Welcome to Health-e Law, Sheppard Mullin's podcast exploring the fascinating health tech topics and trends of the day. In this episode, Michael Orlando welcomes Amy Dilcher and Chi Huynh, co-chairs of Sheppard Mullin’s Women in Healthcare Leadership Collaborative (WHLC), to discuss key takeaways from the 2025 WHLC Leadership Summit.
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What We Discussed in this Episode:
- What is WHLC, and what is its mission?
- What is the purpose of the annual leadership summit?
- What was the theme for 2025?
- What topics were discussed during this year's summit panels?
- What were the key takeaways regarding healthcare transactions, AI, reimbursement and regulatory changes, and telehealth?
- Looking ahead to 2026, what’s on WHLC’s agenda?
- How can the annual summit help advance women in healthcare leadership?
- What do you see as the key drivers that help support women in leadership?
- How does the WHLC summit encourage collaboration?
- What is Legal Bridge Services, and what drove its creation?
About Amy Dilcher
Amy Dilcher is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office and Co-Chair of WHLC. With more than 25 years in the healthcare industry and a prior career as an oncology nurse, Amy's dual understanding of the clinical and legal aspects of healthcare enables her to deliver practical, tailored solutions that balance business goals with regulatory compliance.
Amy advises hospitals, health systems, and private equity–backed organizations on strategic affiliations, hospital and physician transactions, regulatory compliance, and operational risk. Her background as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel enables her to offer practical guidance that aligns legal strategy with business and clinical priorities. Her practice includes structuring and negotiating complex healthcare transactions, developing compliance programs, and supporting post-transaction integration. She also provides ongoing counsel to leadership teams navigating regulatory and operational challenges.
Amy is certified as a Yellow Belt in Legal Process Improvement and Project Management through Legal Lean Sigma, and she assists clients in strengthening legal operations, improving workflow efficiency, and enhancing organizational performance.
About Chi Huynh
Chi Huynh is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s Century City office and Co-Chair of WHLC. Her practice focuses on healthcare transactions, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.
Chi represents physician groups, independent physician associations, hospitals and affiliated foundations, nonprofit health organizations, pharmacies, and other healthcare entities in mergers and acquisitions, operational matters, contracting, and general corporate counsel work. She also handles healthcare regulatory issues involving information privacy, the corporate practice of medicine, anti-kickback rules, and Stark Law considerations. She also advises public and private companies, private equity firms, and strategic investors on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, investment structures, and corporate governance. Her work spans a range of industries, including semiconductor, food and beverage, specialty manufacturing, entertainment, energy, and renewable energy.
Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Chi served as Associate General Counsel at IPC Healthcare, Inc., where she led a team responsible for negotiating, documenting, and closing more than 35 acquisitions across multiple states.
About Michael Orlando
Michael Orlando is a corporate and intellectual property transactions attorney in Sheppard Mullin’s San Diego (Del Mar) office, where he leads the firm’s Technology Transactions Team and is a member of the Life Sciences and Healthcare teams.
Michael advises technology companies on the development, commercialization, and procurement of their products. His expertise covers a broad spectrum of transactions, including licensing, outsourcing, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and strategic partnerships. By integrating corporate and intellectual property law, Michael structures deals that align his clients' legal, technical, and business objectives. His practice serves a diverse range of industries—from biotechnology and digital health to aerospace and automotive technologies, with a particular focus on electric, autonomous, and connected vehicle systems. He represents a wide array of clients, from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Before entering private practice, Michael founded a software-as-a-service company and completed an in-house secondment at a publicly traded biotechnology company, an experience that informs his practical and business-focused approach to client engagements.
Contact Info
Amy Dilcher
Chi Huynh
Michael Orlando
Resources
Women in Leadership Healthcare Collaborative (WHLC)
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