Standard of Care Consultants: 139

Barry Zakireh, PhD, is a licensed Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in his field. In private practice since 2000, he focuses principally on the assessment and treatment of Sexual Aggression and Violent Behavior. 

Dr. Zakireh currently teaches, trains, and provide clinical and psychological assessment in affiliation with the Psychiatry Department at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman Scool of Medicine, and other mental health organizations. He works closely with social service as well as private sources related to allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior in the context of custody and family risk assessment. 

Consultation, Assessment, and Treatment:

• Adult and Juvenile Sexual Offenders and Victims
• Behavior Disorders
• Forensic Neuropsychology
• Assessment of Violence
• Custody and Parenting Evaluations
• Psychoeducational Evaluations of Adults, Adolescents, and Children

Consultation & Educational Services

• Risk Assessment Procedures, Standards of Practice, Program Development
• Supervision and Treatment of Offenders
• Supervision of Professionals and Clergy with Sexual Misconduct
• Supervision / Training of Clinical Personnel involved in Psychological Interventions in Civil or Criminal Systems

View Dr. Zakireh's Expert Witness Profile.

Andrew Wittenberg, MD, MPH, FACEP, is the medical director of his Emergency Department and a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician with over 15 years of experience. He is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).  

Dr. Wittenberg currently works in a tertiary care center in southern California that is a stroke center, trauma center, STEMI-receiving center, and Pediatric Medical Center.  Dr. Wittenberg also has significant experience working in a smaller, single-coverage community emergency department.  Dr. Wittenberg graduated from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency at LA County-USC Medical Center. He has been recognized for excellence in teaching with awards from two residency programs. He also a national board examiner for ABEM.   

Litigation Support - Dr. Wittenberg offers expert witness services in medical malpractice cases involving Emergency Medicine. He provides consultation for chart reviews, expert witness depositions, and testimony. Dr. Wittenberg's services are available to both plaintiff and defense attorneys.  

Areas of Expertise:

Trauma Stroke Myocardial Infarction / STEMI /NSTEMI / ACS Pregnancy / Ectopic Pregnancy Sepsis Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Aortic Dissection Endocarditis Cauda Equina Spinal Epidural Abscess Meningitis

Aneurysm Pneumonia Appendicitis Intubation Ischemia Testicular Torsion and Ovarian Torsion Airway Management Fracture  Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Jonathan Wiesen, MD received training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine with a special focus on Medical Ethics.

Dr. Wiesen is currently a Pulmonary and Intensive Care Attending Physician at Community Intensivists where his duties include general clinical care and workflow organization and protocol authorship. He also serves as a Medical Technology Analyst at OurCrowd where he is responsible for the Scientific and financial assessment of medical technology start up companies and provides multi-disciplinary interactions for assessments and investments.

Dr. Wiesen has extensive academic experience with over 75 publications, including first authorship on over a dozen full length manuscripts. He has been honored with the Teaching Excellence Award from the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, which provides clinical and hospital care and leads in research, education, and health information. He also received the Best Abstract Award, Critical Care session, at the ACCP CHEST annual conference in 2014.

Litigation Support - Dr. Wiesen provides expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. His services include medical record review, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Cardio-Pulmonary Hemodynamics Respiratory Physiology End of Life Sepsis / Septic Shock Pneumonia COPD Asthma Life Support

Mechanical Ventilation Smoking Related Diseases Interstitial Lung Disease Pulmonary Hypertension Lung Transplantation Biomedical Ethics Conflict Resolution Triage

Gregory T. Whitman MD is a board-certified neurologist, author, speaker and formerly on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. He practices Neurology in California and is available to consult and testify in other states.

Dr. Whitman is an expert in Neurology, Otoneurology, dizziness, vertigo, BPPV, gait, balance, falls, inner ear and vestibular disorders, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, Meniere's disease, vestibular tests, VNG, labyrinthine concussion, orthostatic intolerance, syncope, loss of consciousness, neurological effects of medications, head trauma, concussion, traumatic brain injury, TBI, construction injuries, stroke, brain hemorrhage, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cognitive impairment, dementia, carbon monoxide, encephalopathy, brain injury, seizure, sleep apnea, neuropathy, spinal disorders, disability, and other areas of Neurology.

Formerly on medical faculty at Harvard, UCLA and UC Irvine. Previous Neurology Residency Program Director, Neurology Clerkship Director. Contributor to multiple medical books. Co-author of "Dizziness Why You Feel Dizzy and What Will Help You Feel Better" (Johns Hopkins Univ. Press). Experienced public speaker. Over 10 years’ forensic experience, including depositions and testimony in state and federal court.

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)

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

Jeffrey Phillip Weinstein, AIA, a California licensed Architect and Construction Project Manager since 1982, with a Masters Degree in Real Estate Development from USC, is actively involved with development, design and construction management. Mr. Weinstein provides preconstruction (entitlements, plans, permits) through on-site construction administration services (change order analysis, cost evaluation) on a wide range of building types.

Expertise: Mr. Weinstein has extensive experience in real estate development, acquiring government approvals, entitlements and permits, architect's standard of care, construction management, claims & defects, and A/E/C agreements. His expertise includes scope of services and design fees, zoning and building codes, errors/omissions, construction defects, destructive testing and repairs. Previous positions include Director of Operations, Preconstruction Director, Senior Project Manager, Construction Manager and Administrator for Nadel and Callison Architects, Tishman Construction, Trammel Crow Company, California State University and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

Project Experience: Jeff's project experience includes high-rise residential and mixed-use developments, multi-family residential podium-type apartments and condominiums, retail, big box, neighborhood shopping centers and regional malls, corporate and tenant improvements, hospitality including wineries and breweries, themed resorts and casinos, K-12 and university buildings, hospitals and medical facilities, custom and production homes.

Professional Licenses / Certifications / Affiliations:

• California Registered Architect, License #12822
• AIA Certified in Construction Management, Contract Administration and Specifications
• Member, American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, Construction Specification Institute
• Member, North Santa Barbara County Board of Architectural Review

Professional Services Include:

• Architectural, Engineering and Construction (A/E/C) Project Management
• Owner’s Representative / Real Estate Development / LEED Design-Build
• Director of Operations and Pre-Construction Services / Construction Administrator
• Forensic Architect / Construction Expert Witness

View Jeffrey Weinstein'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.

Emin Gharibian, PsyD, is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in Forensic Psychology and Neuropsychology with over 10 years of experience in assessing, treating, and consulting on psychological disorders.

Dr. Gharibian's training and experience have been in psychological and neuropsychological assessments in a variety of clinical settings including private practice, outpatient mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, forensic hospitals, and correctional facilities. 

He specializes in providing comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for various conditions including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, complications from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussions, learning disabilities, ADHD, and PTSD.

He also specializes in forensic psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for immigration hearings, mental health diversion and mitigation, testamentary capacity, competency to stand trial, personal injury, worker's compensation, and fitness for duty. He provides consultation services to personal injury and worker's compensation attorneys on psychological and neuropsychological-related matters.  He has also testified as an expert and served as a consultant for the defense and prosecution in state and federal court.

In addition to his private practice, he is a forensic psychologist for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He conducts psychological evaluations to evaluate patients for violence risk and determine if they meet the criteria to be committed to a state hospital, write court reports, and testify in court as an expert witness.

Dr. Gharibian has been appointed to the Los Angeles Juvenile Court Expert Witness Panel. He is also a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the American Psychology and Law Society.

Areas of Forensic Expertise:

Personal Injury Independent Medical Evaluations Worker's Compensation Fitness for Duty Police Officer Pre-Employment Evaluations Immigration Evaluation Diminished Capacity Violence Risk Assessments Mitigating Factors in Criminal Cases Civil Capacity (Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Contractual Capacity) Symptom Validity/ Malingering Mitigation in Criminal Cases Alcohol-Induced Blackout Alcohol Myopia

Forensic Psychology Forensic Neuropsychology Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Concussions Neurocognitive Impairment from Substance Use Complications from stroke Dementia Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Learning Disabilities ADHD Sexual Harassment Discrimination Mental Health Diversion

TRIDENT INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE, INC., founded in 1991, provides Professional Investigative, Detection Canine, and Security Consulting Services for law firm, insurance company, and corporate clients offering the following services: 

• Threat and Vulnerability Assessments
• Physical Security Consulting
• Executive and Personal Protection
• Targeted Violence Risk Management, High-Risk Employee Terminations, Stalking Investigations
• Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM)
• Pre and Post-Employment Screening, Background Research, Protective Intelligence, and Asset Recovery
• Intellectual Property, Corporate, and Legal Investigations
• Covert Photographic and Video Surveillance
• Technical Security and Countermeasures
• Contraband Detection Utilizing Canines
• Handgun, Shotgun, Patrol Carbine, Scoped Rifle, TASER, Restraint, and Less-lethal Instructor

Founder, Michael J. Canaan, CPP CFLC is a Forensic Security Management Expert Witness with over 40 years of experience in Military and Civil Law Enforcement, Corporate and Private Investigation professions. He has conducted investigative, security risk and threat assessment services throughout North America, to include Alaska and Canada, as well as, several countries in Central and South America for individuals and corporations in residences, educational settings, on corporate campuses, and large venue events. 

Since 1991, Mr. Canaan has served as President of Trident Investigative Service, Inc. 

He is a former Washington Certified Police Officer and Narcotics Detector Dog Handler. Mr. Canaan is a certified instructor in related disciplines and maintains active membership in numerous professional associations. 

Mr. Canaan has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from Washington State University.

View Michael Canaan's Expert Witness Profile.

William Santoro, MD is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Family Medicine. His professional consultant services are utilized by Pharmaceutical companies to educate doctors on why and how to use medication for subbstance 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 is the Medical Director at the Reading Hospital & Medical Center detoxification and rehabilitation program and the Medical Director for New Directions, a Methadone Treatment center where he is responsible for all admission physical examinations and for prescribing methadone to approximately 950 opiate dependant patients.

Dr. Santoro is the Addictionist on staff at The Reading Hospital & Medical Center within the Department of Psychiatry. He is consulted by hospitalists to care for patients admitted to the hospital with addiction complicating their condition. Dr. Santoro runs a Medication Assisted Recovery Clinic, an outpatient program utilizing buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance for over 200 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 opiod 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.

The Steinfirst Group was established to strengthen, primarily, non-profits. Principal, John F. Steinfirst, LCSW, has over 40 years of experience in Clinical Social Work, Supervision, Program Development, and Management, and as CEO for 20 years of a $30 million mental health, child welfare, social services agency.

Mr. Steinfirst is responsible for transforming the Fred Finch Youth Center from a traditional residential treatment center to a multifaceted, modern organization based on wraparound and other innovative and best practice principles. Under his leadership, services to youth and families throughout California expanded dramatically and the annual budget grew from $2 to $30 million.

He and his team developed and implemented one of the most comprehensive affordable housing, mental health, and vocational training programs for Transitional Age Youth as well as one of the first residential and day treatment programs for developmentally disabled consumers with mental health problems. Activities also included spearheading significant policy changes that improved services to California youth and families.

As Interim CEO at multiple agencies he has rescued agency from bankruptcy and secured CEO, transformed failing agency through new contracts, and improved staff morale.

As a licensed psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and executive coach, consulting services include:

Executive Coaching Organizational Reviews Board Development Interim CEO Duties Strategic Planning

Budgetary and Fiscal Consultation Clinical and Program Supervision Fund Development Mental Health Training State Laws and Regulations

View John Steinfirst's Expert Witness Profile.

Bill Choby DMD PC provides a state-of-the-art facility for the highest quality Dental Care available. Modern dental technology allows them the opportunity to provide high quality solutions to oral health care whether complex oral reconstruction with implants or a simple dental examination.

Services Provided:

• Implants - Dental Implants, Mini Implants
• Cosmetic Dentistry - Lumineers, Veneers, Whitening, Bonding
• Endodontics - Root Canal, Apicoectomy
• Restorative Dentistry - Bridges, Crowns, Dentures, Bonding
• Periodontics - Bone Grafting, Gum Grafting, Crown Lengthening, Frenectomy, Occlusal Adjustment, Osseous Grafting, Scaling / Root Planing
• Oral Surgery - Extractions, Bone Grafting, Facial Trauma, Oral Pathology, Sleep Apnea
• Orthodontics - TMJ, Night Guards

Principal, Willeam A. Choby, DMD, MPA, MAGD, FICCMO, DICOI, has over 40 years of experience Dentistry and Oral Surgery. He is a Board Certified Implant Dentist that perfoms both the Surgery and the Restoration of Implant Teeth.

A “Master” in the Academy of General Dentistry (MAGD), Dr. Choby has been recognized by other general dentists as a leader and an example to other dentists of the importance of quality continuing dental education to patient care. Masters have accepted the charge to keep abreast of advances in dentistry for the benefit of patients and the betterment of dentistry. Dr Choby is also a Fellow in the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics (FICCMO), earned a Masters of Public Administration (MPA), and is a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (DICOI).

Dr. Choby is recognized as One of America's Top Dentists by the Consumers Research Council of America. He recently demonstrated an innovative root canal system before the American Association of Endodontists in Washington DC.

View Dr. Choby's Expert Witness Profile.

Roy G. Taylor is a current Chief of Police with over 40 years of experience in a wide-range of federal, state, local, and private criminal justice positions. He delivers comprehensive and intelligent Law Enforcement and Security Services to federal, state, and local governments, and is authorized to work on private or government properties including parks, any government owned buildings, land, public housing communities, hospitals, schools, or similar areas. 

Dr. Taylor's experience and expertise includes use of force and firearms instruction; recruiting, selection and assignment; employee supervision, evaluation and retention; curriculum development; policies and procedures design and implementation; canine utilization; budgeting; public relations; and emergency management. 

Current Positions:

• Chief of Police Blue Ridge Public Safety (2014)
• President/CEO Signal 88 Security of Charlotte (2012)
• President/CEO Capitol Special Patrol (2012)
• Chief of Police Capitol Special Police (2002)
• LT. Colonel – Provost Marshal, Army National Guard (2000)
• Antiterrorism / Emergency Management Branch Chief DoD (2007)
• Provost Marshal Joint Civil Support Task Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff (2014)

Specific Services:

Mobile Patrol Stationary Guard Alarm Response Residential and Commercial Business Checks ATM / Bank Escorts VIP / Management Escorts Investigations Arrest of Violators

Hostile Employee Terminations Emergency Response Planning Site Security Assessments Crime Prevention Seminars Anti-Terrorism Instruction Community Policing Programs In-Service Law Enforcement Training Public Relations

View Roy Taylor's Expert Witness Profile.

Suzanne Dupée. MD is a triple-board certified Child, Adolescent, and Forensic Psychiatrist practicing in Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles County, Southern California.  She specializes in a wide range of psychiatric services for children, adolescents, adults and families.

Dr  Dupée completed her general psychiatric residency at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.  She furthered her training by studying Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego.  She then moved to New York City to complete a Forensic Psychiatric Fellowship at New York University.

In private practice in Los Angeles since 2002, Dr. Dupée's practice includes treating children, adolescents and adults for Medication Management.  She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and other Psychiatric Conditions in children, adolescents and adults. 

Dr. Dupée is invited to speak to at presentations and trainings for mental health and legal professionals.  Her Manhattan Beach office is located one block from the beach and one block from the pier in beautiful Manhattan Beach, CA.  Her office provides a warm, comfortable, child-friendly relaxing atmosphere for her patients and evaluees.

Dr. Dupée is currently authoring several chapters in the seminal forensic psychiatric textbook, Principles and Practice of Forensic Psychiatry.  Dr. Dupée taught forensic psychiatry trainees at UCLA for over 10 years until the Forensic Psychiatry program ended.  She is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine where she trains forensic psychiatry trainees.

View Dr. Dupée's Expert Witness Profile.