Medical Specialists Expert Witnesses: 106

Dr. Alan Steinman is an expert in Maritime Medicine with particular emphasis on Sea-Survival, Drowning and Hypothermia. He has served as Surgeon General and Director of Health and Safety for the U.S. Coast Guard, as medical advisor to the Coast Guard's Chief of Operations, and as rescue physician on numerous Coast Guard search and rescue missions. He has an international reputation in hypothermia and cold-water survival. 

Dr. Steinman is widely published in the field of environmental medicine, including a chapter on immersion hypothermia in a leading textbook of emergency medicine. His research into human cold-water immersion and hypothermia merited the prestigious Arnold D. Tuttle Award from the Aerospace Medicine Association. The results from his human hypothermia studies contributed to the basis of current U.S. Coast Guard cold-water survival time charts. 

Dr. Steinman is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine; he is a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine. His Doctor of Medicine degree is from the Stanford School of Medicine; his post-graduate medical training was at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and the University of Washington School of Medicine. 

Dr. Steinman has experience in both federal and state courts serving as an expert witness in numerous cases involving sea-survival, drowning, and hypothermia.

Stephen M. Raffle, M.D. is double Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Raffle has over 49 years as a clinical and forensic psychiatrist offering his expert opinion in Federal and State jurisdictions nationwide. In addition to serving as an expert witness, Dr. Raffle consults to attorneys, judges, insurers, and to employers regarding Fitness for Duty and Risk of Violence (Threat) Assessment:

• 5000+ psychiatric assessments
• Expert testimony in 700 depositions and trials
• Successful clinical practice

The job of an expert witness is to educate a jury, judge, attorney, and trier of fact about the forensic psychiatrist's conclusions and how those opinions were derived in a manner well-reasoned, skillful, and easily understood by every person, not only another forensic psychiatrist. In short, an educator. Dr. Raffle’s experience as an educator extends well beyond a forensic venue, yet underpins the key to his ability to explain his opinions.

• Prof. of Psychiatry, UCSF Medical School, 20 years
• U.C. Hastings College of the Law postgraduate course "Trial and Appellate Advocacy" instructing seasoned attorneys about the direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses, with special focus on mental health experts and licensed medical professionals, Psychiatrists (MDs), Psychologists (LCSWs / MFTs), and physicians in other medical specialties, 11 years

Stephen M. Raffle, M.D. & Associates' expertise is well-established in forensic assessment in the areas of:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Dementia and Competency
• Testamentary Capacity
• Undue Influence
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Malingering
• Emotional Distress: Intentional & Unintentional infliction
• Emotional Distress: Forensic Evaluation to render medical-legal opinion
• Diagnosis and Need for Treatment
• Fitness For Duty
• Risk/Threat Workplace Violence Assessment
• Wrongful Termination
• Discrimination (ADA, Title VII, EEOC)
• Harassment
• Employment Litigation
• Medical Malpractice
• Catastrophic Injury
• Temporary and Permanent Disability
• Medical Records Review
• Assist in Preparation for Direct and Cross-examination of Expert Witnesses and Deposition of expert witnesses

Licensed in California.

William B. Stetson, MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine with an expertise in Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery of the shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Stetson spends over 90% of his time in clinical practice and research and has over ten years experience as an expert witness and in reviewing complex medical-legal issues. He is the Team Physician for the USA Men's and Women's Olympic Indoor Volleyball Teams and accompanied both teams to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. He is a former athlete himself, a two time All-American volleyball player at the University of Southern California (USC). He is also a recipient of the NCAA's prestigious Silver Anniversary Award, given to former NCAA athletes who have gone on to distinguish themselves after graduation. 

Areas of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialization:

Knee Arthroscopy Shoulder Arthroscopy Rotator Cuff Repair ACL Reconstruction Treatment of Arthritis

Knee Ligament Reconstruction Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation Shoulder Impingement / Bursitis Meniscus Repair and Meniscectomy Elbow Arthroscopy

View Dr. Stetson's Consulting Profile.

Dr. James Strader, Jr., MD, FACC is a full-time practicing General Invasive Cardiologist, experienced in all areas of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Strader is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Nuclear Cardiology. He is currently the Chief of Cardiology at The Medical Center of Plano, TX. Dr. Strader possesses Expert knowledge of Cardio Vascular Imaging and Therpeutic Procedures, including cath lab, TEE, echocardiography, stress testing, and arrhythma testing. He also has special expertise in Aeromedical Cardiology and Return-To-Flight-Status Decisions.

A published author in his field of expertise, Dr. Strader has given Presentation and Lectures both nationally and internationally. His most recent awards include "Cardiologist of the Year” from The Medical Center of Plano in 2011 and the Max R. Ungar Award from the USAF Society of Flight Surgeons in 2008. Dr. Strader is an experienced Expert Witness with numerous case reviews, depositions, and ongoing cases. He is available to assist external peer review agencies and both Plaintiff and Defense in malpractice actions. Areas of Expertise Include:

Coronary Disease Heart Attack Diagnosis and Management Arrhythmia Management Hypertension Hyperlipidemia Vascular Disease

ICU Care Critical Care Cardiac Cath Lab Valvular Heart Disease Congestive Heart Failure Diagnosis and Management CV Imaging

View Consulting Profile.

David A.Sugar, MD, is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. He has been in practice since 1997. Working as a general Orthopaedic Surgeon, he has treated an extremely wide array of Orthopaedic conditions and injuries.

Dr. Sugar has served as the Managing Partner in a group as large as 11 doctors and worked on the Surgical QI Committee ( currently serves as the Chairman) at the 35th largest hospital in the United States. Dr. Sugar is currently the principal surgeon at Sugar Orthopaedics where they provide surgical and non-surgical treatments for muscular and skeletal problems of all types.

Litigation Support - Dr Sugar has offered expert witness services for attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant for 20 years. His services include independent medical evaluations (IMEs), medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony. Dr. Sugar's cases have a heavy emphasis on Fractures, Knee, Shoulder, Sports Medicine, and Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Areas of Expertise:

Orthopedic Surgery Occupational Medicine Chronic Pain / Pain Management Personal Injury

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Sports Medicine Medical Malpractice

Gordon Giesbrecht, PhD, is a professor emeritus (ret) of Environmental Physiology with emphases on Hypothermia, Drowning, and Cold Weather Survival. Dr. Giesbrecht is also an expert on Vehicle Submersion Deaths. He is a full professor in the Faculties of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, and Medicine (Departments of Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine) at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. Giesbrecht has a Ph.D. in respiratory physiology from the University of Manitoba (Faculty of Medicine) and received post-doctoral training at the University of Calgary (Faculty of Medicine). He has also earned fellowships from the Aerospace Medical Association (FAsMA), Wilderness Medical Association (FAWM) and World Extreme Medicine (FEWM).

Litigation Support - Dr. Giesbrecht has 30 years of experience as a legal consultant, more than 30 years as a published researcher in human environmental stress, and 2 years as a wilderness guide. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

• Human physiological responses to environmental stress (e.g., cold, heat, and altitude)
• Human response to treatment of environmental illnesses [cold (hypothermia and frostbite) and heat (heat illness and heat stroke)]
• Drowning prevention, mechanisms, and treatment
• Vehicle submersion: vehicle sinking characteristics, self-rescue strategies, and protocols for emergency response operators
• Human factors and emergency response training

Dr. Giesbrecht is widely published in the field of environmental medicine, including being the lead author on immersion hypothermia in a leading textbook of Wilderness Medicine.  He has co-created several internationally known educational programs for medical, law enforcement, military, and search and rescue professionals. These include Baby It’s Cold Outside, and Beyond Cold Water Boot Camp.  His extensive human research studies have provided data for survival models for lost mariners that are used by the US Coast Guard (Probability of Survival Decision Aid) and the Canadian Coast Guard (Cold Exposure Survival Model). Dr. Giesbrecht has also created protocols for emergency response operators for Vehicles in Water, and Vehicles Stranded in Flood Water.

Dr. Giesbrecht’s work has earned him the Arnold D Tuttle Award from the Aerospace Medical Association for contributions to cold water immersion physiology, survival, and medical treatment. He has also been awarded the Blair Erb World Congress Award for worldwide impact on wilderness medicine from the Wilderness Medical Society, and the Education and Training Award of the National Search and Rescue Program Awards of Excellence (Canada).

Finally, Dr. Giesbrecht has been a consultant for the military in the US, Canada, and Sweden (including US Special Forces and JTF2 in Canada), as well as the Coast Guard in both the US and Canada. He has also worked with the FBI and other law enforcement organizations across the US and Canada.

Clinton F. Merrill, Jr., MD, has over 35 years of experience in clinical Internal Medicine and 28 years of experience in Medical Oncology and Hematology. Dr. Merrill is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of all solid tumors as well as the full range of hematologic malignancies. He has special expertise in benign hematology including: anemias, low blood cell counts, iron overload disorders, bleeding and clotting disorders. Litigation Support - Dr. Merrill offers expert witness services to counsel representing Plaintiff and Defendant. His services include medical record review, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony. Dr. Merrill takes pride in providing thorough record review, meticulously researched reports reflecting unbiased opinions, and excellent communication skills with the ability to make the complex understandable. Areas of Expertise:

Breast Cancer Colon Cancer Lung Cancer Tumors Leukemias Lymphomas

Myeloma Myeloproliferative Disorders Myelodysplastic Syndromes Benign Hematology Anemia Bleeding and Clotting Disorders

James M. Wheeler, MD, MPH, JD, magna cum laude in Biology / Psychology from Harvard, is an OB/GYN trained at Baylor, with subspecialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility at Yale. He is also a graduate of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at Yale, focusing upon clinical epidemiology and biostatistics and health policy. He also earned his MPH at Yale majoring in Biostatistics, minoring in Maternal/Child Health. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center with a JD in 2005, and was invited to join the Health Law division there. He has completed ADR training, having completed training programs separately in mediation, and arbitration.

Dr. Wheeler is a former national officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and served on several of their health policy committees including the Health Care Commission and the Hysterectomy Committee. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers on a wide array of topics in ob/gyn, with a particular emphasis on methodology. He has given over 200 invited lectures to ob/gyns, reproductive endocrinologists, radiologists, midwives, nurses, surgical technologists, law students et al. He sees himself first and foremost as a caregiver, and second to only that, as a teacher.

Dr. Wheeler has consulted in several hundred medicolegal matters for over 20 years, mostly in ob/gyn, but including family practice, internal medicine and several of its subspecialties, general surgery and several of its subspecialties, and dermatology. He has been a testifying expert before the FDA for drugs and devices, and has testified before U.S. Congressional staffers on health policy issues. He reviews for attorneys from both plaintiff and defense bars, as well as insurance companies (e.g. Pro-Assurance), and health plans (e.g. Harvard Community Health Plan). He has helped with Board of Medicine reviews, and constructing/defending class action suits. The combination of his training in medicine, basic and clinical research, clinical epidemiology, biostatistics and law make him a uniquely qualified person to review the complex issues of medicolegal cases.

Dr. Wheeler is a qualified first-reviewer, and a convincing expert during testimony. He has never been excused from a case as insufficiently expert.

Areas of expertise:

Gynecologic surgery Forceps / Vacuum Uses/ Complications Fetal Stress vs. Distress Cesarean vs. Vaginal Birth Shoulder Dystocia Pregnancy induced Hypertension / HELLP Syndrome Hysterectomy: Indications and Complications

Preterm Labor Incompetent Cervix Endometriosis Pelvic Adhesions Leiomyomata Uteri Infertility Advanced Reproductive Technology (IVF)

Jeffrey M. Wilder, DC, DABCO, FICC, has over 42 years of experience as a Chiropractor, and 38 years in private Chiropractic Practice. Engaged in private family-oriented practice as a chiropractor in Madison, Wisconsin since 1981, Dr. Wilder has completed a post-doctorate program in chiropractic orthopedics from National College and is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neuromusculoskeletal Specialist, a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Neuromuscular Medicine. This program is successfully completed by less than 1% of the nation’s chiropractors. 

Dr. Wilder has also been certified by the American Chiropractic Association Sports Council as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, a 120-hour certificate program dealing with sports training, and the treatment and prevention of sports injuries. He has completed state requirements in physiological therapeutics, surface EMG, and clinical nutrition, among others.

Dr. Wilder has also served as an officer on the Board of Directors for the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, which commissioned the chiropractic profession’s first nationwide clinical protocol, known as, Guidelines for Chiropractic Quality Assurance and Practice Parameters: Proceedings of the Mercy Center Consensus Conference, 1993, Aspen Publishers, Gaithersburg, MD.  

A Past President of the 1,800 member Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, Dr. Wilder had one of the longest terms (6 years) in the 100+ year history of the organization. He currently serves as the representative for the chiropractic profession to the Wisconsin Medicare Carrier Advisory Commission.  He has also been a consulting expert to the state of Wisconsin's Worker's Compensation Division for the past 22 years.

Dr. Wilder has taught extensively to chiropractors around the country, providing continuing education. He has been a frequent spokesperson for chiropractic in the press, television and radio, including regular appearances on statewide Wisconsin Public Radio.

Litigation Support: Dr. Wilder has extensive experience over the past 29  years as a court-recognized Chiropractic Expert throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Dr. Wilder has served as an expert in over 300 cases of alleged Chiropractic Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fraud Review.   He has reviewed and testified in court for both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving chiropractic treatment, including claims of:

Chiropractic Standard of Care Clinical Malpractice Negligence Sexual Boundary Issues License Issues Disciplinary Actions

Fraud Review Informed Consent Documentation Worker's Compensation Diagnosis / Evaluation Management

Merrill S. Wise, MD, is Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology with special qualifications in Child Neurology, and he is certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine. Involved in the full-time practice of sleep medicine, Dr. Wise has evaluated and managed the full range of Sleep Disorders since 1991.

Dr. Wise evaluates children, adolescents, and adults with the full range of sleep problems and disorders. He is involved with supervision and interpretation of polysomnography (sleep studies), Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT), Maintenance of Wakefulness Tests (MWT), and integration of these findings with the clinical history in order to develop a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Because of the population served in Memphis, Dr. Wise evaluates a large number of pilots (FedEx world hub), air traffic controllers, commercial drivers and barge pilots, rail engineers, and shift workers. He is experienced in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, and other disorders of excessive sleepiness, insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, restless legs syndrome, and parasomnias.  This expertise and experience allows him to analyse and provide valuable opinions on a wide range of sleep-related legal issues.

Litigation Support - Dr. Wise has reviewed a wide variety of cases involving both neurology and sleep medicine for greater than 20 years including report generation, testimony at deposition, and at trial. He has served on numerous national task forces and committees, as well as the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). These experiences have exposed him to the full range of sleep disorders, as well as healthcare systems, best practices and evidence-based standards of care, policies, and the legal aspects of sleep problems and disorders. 

Special Interest and Expertise:  

• Individuals with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
• Downstream Effects of Sleepiness on
  • Cognitive Function
  • Driving
  • Safety
  • Work
  • Behavioral Regulation

Dr. Jeffrey Stone, DO, MPH, FCCWS, specializing in Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, served as Medical and Fellowship Director for the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at the Institute for Exercise & Environmental Medicine at Texas Health Dallas from 1992- May 2016. Dr. Stone received his medical degree from Western States University and received a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University. Dr. Stone completed a residency in aerospace medicine at Brooks Air Force Base and a fellowship in hyperbaric medicine and Wound care at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. Dr. Stone started visiting nursing facilities in the Dallas Metroplex  in the early 1990's teaching, educating and caring for individuals with chronic wounds. He is one of the first 60 physicians in the U.S. to receive his certification in Wound Care. Dr. Stone currently provides care to patients in acute care, LTAC, long term care facilities SNF and Nursing Home) and outpatient care.

Dr. Stone has been widely published in many medical journals regarding his expertise in Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine. He serves as an Expert Witness for Peer Reviews, Legal Reviews, and Medical Malpractice Cases.

Areas of Expertise: Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen-

• Pressure Sores
• Arterial Ulcers
• Diabetic Foot Wounds
• Acute Traumatic Ischemias
• Decubitus Ulcers
• Non-Healing Wounds, Venous or Arterial or Pressure Related

View Consulting Profile.

Fred Beck, DC, with over 45 years in practice, performs Chiropractic Medical Malpractice Reviews, Expert Witness, IME's (1500+), Peer Reviews (7500+). Dr. Beck allows videotaping and observers in room if requested by patient / claimant. Zero IME's and Peer Reviews have gone to deposition or court. Licensed in New York & Florida. Past Public Relations Director of Broward County Chiropractic Society. Chiropractor of the Year (Broward County). Writer, lecturer, ringside physician, Pharm patent etc.

Susan Eldridge is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of clinical experience in both acute and primary care pediatrics. She is also a PNP in the United States Navy Reserves. As a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, she has reviewed many records and given testimony in both depositions and trials. She has been qualified as an expert witness in child abuse.

Pediatric Acute Care, Pediatric Primary Care, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department, Child abuse

Marilyn McCullum, BSN, RN, CEN, is a certified Emergency Nurse with peer-reviewed publications, speaking engagements, and testifying experience. She specializes in emergency nursing, general nursing care, medical documentation bias, and medical products as an end-user. She stays active in her clinical position and teaches her peers about documentation and triage.

Ms. McCullum's expert opinions are unbiased, neutral, and fact-based, following the national Standard of Care.

LIST OF PHYSICIANS REVIEWED BY DR. RICK CHAVEZ AS AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT (OVER 155 CASES.) CAN SEND A LIST OF CASES COMPLETED, DEPOSITIONS, TESTIMONY IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURT.

LIST INCLUDES INDEPENDENT LAWYERS REGARDING PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDENTS, MEDICAL BOARD REPORTS, U.S. ATTORNIES, USDOJ, DEA, EXPERTISE IN:

PAIN MANAGEMENT, PAIN INTERVENTIONS, DISCOGRAMS, EPIDURALS, INTRATHECAL PUMPS, OPIOID TREATMENT, ADDICTION MANAGEMENT, ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEFENSE AND LAWSUITS