Cummins & White

Partner

mbalestra@cwlawyers.com

“Laws that govern the practice of medicine, nursing, physical therapy and pharmacy are very different than laws governing other professions. A complaint against a health care professional may not be true but can be a difficult, expensive and damaging experience. It is critical to seek legal advice early when considering a new business venture that relates to healthcare.”

Ms. Balestra joined Cummins & White, LLP in 2010. Her practice focuses on issues that affect healthcare providers, including nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists and dentists. She represents clients before their respective boards in California and Arizona. She represents health care providers in disputes with Medi-Cal and Medi-Care. She assists health care providers in setting up practice in a variety of areas, including family practice, aesthetic medicine and other specialty areas.

Ms. Balestra also continues to be actively involved in her profession as a pediatric nurse practitioner at the Laguna Beach Community Clinic in Laguna Beach, California.

Practice Areas

• Healthcare Law
• General Contract Law
• Commercial Transactions
• Medical Malpractice Coverage & Defense
• Criminal Defense

Education

• BS (Nursing), Duke University
• MS (Nursing), University of California, Los Angeles
• JD, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, WA

Representative Clients

• California Association for Nurse Practitioners
• Nurses Service Organization
• Physicians and Osteopathic Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners, RNs, and LVNs
• Physician Assistants
• Physical Therapists and Aids
• Psychologists and Counselors

Memberships

• State Bar of California
• State Bar of Arizona
• U.S. Supreme Court
• The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (Board of Directors)
• American College of Nurse Practitioners
• California Association for Nurse Practitioners
• Nurses Service Organization
• Divine Daughters

Charitable Interests & Community Service

Ms. Balestra is a board member of Divine Daughters, a non-profit organization that assists women in rebuilding their lives. She also is active in her church (locally and abroad), volunteering as a pediatric nurse practitioner where she is involved in summer camps and other activities for abused and foster children.

Special Notes

Ms. Balestra has lectured on contract negotiations, medical-legal issues, risk management and reimbursement issues at healthcare provider conferences throughout the United States. She is a frequent contributor on legal issues to healthcare and medical journals. Additionally, Ms. Balestra was an adjunct professor at California State University at Long Beach Nurse Practitioner School and currently is a guest lecturer at University of California Irvine Family Nurse Practitioner Program. From 1998-2002, she was president of the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, and from 2002-2005, she was president of the American College of Nurse Practitioners.