Ms. Ellen Klem, JD

Ms. Ellen Klum is an Attorney and the Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Office of the Oregon Attorney General. Her mission is to prevent financial harm to Oregonians, especially older adults, Oregonians whose first language is not English, and students with large education-related debts. Previously, she worked at the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging in Washington, D.C., where she was responsible for research, policy development, advocacy, education, and training. Ellen received her bachelor's degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. She then received her Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ms. Klem's professional accomplishments include testifying before the U.S. Senate at the invitation of Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, appearing on NBC's Nightly News with Lester Holt, co-authoring "The American Bar Association Legal Guide for Americans Over 50," and creating and managing the annual Attorney General's Elder Abuse Conference. This conference attracts 200-plus attendees from more than a dozen states.

Ms. Klum works behind the scenes in the Oregon Department of Justice by working collaboratively with all nine divisions, 1,300 employees, and 26 state offices to ensure they are doing everything possible to protect older Oregonians from abuse. Under her guidance, Oregon's Attorney General's office has focused on protecting the state's older adults. Under her guidance, the Oregon Department of Justice has been recognized as a zealous advocate and expert in dealing with issues affecting older adults.

Ms. Klem discloses that she has no relevant financial relationships with any organization producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients relative to the content of this presentation.