Prof. Dorit Reiss Wins National Award for Distinguished Service in Health Law

Dorit Reiss smiling in the UC Law SF library. Her arms are crossed, and she's wearing a gray blazer over a blue shirt.

Professor Dorit Reiss, who brings legal expertise to public health debates, has received a national award for her lasting contributions to the field as a scholar, policy adviser, and mentor.

Faculty Who Lead: Dorit Reiss

  • Professor Dorit Reiss receives the 2026 Distinguished Service Award from the AALS Section on Law, Medicine and Health Care.
  • She is a leading expert on vaccine law, advising policymakers and providing expert analysis to journalists.
  • Reiss mentors future health law scholars and combats misinformation online through evidence-based public education.

 

Professor Dorit Reiss, a leading voice on vaccine law and policy, has won a national award recognizing her contributions to health law.

She received the 2026 Distinguished Service Award from the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Law, Medicine and Health Care. Presented at the AALS Annual Meeting in January, the award honors sustained service to public health and the health law academy through advocacy, public education, and mentorship.

In presenting the award, Professor Doron Dorfman of Seton Hall Law School, chair-elect of the AALS Section on Law, Medicine and Health Care, described Reiss as “a committed public health advocate who has used her expertise to influence vaccine policy, research, and practice at both the state and federal levels for nearly two decades.”

Reiss leads a widely read vaccine law listserv that provides real-time updates on litigation, regulatory developments, advisory committee proceedings, and public comment opportunities. The resource has become an important tool for lawyers, scholars, journalists, and public health professionals tracking fast-moving developments in vaccine policy.

Her service extends to policymaking as well. She has supported vaccine-related legislation in California, testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on vaccine mandates and non-medical exemptions, and serves on the Parent Advisory Board of Voices for Vaccines, a parent-led organization focused on reducing vaccine-preventable disease.

Dorfman also highlighted Reiss’ active role in robust debates over vaccine safety and related laws and policies.

“She directly engages misinformation by responding to anti-vaccination claims on social media with careful, evidence-based rebuttals,” Dorfman said.

As federal vaccine policy undergoes significant change, Reiss has become a trusted source for major national news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, which regularly seek her expert analysis on new policies and decisions.

Dorfman noted that Reiss is widely respected for her mentorship of health law faculty and scholars.

“She is consistently generous with her time—approachable, willing to provide feedback, and a mentor to many in the field, including myself,” he said.

At UC Law SF, Reiss brings the spirit of public service into the classroom, helping students understand how legal frameworks translate into real-world public health outcomes. She holds the James Edgar Hervey ’50 Chair of Litigation, a position that recognizes faculty excellence in the field of litigation.

The Distinguished Service Award highlights her sustained commitment to evidence-based vaccine policy, public education, and mentorship during a pivotal time for public health law.