Hadiya Williams '18: A Journey from UMass to Healthcare Legal Advocacy

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Hadiya Williams’ time at UMass was jam-packed with every opportunity one student could take on. In addition to graduating in 2018 with a dual degree in psychology and anthropology, Williams was an Honors student, BaccMD Scholar, president of a sorority, studied abroad in Peru, on the executive board of the Black Student Union, an SGA Senator, participated in a neuroscience lab, and worked as a student ambassador for the Honors College.

Throughout her time at UMass, Williams was headed towards a certain path, medical school. As she progressed and experienced the opportunities UMass could offer, Williams faced the hard truth about her journey.

“It didn't feel like the right path for me. But I've always been interested in healthcare and that's the common thread throughout my entire educational and professional career.”

She took a step back and re-evaluated what fit her. Williams, in addition to re-evaluating her next steps, was writing her Honors Thesis in Professor Dean Robinson’s class on Health Inequalities. Robinson recommended exploring a master’s degree in Public Policy at the School of Public Policy. Williams applied and completed her Master’s in Public Policy at UMass Amherst. The thread kept weaving its way and Williams specialized in health policy.

As Williams examined her next steps, law school became a fruitful opportunity. Shortly after graduation, Williams began attending New York University Law School. She focused on women’s health during her time in law school, working for Planned Parenthood in her first summer. In her final year, Williams wrote a scholarly piece, or Note, on abortion access during the pandemic. Following her passage of the bar, Williams worked with the New York Legal Assistance Group, advocating for marginalized patients with legal issues.

Currently, Williams works at a law firm specializing in commercial litigation. Although she currently is not working in the healthcare field, her job responsibilities include working with certain healthcare related companies on their product liabilities. In October, she will be starting a clerkship with a federal judge in the Southern District Court of New York.

Williams credits her time at UMass Amherst, specifically her Honors Thesis, as the catalyst for her journey. Not only did the thesis provide many skills needed for her academic and professional career, it provided future guidance. It was in the process of writing her Honors Thesis where Williams identified the moment her perspective changed.

“I think through the process of writing my thesis, I was able to identify issues in health equity, and the paths I could take to actually make a difference in a way that felt meaningful to me… and I think my thesis completely shifted my perspective regarding what made sense for me going forward and the ways I could make change,” she explains.

Even as she works as an attorney, Williams uses her passion for healthcare as a guiding force.  She hopes to continue serving others in the healthcare field and use it as a beacon of motivation for her ongoing professional journey.