UCSF Legal Taps Nosowsky as Health System’s First Chief Counsel

UC San Francisco has appointed a deeply experienced health attorney as the first chief counsel for UCSF Health to advise and guide the expanding enterprise and lead a team of attorneys in support of Health priorities.

Rachel Nosowsky, known for her fierce advocacy of clients and patients served by the University of California, has worked for more than two decades in public academic medicine. In her new role, she will serve as a member of the UCSF Health executive team and steer the legal function of the health system, as well as the student health and counseling center at the UCSF campus.

“Rachel is an excellent attorney with deep and wide experience in all areas of health law and with different types of health systems,” said UCSF Chief Campus Counsel Greta Schnetzler. “She will be an excellent colleague and mentor for all the attorneys in our office, as well as a strong partner for me on the health side, as our health system and our UCSF healthcare legal team continues to grow. Rachel is greatly respected across the country for her many contributions to the profession. We are so excited to welcome her to UCSF.”

As chief counsel for UCSF Health, Nosowsky will participate in shaping UCSF Health strategy and policy, align UCSF Health business strategies with legal requirements, and work to reduce legal risk.

“We are delighted to welcome Rachel to provide legal guidance as we move forward in advancing our clinical mission and in expanding our network through growth, revitalization and innovation,” said Suresh Gunasekaran, president and chief executive officer of UCSF Health.

UCSF Health is internationally recognized for its innovation and world-class specialty care. The health system has approximately 18,000 physicians and staff members, with $6.27 billion in revenues. In 2022, UCSF Health admitted more than 42,700 inpatients across its four adult and two pediatric hospitals, and provided more than 2.5 million outpatient visits. It is an integral part of UCSF, one of the leading universities in health sciences research and graduate education.

Throughout her career, Nosowsky has worked to advance and improve the legal profession and to mentor new attorneys, including those historically underrepresented or marginalized within the profession.

Raised in San Francisco, Nosowsky earned her law degree at UC Berkeley School of Law. In 2010, she joined the UC Office of the General Counsel (UC Legal), headquartered in Oakland, to provide advice on research and clinical trials at the University’s health professions schools.

She became deputy general counsel in 2012, overseeing legal services for the University’s academic health systems, health sciences faculty practice plans, health professions schools, and student health and counseling centers. She also served as chief counsel to UC Health and worked with the UC Office of the President, UC Legal and UC Health leaders systemwide to advance the University’s clinical, teaching and research missions.

“Rachel is an attorney of tremendous intellect and high integrity,” said Charles F. Robinson, UC general counsel and senior vice president of Legal Affairs. “Our attorneys, clients and colleagues throughout the UC system have benefited from her expertise, and I am grateful that she will continue to be a part of UC Legal and lead UCSF Health’s legal priorities.”

Nosowsky has held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the University HealthSystem Consortium (now Vizient Inc.) and the American Health Law Association. At the California Lawyers Association, she chairs the Health Law Standing Committee.

In her new role, she will report to Schnetzler, with an additional reporting relationship to the deputy general counsel for Health Affairs at UC Legal. As with all attorneys in the UCSF legal office, Nosowsky will be a member of UC Legal under the overall leadership of UC General Counsel Robinson.