Ellen Lawton, J.D., is a principal investigator and lead research scientist at the George Washington University where she leads the University's National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership in the Department of Health Policy and Management._x000D_ An expert in poverty law generally, Ms. Lawton is a lead editor of the 2011 textbook, Poverty, Health & Law: Readings from Medical-Legal Partnership. Ms. Lawton is internationally recognized for her leadership in developing the medical-legal partnership approach and has published an array of articles describing this work in both clinical and legal journals._x000D_ Ms. Lawton received the 2011 Innovations in Legal Services Award from the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, is chair of the board of directors at Health Imperatives, and is a member of the board of directors of Community Resources for Justice. She also serves on the national advisory committee for the Primary Care Leadership Program._x000D_ Ms. Lawton is a consultant for Florida's Statewide Medical-Legal Partnership Planning Grant._x000D_