Meet Donna J. Craig, Nurse Attorney

Ms. Craig began her professional career as a registered nurse in the cardiac step-down unit at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where she provided acute care and health counseling to patients. After several years caring for cardiac patients, she had a chance opportunity to audit a graduate course in health care law and ethics, which changed her career path. That course propelled her to earn her law degree. After law school Ms. Craig returned to Michigan where she joined a medical malpractice defense law firm in Detroit and focused her practice on health care law and litigation.

Continuing her desire to blend her clinical experience and knowledge with her specialized legal skills, Donna became the first Corporate Director of Legal Affairs, Risk Management and Insurance at Oakwood Healthcare System. This leadership position gave her the unique opportunity to work hand-in-hand with management, nursing, the medical staff and ancillary staff to positively impact patient care. As Corporate Director, she was intimately involved in negotiating and implementing complex corporate transactions.

Over 20 years ago Donna left Oakwood Healthcare System to establish her own law firm. The Health Law Center was founded with the mission of advocating and representing health care professionals, medical practice groups, hospitals, health facilities, businesses and individuals to assist them in achieving their business, professional and individual goals within the bounds of state and federal laws. To achieve this mission, it requires Ms. Craig to understand the ever changing laws and regulations that affect the delivery of health care services. Her dedication and career accomplishments were recognized by Detroit’s dbusiness Magazine, which awarded Ms. Craig its Top Lawyer in Health Care Law award for three consecutive years.

Education & Training

Western New England College School of Law, J.D.
University of Michigan School of Nursing, B.S.N., cum laude
Harvard School of Public Health, Advance Program in Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
American Health Lawyers Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Training
SCAO Approved Mediation Training, Oakland Mediation Center
Advanced Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Institute, Institute of Continuing Legal Education
Advanced Mediation Training, Business to Business Mediation Project, State Bar of Michigan ADR Section