Standard of Care Consultants

Andrew Wittenberg, MD, MPH, FACEP, is a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician with over 10 years of experience. He is Certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Wittenberg is currently the chairman of Emergency Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. He has been practicing Emergency Medicine in Long Beach for over 10 years. He is a part of Columbia Emergency Medical Group, Inc., which staffs the ER at Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children’s and Community Hospital of Long Beach. Dr. Wittenberg graduated from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency at LAC-USC. He has been recognized for excellence in teaching with awards from two residency programs.

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 defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Trauma Stroke Myocardial Infarction / STEMI Pregnancy / Ectopic Pregnancy Sepsis Pulmonary Embolis(PE)

Aneurysm Pneumonia Appendicitis Intubation Ischemia Testicular and Ovarian Torsion

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

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.

Robert Weber, MD, FACC, QME, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. A Cardiologist for almost 35 years, Dr. Weber is currently practicing clinical cardiology and is on staff at major Los Angeles teaching medical centers and cardiovascular centers of excellence (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Southern California Hospital).

Dr. Weber's practice encompasses the range of cardiovascular diagnostics and treatment. He has a particular interest in Cardiomyopathy and employs a combination of pharmacologic and integrative therapeutics. Dr. Weber completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of California, Los Angeles and received his medical degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Saint Mary’s Medical Center and the Hospital of Good Samaritan, and completed his cardiology fellowship at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Litigation Support - Dr. Weber has over 10 years of experience performing approximately 250 Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs). He has been retained for his expertise 80 times. Approaching each case with impartiality, Dr. Weber's services are available to attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Coronary Heart / Artery Disease Heart Failure Heart Valve Disease Cardiomyopathy Abnormal Heart Rhythms

Pericarditis Hypertension Dyslipidemia Atrial Fibrillation

Dr. Wayne G. Suway, DDS, MAGD, has provided quality dental care for over 30 years. He is dedicated to offering the latest in Cosmetic Dentistry with an emphasis on patient comfort.

For over a decade, Dr. Suway has been recognized as a Master of the Academy of General Dentistry – a prestigious award in the dental field. With more than 1,000 hours of additional education in applied dental techniques and technology, Dr. Suway combines more than three decades of experience with continuous training in the General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, and Implant Dentistry fields to provide patients with the highest quality of care possible.

Through his extensive education and experience, Dr. Suway proves to be highly skilled in a variety of areas, including:

• General Dentistry
• Advanced Dentistry
• Dental Implants
• Restorative Dentistry
• Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Suway is a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantology and an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Emory University School of Dentistry and received his Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University. Dr. Suway also completed a one-year program in implant dentistry under the American Academy of Implant Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. He is licensed to practice dentistry in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New York.

View Dr. Suway'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.

Alan J. Waldman, MD, has practiced Forensic Neuropsychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry for over 20 years. He specializes in the evaluation of head injuries, dementia, any type of post accident cerebral neuropathy, and any neuropsychiatric / psychiatric disorder. The learning and honing of Dr. Waldman's skills progressed through his stint as full time faculty at the University of Florida, his subsequent private practice, the neuropsychiatric consultant to a head injury rehabilitation and residential facility, and the medical directorship of a 217 bed State of Florida forensic psychiatric institution. While at the institution, he did consultations on the head injured patients and those suspected of malingering. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Waldman has evaluated over 400 respondents or potential respondents, for the state and defense in Florida's post incarceration sex offender program. He has testified in approximately 50 hearings and trials (again for both sides) and has been qualified as an expert in the prediction of sex offender recidivism risk. He has a great deal of experience in the detection of Embellishment and Malingering. 

Dr. Waldman has been qualified as an expert witness in circuit, county, and federal courts through out Florida. He was retained by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin for a case involving questions of malingering by a death row inmate whose case was remanded back to the Federal District Court in Austin by the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Waldman has testified in courts in California, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Texas.

 Areas of Expertise:

Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations Brain Injury Criminology Competence to Proceed (Stand Trial) Forensic Psychiatry Forensic Psychology IMEs Malingering Embellishment Neurophysiology Neuropsychiatry

Neuropsychology Neuropsychopharmacology Impaired Driver Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sanity / Trial Competency Sexual Abuse Cognitive Impairments Sexual Harassment / Discrimination Spousal Abuse Stalking Suicide

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 a variety of conditions including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, complications from a stroke, traumatic brain injury, concussions, learning disabilities, ADHD, and PTSD in clinical, civil, and criminal cases. 

In addition to his private practice, Dr. Gharibian is a staff psychologist and medical staff member at Patton State Hospital, a 1,500-bed maximum-security forensic psychiatric hospital housing judicially committed patients under the following commitment types: Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI), Incompetent to Stand Trial, Mentally Disordered Offender, and Mentally Disordered Sex Offender.  

As a forensic psychologist at Patton State Hospital, Dr. Gharibian conducts competency evaluations with criminally committed patients with severe mental illness and cognitive deficits. He routinely conducts psychological evaluations to evaluate patients and determine if they are competent to stand trial, writes court reports, and testifies 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 Cases Diminished Capacity Violence Risk Assessments Mitigating Factors in Criminal Cases Civil Capacity (Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Contractual Capacity) Symptom Validity/ Malingering

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

C. Thomas Vangsness Jr., MD, is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Chief of Sports Medicine at USC, tenured Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine at USC, and a team physician for USC Athletics.

Dr. Vangsness is internationally recognized for his expertise in Shoulder and Knee Surgery and has conducted and published extensive research with a focus on topics such as stem cell therapy to treat cartilage and meniscal injuries, shoulder and ligament biomechanics, and allograft transplantation. He specializes in the treatment and prevention of orthopaedic and sports-related injuries including:

• ACL Reconstruction
• Meniscus Surgery
• Cartilage Repair and Restoration
• Rotator Cuff Surgery
• Shoulder Dislocations

A recipient of numerous university and national academic awards as a teacher and researcher, Dr. Vangsness is also on the editorial board of the Journal of Arthroscopy and The Journal of Knee Surgery. He is a member of several other prominent organizations including the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and The International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology.

Dr. Vangsness did his orthopaedic residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, Orthopaedic Institute in New York and a fellowship in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He also did a research fellowship in bioengineering at Hospital for Joint Diseases. Dr. Vangsness has recently published a book entitled The New Science of Overcoming Arthritis.

View Dr. Vangsness' Expert Witness Profile.

Matthew E. Karlovsky, MD, FACS is double board certified in Urology as well as in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, by the American Board of Urology, a distinction held by a select few of all urologists in the United States. He is fellowship trained in Neurourology & Prosthetics (Female Urology) and has been in private practice in Phoenix, AZ since 2005.

Dr. Karlovsky's expertise is in Injury to Male or Female Genitalia or Urinary Tract whether from surgery, a motor vehicle accident, device implantation, or other occurrence which may result in significant morbidity and possible long term difficulty with urination or sexual function. Traumatic injury to nerves that affect urinary and sexual function, assessment of mechanism of injury, and assessment of function and form of the genitourinary tract are critical to establishing causation, damages, and any potential lifelong debility.

Litigation Support - Dr. Karlovsky has reviewed medical malpractice for plaintiff, defense, and national insurance carriers (GEICO, MetLife). He provides timely review of records, reports, case research, testimony at deposition or trial, and IMEs. A thorough case review involves, but is not limited to, assessing the diagnosis and surgical indication, surgeon training, implant or surgery selection, patient risk factors, unforeseen issues, expectations, definitions of a successful surgery, post operative care and complication management, accident reports, radiology images if available, medical and billing records, Interrogatories, depositions and reports. He opines on cases involving:

Pelvic Mesh Sexual / Genital Injury Personal Injury / Motor Vehicle Accident

Criminal Cases Foley Catheter Implant / Device Complications

Dr. Karlovsky has reviewed cases for attorneys and clients in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, Missouri, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Indiana, Kansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut.

Seminars & Speaking Engagements - Urology & Mesh Medical Consulting PLLC and Dr. Karlovsky provide seminars on assisting with malpractice and litigation avoidance. Education and better understanding of perioperative and surgical planning benefits patients and physicians. Their standard seminar reviews common Negligence and Standard of Care concepts, Informed Consent, Informed Refusal, Disclosures, and Documentation Pitfalls. This seminar may benefit: residency training programs; private physician groups; physician societies; insurance malpractice carriers who may wish to lower risk or potential claims among their insured physicians.

Mary B. Gloeckner, RN, MS, APN, is a Medical-Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist who specializes in Wound Care and Ostomy Nursing. She has been a nursing consultant at Trinity Medical Center in Rock Island, Illinois, a 500 Bed hospital, for over 35 years.

Ms. Gloeckner started the Wound & Ostomy Clinic (WOC) program at Trinity when she began there in 1983. She currently sits on 2 National Boards, the WOC Certification Board, and the Friends of Ostomates Worldwide. Ms. Gloeckner was also elected to sit on the International Board(ISTAP) on Skin Tears. She was honored with receiving the 2011 Iowa Affiliate Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society's (WOCN) Nurse of the Year Award and the 2016 USA WOC Nurse of the Year Award.

Ms. Gloeckner provides litigation support service to attorneys for Plaintiff and Defense. Her cases in include issues related to Pressure Ulcers, Pressure Injury,Wound Care and Colon and Rectal Surgery. Ms. Gloeckner is available to review medical records for standard of care and causation.

Areas of Expertise and Consultation:

Wound Care Decubitus Positions Colostomy Ileostomy Urostomy

Pressure Ulcers Venous ulcers Vascular ulcers Fistulas Diabetes

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 Consulting 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.