was that kind of person."In 1980, she was hired to help start the new health law division in the law firm and soon became a leader in the field.

Mrs. Cosentino, 55, died of cancer Saturday, Jan. 26, in her Western Springs home.She shared her knowledge with future generations of lawyers at Loyola University Chicago, where she taught health law and legal research and writing."She had a profound impact on multiple levels," said Larry Singer, director of the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy at Loyola. "She was a pioneer, and that was really true. She was one of the early professors in health law.

Many of the students that Mary has worked with over the years have gone on to great prominence."Mrs. Cosentino played a large role in helping the program achieve its current ranking of fourth in the nation, Singer said."She really did have a significant impact to get us to the stature we have today ... She really made a strong contribution to that in the early days and her continued work more recently," Singer said. "She was also a dynamic personality, eternally optimistic and devoted to her students and colleagues."Born and raised in St. Louis, Mrs. Cosentino graduated from Fontbonne College in 1974 and went on to St. Louis University Law School, where she met her future husband, Robert.

After she graduated in 1978, she worked for two years in the legal department of the Catholic Health Association of the United States in St. Louis."That led her into a career in health law, which at that time was a fledgling field," her husband said. "There really was no such thing as health lawyers at that time." At the Catholic Health Association, she gained experience, both in the law and health policy, which then attracted the law firm."The couple married in 1981, moved to La Grange, then settled in Western Springs.Mrs.

Cosentino helped establish the law firm's commitment to health law, often taking the underdog point of view, Bryant said."Mary was a unique individual and what I call a legally curious person who always tried to understand fully what she was doing, rather than just doing it. Sometimes a lot of disputes are just settled because people don't want to pay the money or use their resources. Mary always looked at the big picture and what was the just way in solving the matter. That made it a real pleasure to work with her," Bryant said.She left the law firm in 1984 to become general counsel at St. Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center in Chicago. She worked there until 1988, when she joined the faculty at Loyola.

When her third son was born, she went from full-time to adjunct professor.Five years ago, Mrs. Cosentino was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She joined the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation in California. Soon afterward, she was asked to join the board of directors, said Christopher Hahn, executive director of the foundation, where her knowledge of health law melded with her experience as a patient.

Soon she became an activist for the disease, searching for a cure and more research dollars."She brought a very sensitive and warm wisdom as well as optimism [to the group]," Hahn said. "I don't think she should be remembered as a person who had mesothelioma. [She was a] vibrant and optimistic and spiritual person who was bringing all those things to her fight, and we got to see all those things as we got to know her."Mrs. Cosentino was a former member of the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Hospital Attorneys and a member of the National Legal Committee for the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

Locally, she served on the school board of St. John of the Cross Parish School in Western Springs and was chairman of the swim and dive committee of the La Grange Field Club.In addition to her husband, other survivors include her three sons, James, Peter and Timothy; a sister, Colleen Goodman; and a brother, John Cosgrove.Services will begin at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, followed by a 9:45 a.m. mass in St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 5005 S. Wolf Rd., Western Springs.

This article was originally published at chicagotribune News section on January
29, 2008