Alcohol, Drugs & Substance Abuse Disorders Consultants: 14

Jessica Chaudhary, MD, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with specialties in Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology. Her practice includes General, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry.  

Dr. Chaudhary has wide ranging experience using a variety of different treatment modalities. She offers individualized care based on the client's specific problems, concerns, and preferences. Dr. Chaudhary can provide all services through TELEHEALTH.

Dr. Chaudhary is in private practice and a consultant to attorneys nationwide.  She is a clinical instructor at Yale University and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.  

Consulting Areas Include:
•    OB-GYN and Psychiatry - Pregnancy and post partum-related psychiatric problems
•    Impaired Professionals - Physicians, nurses, mental health care providers, attorneys, executives, and other professionals and professional organizations
•    Substance Abuse Disorders
•    Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Neurocognitive Disorders, and Co-Morbid Psychiatric and Medical Conditions

View Dr. Jessica Chaudhary's Expert Witness Profile.

David Friedler, LMHC, MPH Is an expert in the regulatory standard of care in Nursing Facilities, Psychiatric, Alcohol/Substance Use Rehabilitation Facilities as well as Group Homes for the disabled. He has worked in clinical and administrative roles in these environments over four decades. He has extensive experience with survey compliance, Federal and State regulation, JCAHO and CARF accreditation, OSHA compliance and policy and procedure development.

Areas of Expertise:

• Long Term Care
• Nursing Homes
• Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
• Behavioral Health / Psychiatric Care in Drug Treatment Facilities
• Psychiatric care in Nursing Homes, Group Homes

Linnda Durre', Ph.D., Licensed Psychotherapist, (FL License #MH6058) is an expert witness, psychotherapist, family counselor, intern supervisor, international speaker, corporate trainer, author, business consultant, adjunct college professor, and a magazine, Internet, and newspaper columnist. Her four areas of court expertise are Family Law, Personal Injury Law, Employment Law, and Criminal Law. 

Litigation Support: With over 48 years of experience, she consults to attorneys and has been qualified as an expert witness in eleven (11) states - Florida. Alabama, California, Arkansas, Georgia, Connecticut, Washington, Ohio, Tennessee, and Iowa - in the areas of Personal Injury, PTSD, Family and Couples Counseling, Divorce, Child Custody, Relocation, Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Abuse by Psychotherapists, as well as Age, Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination. Her 400-page doctoral dissertation and research in the latter area was cited to pass legislation in several states. 

Dr. Durre' has hosted and produced four radio shows, two of which were call-in advice shows - "The Dr. Linnda Durre' Show" on WDBO in Orlando (a Cox station) and "Let's Talk with Dr. Linnda Durre' on an NPR station in New York, and two radio interview shows. Her last show was a daily hour-long podcast, entitled, "Linnda Durre' Interviews" Dr. Linnda Durre' has hosted and produced two call-in advice TV shows, including being selected in a national search of 200 applicants, to host, "Ask The Family Therapist," on America's Health Network (AHN), which was associated with Mayo Clinic and each show aired daily for two hours from Universal Studios Orlando. She was vetted by Mayo Clinic and America's Health Network.

She has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, O'Reilly (twice), Today Show, Good Morning America, Canada AM, Daytime, Donahue (twice), Sally Jessy Raphael, People Are Talking, Home Show, Hour Magazine, Home and Family Show, Disney Channel, and the local and/or national news on NPR, PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC, CW, and Fox.

Dr. Durre' has been interviewed, cited, and/or quoted by the NY Times, LA Times, Forbes, WSJ, IBD, Business Week, SF Chronicle & Examiner, Toronto Globe & Mail, Albany Times Union, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando Sentinel, Parade Magazine, Alternative Medicine Magazine, CNN Online, Washington Parent Magazine, Screen Actor Magazine, Florida Magazine, Pasadena Star News, Orlando Magazine, Women's Health Magazine, and others.

View Linnda Durre's Expert Witness Profile.

• General Psychiatry for Adults
• General Psychiatry for Children
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Organizational Consultation for Schools and Universities

Teo Ernst, PsyD, ABPP, is a Clinical Psychologist licensed in California. He is board certified in forensic psychology, a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and an Assistant Clinical Professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Ernst received a PsyD (Doctor of Clinical Psychology) from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He completed his doctoral internship at Napa State Hospital and his postdoctoral fellowship at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs/UCSF Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Abuse Program. Clinical Experience - Dr. Ernst has experience working with a rich and diverse range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, religions, and sexual orientations. Past clinical experiences include college counseling, community mental health, inpatient psychiatric treatment, crisis work, and VA treatment. In addition to private practice, he currently teaches family therapy part-time at UCSF, as a voluntary clinical faculty member.

Areas of Interest and Experience:

• Trauma, neglect, and posttraumatic stress disorder
• Couples’ difficulties (e.g. poor communication, arguments, infidelity, difficulties with intimacy, trouble negotiating needs, jealousy)
• Mood issues (e.g. depression, bipolar disorder, sadness, lack of pleasure)
• Anxiety issues (e.g. fear of public speaking, excessive worrying, panic attacks.)
• Challenges in relationships and intimacy (e.g. trust issues, divorce, difficulty becoming close, fear of rejection, sexual issues)
• Work difficulties (e.g. procrastination, anxiety with colleagues and seniors, lack of direction, difficulty presenting)
• Personal growth (e.g. resolving childhood issues, increasing self-awareness, improving self-esteem, defining values)

Presentations and Seminars - Dr. Ernst provides delivers presentations for organizations including the San Francisco Bar Association, UCSF, the First District Court of Appeals, and many others. Selected topics include:

• Coping with the Emotional Toll of Legal Practice
• Managing Challenging Personalities: A Fiduciaries’ Practice GuideManaging Challenging Personalities: A Fiduciaries’ Practice Guide
• Strategies for Working Effectively in Legal Practice with Mental Illness
• Client Control, Family Dynamics, and Competency in Estate Planning

View Dr. Ernst's Expert Witness Profile.

Healthways Services, is a small clinical practice that offers a wide variety of Health and Human Service programs, which are designed to help individuals and organizations achieve unparalleled successful outcomes. The program is called "Project S.T.O.P. (Self Taking On Prevention)."  Dr. Lowery, educate, counsel, provide hope, empower, and encourage clients/patients while they work toward achieving excellent success. 

Counseling services provided are:

Dr. Christopher A. Lowery, DHSc, CLCP is a Clinical Health & Rehabilitation Consultant with a special interest in helping individuals and organizations on global health issues.  Since 2002, Dr. Lowery work emerged primarily with a global health focus and the passion to counsel, educate, empower and provide hope to individuals and organizations that need outstanding tough results in the delivery and evaluation on medical catastrophic injury cases.

He currently hold the following degrees at University of North Texas, Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Studies (07); University of Oklahoma, Master of Arts in Human and Health Administration Services (10); Capital University Law School, Post-Specialty Certificate in Life Care Planning (12); University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Post-Master's Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling (14); and Nova Southeastern University, Doctor of Health Science in Global Health (16).  

Dr. Lowery primary initiative focuses on the interface of mental health, medical, psychological and psychosocial aspect of disabilities by helping clients/patients understand their individual barriers and enablers, and targeting long term life care planning that should increase health improvements. The two main approaches are cognitive and reality therapy approaches, which will prevent poor health, injury outcomes, and improve good health and enhance quality of life.

**If you have a case that needs Dr. Lowery's expertise, please feel free to give his office a call for a free consultation.

View Christopher Lowery's Expert Witness Profile.

Charles H. Heller, PhD, is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over 35 years of experience in his field. Dr. Heller offers consultative expert evaluations to assess children and adults for intellectual, emotional, and mental abnormalities as defined by federal regulations. He is experienced in psychotherapy and psychological testing and provides psychological services to a broad spectrum of clients. Dr. Heller is currently on staff at Rutgers University Biomedical Health Service, specializing in criminal behavior and risk assessment. He also serves as a forensic psychologist consultant for the Rockland County (NY) court evaluation service, where he has performed hundreds of child custody, as well as criminal competency and child abuse/neglect evaluations.

Areas of Specialization:

Agency Consultation - Dr. Heller also offers consultation to agencies to improve team effort and communication and reduce conflict. He facilitates executive and leadership committee meetings, goal setting, and staff training and clinical supervision of other therapists. Dr. Heller is a Forensic Consultant and custody evaluator for the Rockland County (NY) Department of Mental Health and a Child Custody evaluator for the Bergen Family Center, Court Services Program. He is a Consultant to agencies that include: outpatient and inpatient alcoholism and drug abuse treatment centers, schools, foster care agencies, as well as a variety of group homes for emotionally handicapped, children with special needs, adolescents, developmentally delayed, and dual-diagnosed people.

Law Enforcement Personnel Consultation - Dr. Heller offers his services regarding treatment for alcohol and emotional problems as well as fitness for duty evaluations. Member of the Rockland County De-briefing team for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have been involved in traumatic situations and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Serve as a clinician for the member assistance program of the New York City Patrolman's Benevolent Association. Serve as an EAP clinician for agents and staff of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Speaking Engagements - Dr. Heller has delivered numerous professional speeches and seminars. His volunteer clinical supervisory and professional activities have been recognized by agencies he has helped.

View Dr. Heller's Expert Witness Profile.

Dr. James C. Norris, Ph.D., DABT, EURT is an Expert Witness in Toxicology and Pharmacology. He has Litigation and Arbitration experience in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Dr. Norris has given testimony to government agencies, has acted as a consultant for the media (BBC) and is an Industrial Site Crisis Team Member. He is avaliable for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas Of Expertise:

• Carcinogenicity and Chemicals
• Combustion or Fire Toxicolog
• General and Inhalation Toxicology
• Pesticides, and Pharmaceuticals (pharmacology)

Professional Affiliations:

• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
• British Toxicology Society
• Society of Toxicology
• Editorial Boards of Inhalation Toxicology and Journal of Fire Sciences

Ray S. Kim, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist focused on providing individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as Forensic Evaluations for adults and juveniles. Areas of Consultation:

Dr. Kim is currently the Director of Chicago Metropolitan Forensic Services at the Illinois Department of Human Services where he supervises a team of clinical psychologists and social workers who evaluate the placement of individuals into forensic facilities. He also serves as the Director of Clinical Training at Chicago Metropolitan Forensic Services where he developed and supervises a forensic practicum program which provides opportunities for specialized clinical training in the area of forensic psychology. 

Dr. Kim was one of the first psychologists trained by the Illinois Department of Human Services to evaluate sex offenders for sexual dangerousness under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. He is also among the first to be certified as a Licensed Sex Offender Evaluator and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider in Illinois. 

Certifications - Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Board Certified Forensic Psychologist, Licensed Sex Offender Evaluator, Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Board Registered Mental Illness/Substance Abuse Provider, Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, Fellow of the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists, Diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, National Register of Health Service Psychologists. www.experts.com

View Dr. Kim's Expert Witness Profile.

Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP, is a nationally recognized authority, consultant, author and trainer offering total package solutions relating to employee issues including workplace violence, substance abuse, management training, FLMA /discrimination issues, bullying, sexual harassment, documentation procedures, liability reduction, hiring/firing and pre-employment screening procedures, corporate investigations, internal theft, and security analysis/vulnerability assessments. 

As founder and president of SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc., one of the nation’s leading security consulting firms, Mr. Dimoff has over 40 years of experience in Security and Human Resource matters serving both the public and private sectors. He is multi-certified in the security field. He is board certified by ASIS as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP?) which is internationally recognized as the “gold standard” certification for security management professionals, demonstrating their knowledge and competency in seven key domains of security. 

Mr. Dimoff is also an A.L.I.C.E Certified (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training instructor; a member of InfraGard, a joint professional organization between the FBI and security professionals to work collectively against crime, terrorism and to improve educational abilities and knowledge for the private sector; a member of NOITR, a joint professional organization between the Secret Service and IT security professionals to work collectively against crime, terrorism and improve educational abilities and knowledge for the private sector with emphases in the IT and internet areas; and is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS). 

Mr. Dimoff has written dozens of security-related articles and has authored four books. He also provides media commentary and profiling analysis for TV, radio, internet and print media worldwide. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology from Denison University. 

Areas of Expertise: 

View Timothy A. Dimoff's Expert Witness Profile.

Sanjay Adhia, MD, MRO, is triple-Board-Certified in Psychiatry, Brain Injury Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry. In addition to forensic/expert witness practice, Dr. Adhia has provided patient care in the Houston area. Currently, he is a neuropsychiatrist at Memorial Herman TIRR where he treats those with brain injury, stroke, and other neurological injuries. His forensic practice focuses on the psychiatric impact of personal injury, medical malpractice, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, competency, violence, and complicating mental illness, as well as psychiatric disability. 

Dr. Adhia is among one of the few Forensic Psychiatrists who is also Board-Certified in Brain Injury Medicine. Often, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can be a major factor in litigation as it can result in psychiatric or neurocognitive impairments. He has expertise in psychopharmacology, the medicine of medication. 

In addition, Dr. Adhia works with Physicians for Human Rights to assess victims of kidnapping and false imprisonment, human trafficking, undue influence, physical and sexual abuse, rape, and fear of imminent death. In all populations, he assesses PTSD, Anxiety, Depressive Disorders, risk of suicide, and malingering. He is experienced in the treatment and impact of drug and alcohol abuse on decision-making. Dr. Adhia has also treated severe psychosis (Schizophrenia, hallucinations) and psychopathology. Dr. Adhia was formerly treating patients at a Maximum Security Prison and prison psychiatric hospital. He has treated Opioid Use Disorders. 

Dr. Adhia’s findings consider complicating factors, such as emotional distress worsened by other active physical and mental conditions. Other factors are pre-existing mental and physical illness, competency and capacity (e.g. dementia, Intellectual Disability.) As a physician, Dr. Adhia is uniquely qualified to review medical records and doctor reports. Institutional medicine, medical malpractice, and standard of care apply to both public and private facilities, including government, regulated correctional institutions, and psychiatric hospitals. Dr. Adhia is skilled in these med-legal issues. He conducts Independent Medical Examinations, review of records, and reports his med-legal findings and opinions. He is available to testify in civil, criminal, probate, Federal, Immigration, military, and administrative jurisdictions.

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 Santoro, MD is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and board eligible in Family Medicine. His professional consultant services are utilized by Pharmaceutical companies to educate doctors on why and how to use medication for substance use disorders. Dr. Santoro also gives talks and seminars to groups on all aspects of addiction medicine.

In addition to being the Chief of the Section of Addiction Medicine at Tower Health System, he was the Medical Director at the Reading Hospital & Medical Center detoxification and rehabilitation program for 36 years. He was also the Medical Director for a Methadone Treatment facility for 22 years where he was responsible for all admission physical examinations and 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 & 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 utilizing buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance for over 300 patients. With a special interest in Sports Medicine, in 2001, he served as a volunteer physician for the U.S. Olympic Training Team in Lake Placid, New York. 

Professional Services:

• Consultant speaker for Forrest Pharmaceuticals. Responsible for teaching physicians about using Campral for alcohol dependence, 2005 to 2007
• Consultant speaker for Indivior (formerly Rickett-Benckiser). Mentoring program to teach physicians how to appropriately use Suboxone and Sublocade  for opioid use disorder, 2005 to present
• Consultant speaker for Pfizer Labs. Responsible for teaching physicians how and why to use Chantix for tobacco addiction, 2007 to present

View William Santoro's Expert Witness Profile.

Tracy L. Skaer, PharmD, FASHP, FASCP is a Professor Emeritus of Pharmacotherapy with over 30 years of pharmaceutical experience. Dr. Skaer's research and professional experience include pharmacy practice, chronic pain, mental health, substance abuse, and complementary and alternative medicine. She is licensed pharmacist in California, Idaho, and Washington.

Dr. Skaer’s current research involves the use of mindfulness and multiple family group problem solving for the Treatment of Chronic Pain in those with high risk of Opioid Use. Her plans are to expand this intervention to manage chronic insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents, American Indians, veterans, and other populations. Other research interests include chronic pain, comorbid mental illness in chronic disease, depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, mindfulness, complementary and alternative medicine, and pharamcoeconomics and pharmacoepidemiology. Her research has been supported by over $3.2 million in grants from foundations and pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Skaer has published 110 professional abstracts, 82 research papers, 43 review articles, and 6 book chapters. She serves on the editorial boards of 3 medical professional journals, Clinical Therapeutics, Journal of Sleep Medicine and Disorders, and Pain Studies and Treatment. Dr. Skaer's publications have appeared in numerous journals including, Drugs, Clinical Drug Investigation, PharmacoEconomics, Journal of Clinical Pharmacy & Therapeutics, American Journal of Medicine, Harvard Review of Psychiatry, and the New England Journal of Medicine among others.

View Dr. Skaer's Expert Witness Profile.