Elderly - Geriatrics - Aging - Caregiving Expert Witnesses: 4

Elliott M. Stein, MD is a Geriatric Psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience caring for the elderly. Dr. Stein is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry (October, 1979), and in Geriatric Psychiatry (April, 1991; Re-Certified, December, 2001, and in April, 2011). He is licensed to practice in California and Florida. Dr. Stein was the Director of Psychiatry at the Jewish Home of San Francisco from 2010-2020, and the Medical Director of their Geriatric Psychiatry Hospital. He has treated older individuals, typically people who have complex combination of psychiatric and medical problems. Dr. Stein has been a Member of the Task Force on Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence, for the International PsychoGeriatric Association.

Dr. Stein is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

He is available to serve as an Expert Witness, do legal and forensic consultation, record review, and assessments concerning Psychiatric issues in older individuals. Dr. Stein offers his services to attorneys for both Plaintiff or Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

• Contested Wills and Trusts
• Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence, Insane Delusions
• Geriatric Competence
• Dementia and Delirium, Alzheimer’s Disease
• Geriatric Psychiatry Evaluation and Treatment, Psychiatric Medication, Psychotherapeutic Issues
• Depression and Anxiety Disorders
• Relationship Problems between the Elderly and their Adult Children
• Aging and Mental Disorders
• Geriatric Psychiatry issues concerning Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Independent and Assisted Living Facilities
• Medicare Psychiatric Services Coding and Documentation

View Dr. Stein's Consulting Profile.

Cathy Ciolek, DPT, FAPTA, President of Living Well With Dementia, LLC, has over 30 years of experience as a Geriatric Physical Therapist. Dr. Ciolek is board certified as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist, a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT) by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. 

Dr. Ciolek previously served as Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Restraint Reduction Initiative (PARRI),  providing education and consultation for issues related to well-being (falls, engagement, medication reduction) to nursing homes throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via a CMS grant. 

Prior to that, Dr. Ciolek served as assistant professor and director of clinical education for the University of Delaware, Department of Physical Therapy. She has practiced as a physical therapist in outpatient, SNF, home health and CCRC facilities over the course of her career.  She is a former Instructor/ Guest Lecturer/Lab Instructor at multiple universities including: Drexel University, Temple University, AT Still University/Arizona School of Health Sciences, Widener University, and Rocky Mountain University.

Dr. Ciolek delivers speaks and delivers seminars throughout the nation on topics including dementia, exercise for aging adults, falls and fall risk mitigation, and Person-Centered Care.

Geriatric Physical Therapy Thought Leader:

• President, Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy (APTA Geriatrics)
• Past President, Delaware Physical Therapy Association (APTA Delaware)
• American Physical Therapy Association
• APTA Geriatrics
• APTA Delaware
• Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association Award

Litigation Support - Dr. Ciolek is available as an expert witness for attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. Her services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

View Dr. Cathy Ciolek's Consulting Profile.

David Friedler, MS, MPH, CNHA, LMHC, Is an expert in wrongful injury, abuse and neglect in health care. His experience is in the regulatory standard of care in Nursing Facilities, Psychiatric and Substance Use Rehabilitation as well as Adult Foster Care. He holds MPH and MS degrees and has worked clinical and administrative roles for four decades. He has extensive experience with survey compliance, Federal and State regulation, JCAHO and CARF accreditation, OSHA compliance and policy and procedure adherence.

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

Dr. Adrine S. Adams, CRNA, has been a Registered Nurse for 46 years with experience as a Certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Certified Post-Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)  and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).  She retired from the Army Nurse Corps Colonel, after 30 years of service. Additionally, she  has a background in Business Administration, Health Services Administration, and Information Systems.

Dr. Adams is a member of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) and enrolled in the Certified Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (CLNC) Program. As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in the capacity of a legal nurse consultant (LNC), she is willing to work on behalf of plaintiffs, defendants, and to testify in deposition or in person at trial.  With her board experience and doctoral degree, she has the capability to perform medical research. 

Background Experience - Dr. Adams is actively practicing at numerous outstanding facilities, including level 1 trauma units. She is experienced in numerous clinical settings with proficiency of several Anesthesia Health Informatics Systems, including EPIC and Cerner.  

In August 1996, Dr. Adams received a Master in Nurse Anesthesia degree with extensive didactic and clinical experience from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Graduate School. She has knowledgeable in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and pharmacology as they relate to anesthesia. With over 24 years of experience as a CRNA clinical practitioner, Ms. Adams is competent with a variety of anesthetic agents and techniques for numerous types of surgical and obstetrical procedures, both general and regional anesthesia, IV sedation, and monitored anesthesia care. 

Dr. Adams possesses the skills necessary to deliver anesthesia care to patients of all ages, including infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric population. With several years of highly responsible clinical experience in the military, numerous critical care capacities, level 1 trauma facilities, and excellent training in nurse anesthesia, I can contribute to your organization. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Adams is available to extend her anesthesia clinical experience as a consultant and an expert witness. Her services include medical record review for standard of care, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. Cases have been related to (but not limited to) the following surgical procedures:

General, Ophthalmologic, Otolaryngologic, Oral and Dental, Vascular, Thoracic, Cardiovascular, Plastic / Reconstructive, Neurological, Orthopedic, Podiatric, Urologic, Gastroenterological, Gynecologic, Obstetric, and Pediatrics.

Areas of Expertise: