Medical Legal Consultants Expert Witnesses: 35

William Santoro, MD is board certified in Addiction Medicine and board eligible in Family Medicine. He is the Chief of the Section of Addiction Medicine at Tower Health and was the Medical Director at the Reading Hospital & Medical Center detoxification/rehabilitation program. Dr. Santoro was also the Medical Director at a Methadone Treatment center  for 22 years, until 2021, where he is responsible for prescribing methadone to approximately 950 opiate dependent patients.

Dr. Santoro is the Addictionist on staff at The Reading Hospital & Medical Center within the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He is consulted by hospitalists to care for patients admitted to the hospital with addiction complicating their condition. Dr. Santoro runs an outpatient program treating over the 300 patients with buprenorphine (Suboxone/Sublocade) or Vivitrol maintenance. With an interest in Sports Medicine in 2001, he served as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Olympic Training Team in Lake Placid, New York.

Dr. Santoro has been deposed more than a dozen times in the past several years. He has testified in court numerous times on behalf of the plaintiff as well as for the defense. He has testified in Federal Court and been involved in cases concerning the pharmaceutical industry.

Areas of Expertise:

• All aspects of Addiction Medicine
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone
  • Methadone
• Dual Diagnosis Pain/Addiction

View Dr. Santoro's Consulting Profile.

Chinemerem Y. Ugorji, MD, is a board certified Internal Medicine doctor with over 10 years of experience as a Hospitalist and Nocturnist. She has knowledge  of Critical Access Care, Level 2 Trauma, and Telemedicine.

Litigation Support - Dr. Ugorji's mission is to provide accurate expert assessments of Medical Billing / Coding, Medical Fraud, and Medical Necessities. She helps attorneys for plaintiff and defense make informed decisions about their cases. Dr. Ugorji's services include medical record review, thorough reporting, interrogatories, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Geriatrics Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Disability Insurance HIPAA Hospitalist Medicine / Hospitalist Rounding ICU Patient Management EMR and Radiology Imaging Interpretation

Independent Medical Examinations Internal Medicine Medical Billing Medical Fraud Medical Records Post Discharge Management Patient Education

John L. Lovecchio, MD, has over 35 years of experience specializing in Gynecology and Oncology.  He is one of the nation’s top clinicians and researchers in the field of uterine and ovarian cancers.

Dr. Lovecchio is currently Professor Emeritus of Gynecologic Oncology and Gynecology at Hofstra University School of Medicine, NY, and Attending Physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY. 

Prior to that, for 20 years, Dr. Lovecchio served as Professor and Chief of Gynecologic Oncology and Gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at North Shore University Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center (Northwell Health) while also working as an Investigator at the Center for Oncology & Cell Biology at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Litigation Support - Dr. Lovecchio offers expert witness services to attorneys representing the plaintiff and defense, including medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. He has been deposed and testified over 10 times since 2020.

Areas of Expertise:

Gynecologic Cancer Cervical Cancer Ovarian Cancer Uterine Cancer Vulvar Cancer Endometrial Cancer Fibroids

Pelvic Masses Biomarker Expression Patterns BRCA Gene Testing Chemotherapy / Radiation Therapy Interstitial Brachytherapy Pelvic MRI Diagnostic Techniques

Spine Surgery and Spine Medicine Consultant

The concepts of evidence-based medicine have been the cornerstone of Dr. Dillin’s education during his spine surgery fellowship in Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and the format for decision-making in his subsequent practice. The critical analytic features inherent in the ‘best evidence’ approach to patients have permeated his writing and his lectures, allowing flexible adaptation as the science has changed. Since July 1985, Dr. Dillin has been exclusively devoted to clinical spine, interventional spine, and spine surgery practice. The combination of clinical critical thinking in conjunction with evidence-based medicine practice, allows spine specialty focus on any Independent Medical Evaluations or Medical-Legal Reviews. He is in clinical practice performing spine surgery, spine interventions, and evaluating patients with spine conditions. He is licensed in California, Texas, Arizona, Florida and Nevada. Dr. Dillin was a former partner at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. I spent 2022-2023 in clinical practice and at the Effective Writing in Health Care program sponsored by Harvard Medical School. The program encompassed online and onsite (Boston) attendance. My study subject was the history of the expert witness in general, and more specifically, the medical expert witness. My capstone project, from the ‘Writing for the Public’, division is attached. This is the narrative account of “The Trial of the Medical Expert Witness.”

Litigation Support - For over 35 years, Dr. Dillin has traveled to refine and acquire the technical skills invested in Spine Surgery and Spine Interventions. His expert witness activity is embodied in his Harvard Capstone, "The Trial of the Medical Expert Witness." Dr. Dillin offers Independent Medical Evaluations and/or Medical-Legal Review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Spine Surgery Spine Interventions Cervical Spine Surgery Thoracic Spine Surgery Lumbar Spine Surgery Failed Back Surgery Scoliosis Kyphosis Minimally Invasive Surgery

Spine Fusion Cervical Fusion Lumbar Fusion Artificial Disc Replacement Microsurgery Spinal Product Liability Spine Medical Malpractice Spine IMEs Spine IMRs

Dr. Kelly S. Harvey, MS, PT, DPT, TPS, CLCP, CFCE, is a Medical Legal consultant with 27 years of clinical leadership experience and acute, rehabilitation, and concierge practice expertise. Dr. Harvey has been recognized for demonstrating a natural aptitude for Forensic Analysis and Catastrophic Case Management as well as for creating Medical Cost Projections and Life Care Plans.

Dr. Harvey founded Harvey Medical Legal Consulting in 2012 to offer her orthopedic trauma, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury expertise. She maintains a private practice, as well as certifications as a Life Care Planner, Industrial Ergonomist, Functional Capacity Evaluator, Return to Work, Work Readiness, and Work Hardening Evaluator.  Dr. Harvey holds Therapeutic Pain Science Specialty certification that allows her to autonomously evaluate and treat Pain Management patients.

Litigation Support - Dr. Harvey serves the legal industry as a Forensic Analyst, Damages Expert, and Medical Consultant. She is an Industry Best Practice Advisor and Expert Witness in the fields of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Pain Management. Dr. Harvey offers services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. She provides medical chart review, thorough reporting, depositions, arbitration, and trial testimony as needed. Dr. Harvey has been deposed and/or testified in a court of law over 48 times.

Areas of Expertise:

Life Care Plans Future Medical Cost Projections Catastrophic Care Manager Physical Therapy Orthopedic Injuries Traumatic Brain Injury Spinal Cord Injury Amputation Burns

Pain Management Evaluations Rehabilitation Case Management Defense Medical Exam Functional Capacity Evaluations Product Liability Personal Injury Medical Malpractice Home and Site Evaluation

Education / Training:

• Doctorate of Physical Therapy, International Spine and Pain Institute;
• Therapeutic Pain Specialist, International Spine and Pain Institute;
• Master of Physical Therapy, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; 
• BA in Psychology and Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Gregory P. Brown, MD, is a is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and specializes in the fields of adult Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. His private office is dedicated to the practice of Forensic Psychiatry, and includes evaluations for matters in civil court, criminal court, family court, and independent psychiatric evaluations.

Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and the Residency Training Program Director, at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine. He founded the Psychiatry Residency Training Program, and has been the Residency Training Director since the time of the first entering class in 2004, under the UNRSOM.

Litigation Support - Dr. Brown has extensive experience in medico-legal work. As a Board Certified Forensic Psychiatrist, he has worked in diverse areas of this subspecialty of psychiatry. Dr. Brown offers litigations support services to attorneys for Plaintiff and Defendant.

Services include Disability Evaluations, Estate Planning Capacity Evaluations, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations, Medical Board Evaluations, Fitness for Duty Evaluations, Department of Energy Fitness Evaluations, Social Security Appeals Record Reviews, and Independent File Reviews for Medical Necessity and for Disability Claims.

Forensic Experience Includes:

• Criminal Court Evaluations - Competence to Stand Trial, Assessment of Criminal Responsibility, NGRI Assessments
• Civil Court Evaluations - Personal Injury with Psychiatric symptoms, Brain Injury with Psychiatric symptoms, Malpractice related questions
• Family Court Evaluations - Involuntary Commitment, Guardianship, Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Contractual Capacity, Fitness to Parent, Child Custody
• Third Party Forensic Evaluations - Fitness for Duty, Return to Work, Disability, ADA Accommodations, Medical Necessity, Independent Psychiatric Evaluations

Wayne H. Grant, PharmD, is a Clinical Pharmacist with over 30 years of pharmacy experience working in or within various practice settings—retail, long-term care, home infusion, sterile products, corrections, hospice, specialty, and hospitals.  

Dr. Grant has prepared and delivered educational programs to physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals based on his extensive experience in multiple disease states. Programs include topics such as Pain Management, COPD, and Motor Neuron Diseases.

Serving as an integral member of multiple pharmacy and therapeutics committees, he has promoted evidence-based interventions while driving quality initiatives and building a highly collaborative consortium among healthcare professionals.  

Earning his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida, his Master of Business Administration for Kent State University, and his Bachelor of Science from Ohio Northern University highlights Dr. Grant's drive for education, understanding, and application of pharmacy services.  

Dr. Wayne Grant on Consulting with Attorneys

Litigation Support - Dr. Grant is an expert in pharmacy practice. His expertise in long-term, institutional, infusion, and retail practice allow for an extensive understanding of the various pharmacy sectors. He is responsible for pharmacotherapeutic management, medication safety and efficacy and drug information all which follow federal, state, and local laws. He has provided a variety of expert witness services on behalf of legal professionals, including attorney consultation, case review, case opinion, and written case opinion. 

Areas of Medication Expertise:

Adverse Drug Reactions Chronic Pain Drugs and Narcotics Geriatrics Hospice / Palliative Care Hospital Pharmacy Infusion Pharmacy

Long Term Care Medical-Legal Issues Nursing Homes Overdosages Pain Management Pharmaceutical Care Pharmacology

View Dr. Grant's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Joel L.Goldberg, MD, FACEP, is a Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Specialist with expertise in the fields of Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, Occupational Medicine and Emergency Medical Services. He has more than 20 years of experience as a practicing emergency physician in academic, urban, community and rural hospital departments, as well as teaching hospitals. 

Dr. Goldberg is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Homer Stryker School of Medicine  He was a Major in the United States Air Force and has experience in Air Medical Transport.

Litigation Support - As an Expert Witness in Emergency Medicine,  Dr. Goldberg is qualified to address questions relating to standard of care, medical malpractice, negligence, personal injury, and wrongful death.  He has reviewed and given expert opinions and case reviews on malpractice cases since 2018, and has worked for both plaintiff and defense.  Dr. Goldberg provides credible and clearly understandable testimony for both plaintiff and defense that informs judges and jury on pertinent medical facts and science. 

Areas of Expertise:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm Abdominal Compartment syndrome Abdominal Pain / Abdominal Trauma Acute Coronary Syndrome Aortic Dissection Appendicitis Assault  Asthma Back Injury Blunt Trauma Cardiac Arrest / CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Carotid Artery Dissection Cauda Equina Central Cord Syndrome Central Line Complication Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

Chest Pain Chest Trauma Chest Tube Complication Chest Tube Placement Cholecystitis Compartment Syndrome COPD Deep Vein Thrombosis Dept. of Transportation Exams Difficult Airway Difficult Intubation Diverticulitis Electrocardiogram Interpretation EKG Interpretation Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) violations Endocarditis Endotracheal Intubation SEE FULL LIST

EXPERTISE IN: 1. The pathobiology, clinico-pathologic correlation, and histopathologic diagnosis of: diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, anus, liver, and pancreas. 2. Human neoplasms (cancer) and preneoplastic conditions. 3. Establishing standard of care, causation and cause of death. 

BACKGROUND: 

1. Anatomic Pathology Residency: Washington Univ-Barnes Hospital 1991-94.
2. Oncologic Pathology Fellowship: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 1994-95.
3. Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology Fellowship: Harvard-Brigham & Womens Hospital 1995-96.
4. Instructor at Harvard Medical School: 1996-1998.
5. Assistant Professor and Director of Gastrointestinal Pathology Division at UT-Health Science Center-Hermann Hospital, Houston Medical Center: 08/1998 - 12/2000.
6. Staff GI Pathologist and Quality Assurance Director at Caris/Miraca Life Sciences, Dallas TX: 01/2001 - 04/2012.
7. Staff Pathologist, Anatomic Pathology Division of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, Long Island NY: 05/2013 - 05/2015.
8. Staff Pathologist, Anatomic Pathology Division of Alliance Health Sciences, Dallas TX: 01/2016 - present.
9. Sole Proprietor of Expert Pathology Consultation Services Laboratory since 01/2001, which provides diagnostic pathology services to hundreds of clinicians of different subspecialties.         

Dr. Torres was instrumental in creating a unique model of Gastrointestinal Pathology subspecialty-focused laboratory, during his tenure at Caris/Miraca Life Sciences.

Robert A. Ertner, MD, is a Board Certified, fellowship-trained Cardiac Anesthesiologist in full-time clinical practice at a Northern California county hospital that serves as a level 2 trauma center. Dr. Ertner has been a certified Echocardiographer for 15 years. He specializes in Cardiac and Thoracic surgical procedures for which he is fellowship-trained.

Background: Dr. Ertner has previously served as an academic physician teaching residents in both MD and CRNA programs.  He has served as a locum tenens anesthesiologist performing direct care and both supervising and directing CRNAs, and presently provides care to over 700 patients each year. He provides Spinal, Epidural, Regional, and General Anesthesia for patients undergoing cardiovascular and thoracic procedures as well as general, orthopedic, bariatric, urologic, vascular, otorhinolaryngological (ENT), ophthalmologic, gynecologic, and neurologic surgery in both the hospital inpatient and outpatient surgery center settings.   He provides care for obstetric patients in the labor and delivery suites and operating rooms.  Additionally, he provides care for a variety of procedures performed “out-of-department,” such as in the cardiac catheterization suites, the interventional radiology suites, and CT and MRI cases.  

Dr. Ertner maintains licenses in California where his practice is located, as well as in Texas and Georgia, where he trained, and in Missouri and Oregon. He was awarded Diplomat status by the National Board of Echocardiography in 2007.

Litigation Support: Dr. Ertner has been involved in medical-legal work since 2014. He has reviewed cases for attorneys representing both plaintiff and defense. Dr. Ertner has consulted on over 85 cases, including preparation of affidavits, forensic report writing, and providing testimony at deposition and trial. He works with clients to offer both an understanding of the relevant medicine (anatomy, pathophysiology, pharmacology, etc.) and how to think about what information they need to seek going forward as they pursue their cases.

Areas of Expertise:

Anesthesiology Cardiac Anesthesiology Thoracic Anesthesiology Peripheral Nerve Block Epidural Anesthesia Spinal Anesthesia Airway Management

Airway Trauma Intubation Transesophageal Echocardiography Nerve Injury Bronchospasm Laryngospasm Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation

Dr. Matthew Lee, MD, RPh, MS. is a Physician, Pharmacist, Pharmacologist and Toxicologist who also practices as an Expert Witness and Legal Strategy Consultant. Specific Benefits Include:

• Increased quality and integrity of written expert reports, based on an expanded knowledge base
• Time savings by only having to coordinate and discuss a case with one expert as opposed to two or more
• Since there is so much overlap between fields in the medical profession it is often hard to determine where one scope ends and another begins. This ambiguity is dramatically decreased , and scope increased by combining physician, pharmacist, and pharmacologist into one
• Communication skills of a pharmacist and experience dealing directly with the lay-public, in addition to the knowledge and background of a physician is extremely beneficial describing technical details to a jury
• Practicing in different realms within the healthcare field has allowed Dr. Lee to integrate the multiple facets giving him a unique and distinct perspective that no other expert has.

Case Experience Includes:

Criminal and Civil Cases Anaphylactic Reactions Overdose Wrongful Death Cardiac Arrest Respiratory Arrest Fentanyl Overdose Dilaudid Overdose Pharmacist Mis-Fills

Pharmacist Dispensing Errors Pharmacy Standard of Care Medication Adverse Effects Falls Related to Medications (in and out of hospital) Toxicology/Toxic Reactions Medical Marijuana Positive Drug Screens in the Workplace Workplace Safety Fit for Duty Testing

Eugene Strasser, MD, JD , FACS, ACLM, is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with 35+ years of experience. Dr. Strasser is a graduate of the the University of Maryland School of Medicine & The Sheppard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University. He trained at the world renowned R. Adam Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland & finished General Surgery training at York Hospital in York, PA. He completed his Plastic Surgery residency at Albany Medical Center in New York and is board certified in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Strasser's work is published in multiple professional journals & magazines and is on staff at several local hospitals. He serves as Chief of Staff at The Outpatient Surgery Center in Coral Springs, Florida.

Areas of Expertise

• Cosmetic Surgery - Face, Eyes, Brow, Nose, Ears, Lips, Neck, Breast, Body, Scalp, Extremities
• Liposuction, Breast-augmentation,lift,reduction, Body Contouring, Abdominoplasty, (Buttock,Arms,Thigh,Body lift), Vaginal Rejuvenation,Dermabrasion/Peels,Injectables
• Reconstructive Surgery - Post Traumatic, Burns, Cancer Removal, Wound Healing, Scars, Ulcers
• Breast Reconstruction

Memberships and Affiliations:

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.
• American College of Surgeons
• American Medical Association
• Florida Medical Association
• Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American College of Legal Medicine

Lori S. Corley MD, FAAP, is Board Certified in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Also certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), she provides comprehensive medical care for infants, children, and adolescents, acting as their primary care physician. 

Employment Experience

• Consultant / Expert Witness for Medical Malpractice cases - Case list available on request (2004-present)
• Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Georgia Health Sciences University /Medical College of Georgia (2002-present)
• Adjunct Professor, MSN Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Kennesaw State University (2001-present)

Dr. Corley provides litigation support services to attorneys representing Plaintiff and Defense. She is available to review medical records, give depositions, and trial testimony for cases that include issues of causation, quality control, and standard of care. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Pediatric Medicine - General infections and illnesses (fevers, sore throats, ear infections, etc.) and minor injuries, as well as some diseases (septic shock), emotional stressors in children that may lead to psychiatric or mental health complications, including developmental and anxiety disorders, behavioral problems and functional complications
• Adolescent Medicine - Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), substance abuse, obesity, eating disorders, mental illnesses (ADHD), acne, pregnancy, birth control programs, menstrual disorders, problems with puberty, among many other conditions and disorders

Lawrence Amsel, MD, MPH, specializes in Forensic Psychiatry, including personal injury and psychiatric malpractice. With an MD from Yale University and an MPH in Biostatistics from Columbia University, Dr. Amsel combines his academic credentials, including multileg publications, and clinical expertise including decades as an inpatient and emergency room psychiatrist. With this experience he serves as an expert witness to offer excellent evaluations, written reports and court testimony. 

Dr. Amsel provides Litigation Support services to attorneys representing Plaintiff and Defense. His services include serving as expert witness in psychiatric aspects of personal injury, psychiatric malpractice,  medical record review for causation and standard of care. He has expertise in trauma, PTSD, suicide, Prolonged Grief Disorder, competency issues and medical decision making. He was one of the early champions of the application of Decision Science, Game Theory, and Behavioral Economics to Psychiatric Research.

Areas of Expertise:

Psychiatric Personal Injury   Psychiatric Malpractice  Trauma  PTSD  Suicide Prolonged Grief Disorder  Competency

Psychiatric Practice Standards  Public Health Family Loss Neuropsychiatry Health Care Standards  Behavioral Economics in Health Care Health Care Game Theory

Background - Dr. Amsel serves as an expert witness in matters related to psychiatry, with a focus on  Malpractice, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Suicide, Grief, Medical Decision Making, Hospital Psychiatric Care, and appropriate Evidence-based Standards of Care. Excellent references from multiple law firms are available on request. 

Dr. Amsel's expertise in dealing with the interface of legal and psychiatric issues is based on 28 years of experience in clinical practice, academic psychiatry, research, and public health, as well as his experience as an expert witness.

As an expert on the effects of traumatic experiences, especially after 9/11, Dr. Amsel co-directed the Trauma Studies and Services Division at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He has been extensively involved in treating victims of 9/11 and their families, in doing research on the effects of the 9/11 attacks on the survivors and First Responders, and in training clinicians in cutting edge treatments for PTSD and Complicated /Traumatic Grief. This has given him a strong foundation as an expert on PTSD and other psychological effects of various types of trauma. It has also made him an expert on malpractice cases in this area. 

Dr. Amsel studied mathematics at Columbia University before entering Yale University School of Medicine. After completing residency training he joined the Columbia faculty completing two prestigious National Institute of Mental Health research fellowships and obtained an Masters in Public Health (MPH) specializing in mental health statistics, and Child Psychiatry Research. 

View Dr. Amsel's Consulting Profile.

Yolanda Anderson, RN, BSN, CEN, CLNC is a Registered Nurse and has been working in the Emergency Department for more than 25 years. A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant with a detail-oriented approach, Ms. Anderson is knowledgeable about all aspects of Hospital Care and Standards of Care for Physicians, Nurses and Ancillary Personnel.

Ms. Anderson's background experience includes work in the Emergency Department of Los Angeles County, USC Medical Center, a level I Trauma Center and in the Emergency Department at Saint Anthony Hospital Central in Denver, Colorado, a level I Trauma Center where she helped initiate the Hyperbaric Medicine program. For 15 years, she worked as a staff RN, Charge RN and Assistant Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department at Littleton Adventist Hospital - Littleton, Colorado, a level II Trauma Center. There, she helped with the expansion and reconstruction of the current Emergency Department facility.

Ms. Anderson has been retained as an Expert 27 times. Her litigation support services include chart review for merit, chronologies, medical care research, Independent Medical Assessments, and more. Ms. Anderson's services are available to attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

Emergency Department Care Inpatient Hospital Care Trauma, Cardiac, Neurological Emergency Adult, Pediatric, and Infant Care

Triage & Documentation Nursing Home Care Electronic Medical Records Worker's Compensation

View Yolanda Anderson's Consulting Profile.