As healthcare continues to evolve rapidly, so do the challenges associated with that growth. With each new innovation comes increased responsibility; for example, protecting individual data and ensuring patients’ trust in the use of their information. Moreover, clinical organizations need to continually adapt to changing laws and regulations while identifying and mitigating risks.
For EHE Health in New York City, the responsibility of addressing these challenges rests with the organization’s Deputy General Counsel – Steven Okoye.
Steven Okoye is the Deputy General Counsel for EHE Health and is also responsible for corporate governance, compliance, risk management, data privacy, insurance oversight, and litigation strategy. He serves on the highest level of decision-making within the organization and focuses on creating systems that enable the business to operate efficiently and comply with relevant rules and regulations, thereby protecting individuals.
Okoye takes the responsibility of protecting individuals seriously and believes that the legal team should instill confidence, rather than fear, in the actions taken to address compliance-related issues. This is evident in his most recent, and highly successful, initiative. Okoye implemented a modern contract management platform that replaced outdated contract-tracking methods. The contract management system provides immediate transparency, significantly reduces cost, and increases accountability. More importantly, outside legal spending has decreased by more than 75%. Additionally, the entire organization now has greater clarity regarding the processes used to manage and maintain contracts.
Okoye’s focus on streamlining complex systems began prior to entering the courtroom. While attending Temple University in Philadelphia, Okoye majored in business and served as treasurer and later as vice president of the Progressive NAACP Chapter. Okoye coordinated events and assisted in developing structures that could remain intact despite frequent changes in student leadership. Through this experience, Okoye understood that effective leadership is demonstrated not only through the development of innovative ideas but also through the creation of systems that support them.
Law school provided Okoye with a forum to test his ability to think in systems terms. At Rutgers Law School in Camden, Okoye served as Managing Technology Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy and as Vice President of the Black Law Students Association. Okoye also mentored younger students through the Minority Student Program, focusing on civil procedure and exam preparation strategies. Okoye developed a reputation for remaining calm under high pressure. One of his Rutgers clinical professors, Ruth Anne Robbins, referred to him as “a steady leader,” “an academic mentor,” and “a calm voice of reason.”
During a particularly significant and challenging period in Okoye’s life (when his daughter, Maria, was born during his first semester), he demonstrated outstanding focus and purpose in his studies. He learned to communicate effectively and to prioritize tasks. His family responsibilities also fostered his resilience and reinforced the purpose of his career: he wanted to create a future in which families like his own could depend on a healthcare system designed to protect them.
Okoye’s written advocacy has been recognized for excellence. In 2016, Okoye and his partner, Sadé Cailin, won the best brief award in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. He also received the Award for Service to Rutgers Law School. These awards reflect Okoye’s belief that the law can be both powerful and accessible to the public. Okoye’s professors saw that he could become a lawyer who simplifies the law for the public.
Prior to pursuing a career in the legal profession, Okoye worked as a biotechnician at Merck in West Point, Pennsylvania. In this position, Okoye developed an understanding of how science and regulation interact. Okoye worked closely with technology teams and realized the critical importance of compliance in the life sciences sector. Okoye believes that his experience at Merck prepared him for what was to come in the legal profession.
Following graduation from law school, Okoye began his career by clerking for Judge Thomas W. Sumners Jr. on the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Okoye also completed a judicial externship with Judge Paula Dow. Through these experiences, Okoye gained insight into how the court’s decisions directly affect individuals’ lives. Okoye understands that the smallest choice in a statute or contract clause can have a profound effect on the future of a business or an individual seeking care.
Okoye’s first opportunity to practice privately was at Wilentz, Goldman, and Spitzer, where he focused on health law. He then joined Frier Levitt, representing hospitals, physician groups, and pharmaceutical companies, and assisted in navigating their compliance concerns, including HIPAA, Stark Law, anti-kickback, and the Prescription Drug Marketing Act. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Okoye advised his clients on numerous urgent regulatory issues, including the emergency licensure for foreign physicians practicing medicine in the United States. These experiences further solidified Okoye’s understanding of how the systems that govern the law can have a direct, urgent effect on individuals’ lives.
Okoye transitioned into the corporate sphere when he joined Macquarie Group. Okoye worked on the governance initiatives of the Financial Management Group and assisted in overseeing the dissolution of more than 100 legal entities involved in mergers and dissolutions. Okoye’s work streamlined the financial group’s operations, enabling it to interact more transparently with regulators across the Americas. Okoye learned that establishing a strong legal framework is like providing a strong product; it can enhance a company’s overall health.
Throughout Okoye’s career, he has emphasized a philosophy that balances innovation with integrity. Okoye firmly believes that trust is the result of consistency. Given the increasing number of medical records flowing electronically through networks rather than physical filing cabinets, trust must also be proactive. Organizations cannot afford to treat privacy as a secondary concern. Instead, organizations must incorporate privacy considerations into all decisions made before a patient signs a form or accesses a healthcare application.
Okoye has carried this philosophy with him to EHE Health. As EHE Health expands its preventive care offerings and electronic capabilities, Okoye ensures the organization’s legal framework aligns with its mission. Okoye’s colleagues understand that he will provide guidance and direction to ensure that they continue to operate in accordance with the principles that matter most. Patients and their families should be confident that they are being protected regardless of whether they will ever see the legal frameworks established to safeguard them.
The future of healthcare holds considerable promise. Preventive care may change the way Americans choose to maintain satisfactory health. Virtual care may become a standard component of treatment plans. However, the more that technology plays a role in an individual’s health care, the more critical it will be to have a strong, capable legal leader to ensure that all data collected is properly secured and protected, that all regulatory requirements are met, and that there are no unanticipated consequences.
Okoye recognizes this responsibility fully. The law was not intended to slow down innovation. Rather, the law exists to protect the individuals that innovation seeks to assist. Okoye believes that the organizations that succeed will be those that remain current with regard to evolving regulatory environments and establish systems that facilitate compliance.
Okoye is licensed to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. Okoye’s areas of expertise include contract negotiations, data privacy, mergers & acquisitions, healthcare compliance, and corporate governance. Each of these areas is increasingly critical in today’s medical environment. Okoye’s unique balance of providing counsel to organizations on compliance obligations while emphasizing the importance of reliability and earning individuals’ trust provides a valuable service to the industry.
While much of Okoye’s work may not be readily apparent to patients who benefit from his efforts, his ultimate goal is to instill in patients a sense of confidence that they are receiving quality care in a safe and reliable manner. In essence, Okoye strives to provide patients with assurance that someone is actively engaged in planning and advocating on their behalf long before they enter a clinic.
When rapid progress creates uncertainty for healthcare organizations, leaders like Steven Okoye provide stability and confidence. Okoye’s contributions allow inventors to innovate freely. Okoye’s contributions allow companies to grow and expand. Ultimately, Okoye’s contributions provide patients with the peace of mind that their healthcare needs are being addressed and that there is someone working to advocate for their interests long before they reach a clinic.
