- Professional Experience
- Professional Memberships and Activities
- Legal Accomplishments
- Medical Accomplishments
- Education
Ms. Coffing is an Associate Attorney in the Albuquerque office bringing a unique blend of healthcare expertise and legal knowledge to the Products and Liability Practice Group. Receiving her J.D. at the University of New Mexico School of Law, she leveraged her extensive background in emergency medicine and physician assistance to navigate complex legal matters involving medical malpractice, health law, products, and liability.
Before embarking on her legal career, Ms. Coffing spent over a decade in the medical field. As a physician assistant in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, she developed a deep understanding of patient care and clinical operations. Her experience includes roles as a lecturer, where she educated upcoming healthcare professionals, and as a key member of the emergency medicine team, contributing to critical patient management, clinical operations, strategic planning, and quality improvement initiatives.
Ms. Coffing’s commitment to excellence is evident through her numerous certifications, including Advanced Trauma Life Support and various life support courses, underscoring her dedication to the medical field. This rich background equips her with the practical insights and analytical skills essential for addressing the intricacies of health law, medical malpractice, and professional liability cases, particularly those involving hospital and healthcare systems.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Coffing is actively involved in legal and community organizations, serving as President of the Health Law Society and Moms of Law at the law school. Her passion for mentorship and education is reflected in her ongoing commitment to guiding future healthcare and legal professionals. With her unique perspective at the intersection of law and medicine, Ms. Coffing is poised to make significant contributions to our clients and the firm, ensuring that we navigate the complexities of health law, medical malpractice, and products and liability law with expertise and compassion.
- New Mexico State Bar
- New Mexico Federal Bar
- American Bar Association
- New Mexico Bar Association
Graduation Honors:
Health Law Scholar Award
Clinical Honors in Natural Resources and Environmental Law Clinic
Certificates:
Certificate in Natural Resources and Environmental Law
Journals:
Natural Resources Journal Symposium Editor
Symposiums:
Symposium on New Mexico’s Just Transition
November 2023
Co-sponsored by the University School of Law Natural Resources Journal and New Mexico Speaker of the House
Publications:
Symposium on New Mexico’s Just Transition
Melanie Coffing & Logan Stokes (?), Symposium on New Mexico’s Just Transition, 64 NAT. RES. J. 272 (2024)
Externships:
Judicial Extern for Judge Katherine A. Wray at the New Mexico Court of Appeals
Moot Court:
Health Law Moot Court, November 2022
Activities:
Student Health Law Association, President
Moms of Law, President
Health Law Section, New Mexico Bar Association, Student Member
Awards:
CALI Award in Criminal Law, Fall 2021
CALI Award in Natural Resources and Environmental Law Clinic, Spring 2024
Medical Accomplishments
Medical Leadership Academy, June 2021
Leadership development, project management, hospital and healthcare systems, quality improvement
Clinical practice areas:
- University of New Mexico Hospital
- UNM Department of Emergency Medicine
- Academic medicine
- Areas: Adult emergency department, pediatric emergency department, triage, and trauma and resuscitation areas.
Sandoval Regional Medical Center (now UNM Health)
UNM Department of Emergency Medicine
Community medicine
Skills: Adult and pediatric emergency medicine, triage, and trauma and resuscitation.
Certifications:
- Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
- State License: New Mexico Medical Board
- Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
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University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque, New Mexico (J.D. 2024, cum laude)
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A.T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona (M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies, cum laude, 2011)
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University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico (B.S. in Biology, cum laude, 2008)