The Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy is pleased to announce that alumnus Mitchell Wiet (JD ’65) and his wife Fran have agreed to endow the Wiet Life Science Law Scholars Workshop. This gift will be instrumental in our continuing efforts to showcase rising scholars and foster national and international academic collaboration. We are extremely grateful to the Wiets for this substantial support of our programming and scholarship in health law and life sciences.
Mitch is a 1965 graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. After having served as general counsel for American Bakeries Company (a Fortune 500 company at the time), Mitch became the general counsel of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) and its corporate system in 1982, serving in that role until his retirement in 1999. During his tenure at NMH, Mitch was one of the leading health lawyers in the state of Illinois. He was instrumental in maximizing through litigation the statutory protections surrounding the confidentiality of peer review information as well as clarifying the limited scope of judicial review of medical staff credentialing decisions adverse to medical staff applicants and incumbents at private (non-governmental) hospitals. Mitch is also the author of the original draft of the Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act, enabling private, end-of-life decision making in defined circumstances and in the absence of a living will or durable power of attorney. During his tenure as general counsel, Mitch helped guide then-NMH into the now internationally known Northwestern Medicine.
Mitch was a founding member of the Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy, taught in the program, and has served as a trusted advisor for the Institute.
At the annual Wiet Life Science Law Scholars Workshop, expert commentators review and discuss scholars’ works in progress.
Fran Wiet is a 1962 graduate (maxima cum laude) of Mundelein College, now a part of Loyola University Chicago. Fran’s wit, intelligence, and passion for education have played a key role in the Wiets’ connection to Loyola, including her support of Mundelein’s Gannon Center Scholar’s program.
Together, Mitch and Fran Wiet demonstrate the ideals of service, compassion, integrity, and respect, all tempered with a warm sense of humor. Bernie Beazley (JD ’50) and Mitch were very good friends. The Beazley Institute is grateful for the Wiets’ support and deeply acknowledges their continued legacy. (November 2023)
