Jerse Law Firm
Healthcare governance and compliance counsel — Shannon Fogarty Jerse
Jerse Law Firm advises hospital systems, boards, and nonprofit healthcare organizations on governance, compliance, and regulatory risk. Shannon Fogarty Jerse spent more than three decades in-house — most recently as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer — advising five hospital systems and sitting on six nonprofit and institutional boards. She opened this practice to bring that same in-house perspective to organizations that need it without building a full internal legal department.
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Shannon has spent her entire career in-house, most recently as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, where she led enterprise legal and compliance operations across hospitals, assisted living, skilled nursing, homeless respite services, and grant-making foundations.
Earlier in her career, she served as Associate Regional Counsel for five Cleveland Clinic Foundation hospitals and as Staff and Senior Staff Attorney at University Hospitals Health System — giving her direct experience with academic medical centers, community hospitals, and safety-net care alike.
Practice Areas
Board Governance & Advisory
Governance structure, board education, bylaws, and advisory support for hospital, health system, and nonprofit boards navigating complex decisions.
Healthcare Compliance Leadership
Design and oversight of corporate compliance programs, regulatory monitoring, and audit readiness for hospitals and healthcare-adjacent nonprofits.
Regulatory Strategy & Government Relations
Guidance through state and federal regulatory requirements, licensure, and engagement with regulators and government bodies.
Enterprise Risk Oversight
Risk framework development for organizations balancing clinical operations, mission commitments, and institutional exposure.
Corporate Legal Operations & Contracts
Support for operational agreements, vendor and payer contracts, and legal department structure for growing or restructuring organizations.
Executive Leadership Counsel
Direct advisory support to executive leadership teams on policy development and mission-aligned decision-making.
Experience
- 2022 – Present
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General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Sisters of Charity Health SystemLeads enterprise legal and compliance operations across outpatient centers, assisted living, skilled nursing, homeless respite services, and grant-making foundations; primary governance advisor to executive leadership and the Board.
- 2009 – 2023
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General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
St. Vincent Charity Medical CenterSenior legal advisor to executive leadership and the Board on governance, compliance, and operations; directed hospital-wide compliance and led government relations strategy (2016–2021).
- 1998 – 2009
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Associate Regional Counsel
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OhioProvided governance and regulatory counsel to five regional hospitals; chaired the Regional Compliance Committee and advised medical executive leadership.
- 1990 – 1998
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Staff Attorney → Senior Staff Attorney
University Hospitals Health System, Cleveland, OhioSupported integrated academic and community hospital operations, medical staff credentialing, risk management, and child protection initiatives.
Board Service & Recognition
- Collaborative to End Human Trafficking — Board Member (2023–Present)
- Beaumont School — Board Member; Chair, Governance Committee (2021–Present)
- Care Alliance Health Center — Board Member (2015–Present)
- Community Health Affairs Board (Wellink) — Board Member (2021–Present)
- Leadership Cleveland — Class of 2016; Leadership Council (2020–2023)
- St. Ignatius High School — Board Member; Chair, Governance Committee (2015–2021)
Education
J.D., Magna Cum Laude (Top 8%), Cleveland-Marshall College of Law — Law Review, Articles Editor
B.A., John Carroll University — Healthcare Policy Concentration, Biology Minor
Recognition
Fellow, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Crain's Cleveland Business Award Finalist — Outstanding In-House Counsel (2013)
Contact
Whether you're a board weighing a governance question or an organization building out compliance infrastructure, reach out directly to discuss how Jerse Law Firm can help.
Email Shannon