Health / Public Health Expert Witnesses: 41

Tracy L. Skaer, PharmD, FASHP, FASCP is a Professor Emeritus of Pharmacotherapy with over 30 years of pharmaceutical experience; 5 years as an expert witness. She is a licensed pharmacist in California, Idaho, and Washington. Dr. Skaer is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacist, and a Member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacist's (ACCP) Pain and Palliative Care Practice and Research Network (PRN).

Dr. Skaer's 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.

Litigation Support - Dr. Skaer has completed several expert cases across the United States. Her services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and include record review, written reports, deposition, and trial testimony. Dr. Skaer's cases involve:

Chronic Pain Narcotic Use Opioid Pill Mills Illicit Substance Abuse Opioid Overdose Wrongful Death

Urine Drug Testing Medication-Related Suicide Medication Reactions and Interactions FDA Controlled Substances Act Opioid Prescribing Opioid Dispensing Regulations

View Dr. Skaer's Consulting 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 is appointed to the Los Angeles Juvenile Court Expert Witness Panel and Adult Criminal Court Expert Witness Panel. He is also a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology.

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

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.

As principal of the well-respected residential and community based Fred Finch Youth Center in Oakland, with programs throughout California, Mr. Steinfirst has experience with an array of services for a variety of institutions, government and private agencies. Clients include but are not limited to abused and neglected children, developmentally disabled and mentally disabled, co-occurring disordered, children, youth, and families, adults, the elderly and those with substance abuse problems.

An innovator in his field, Mr. Steinfirst is responsible for developing and implementing the first residential and day treatment programs in California for developmentally disabled consumers with mental health problems, and one of the most comprehensive affordable housing, mental health, and vocational training programs for Transitional Age Youth, ages 17-28.

Litigation Support - As a licensed and experienced Mental Health Therapist, Mr. Steinfirst also offers expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. His cases involve standards of care, group homes / residential treatment and care, foster family agencies, a wide range of states' regulations and laws, mental health issues, social services, developmental disabilities, psychiatric institutions, and clinical services, for all ages.

Mr. Steinfirst's most recent case involved an insurance company that refused to settle for $2 million. The case resulted in a $5.3 million victory after he took the stand for 1 1/2 days.

Areas of Expertise:

Behavioral Science Child Abuse Child Custody Child Psychiatry Child Sexual Abuse

Community Mental Health Disability Drug Abuse Therapist Malpractice State Laws and Regulations

View John Steinfirst's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Ernst specializes in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Capacity/Competency evaluations, Mitigation Evaluations, and Employment Evaluations. He is one of a select group fewer than 40 psychologists in California who have undergone the rigorous examination process necessary to obtain Board Certification in Forensic Psychology.  Since 2012, Dr. Ernst has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry where he provides teaching and supervision on a voluntary basis. As a trauma expert, Dr. Ernst chose to complete an additional year of fellowship training in PTSD at the San Francisco Veterans Hospital.

Having completed over 350 forensic evaluations, Dr. Ernst is frequently retained to conduct a diverse range of civil and criminal evaluations including, but not limited to, mitigation evaluations (juvenile & adult), testamentary capacity and undue influence evaluations, personal injury evaluations, mental state at the time of the offense evaluations, violence risk assessment, and employment evaluations. He is currently a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the California Department of Industrial Relations and serves as a member of the Criminal Panel for Psychological and Psychiatric Experts for multiple Superior Courts. Dr. Ernst's past professional experiences including providing treatment and expert testimony as a member of the medical staff of Napa State Hospital and completing VA forensic evaluations on veteran's alleging psychiatric injury from military trauma. In addition to his forensic and clinical practice, Dr. Ernst provides presentations for organizations including the San Francisco Bar Association, UCSF, and the First District Court of Appeals.

Areas of Expertise:

Assessment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Personal Injury Evaluations Employment Evaluations Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence Violence Risk Assessment / Threat Assessment Mitigation Evaluations Capital Sentencing Evaluations MSO Evaluations Assessment of Neuropsychological Functioning Assessment of Malingering

Independent Medical Exams (IME) Trial Consultation Disability Evaluations Drug Abuse / Drug Addictions Anxiety Disorders Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) Depressive Disorders Panic Disorders Schizophrenia Assessments Violence Evaluations

Alameda Office 1402 Park St., Suite C Alameda, CA 94501 Telephone: 415-913-8096

View Dr. Ernst's Consulting Profile.

Pamela Tabor, DNP, AFN-BC, is a Board-Certified Advance Forensic Nurse and has practiced in forensics since 1997. She is a Board Certified Advance Forensic Nurse, and also has an Advance Health Specialty Forensic Science Certification and is a Certified Law Enforcement Standards and Training Instructor.  

Dr. Tabor served two terms on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Forensic Nurses and earned the Distinguished Fellow recognition in 2015. She is also an inaugural member on the board of directors for the Arkansas Forensic Nursing Association. 

Dr. Tabor has served as the inaugural director for two programs: Arkansas Infant & Child Death Review Program and the first hospital-based sexual assault unit in Arkansas. She has a comprehensive understanding in investigations, performing sexual assault examinations and infant death scene investigations, and was previously an investigator for the Arkansas State Board of Nursing 

Dr. Tabor has done numerous lectures (state, national and international), training videos, podcasts, and publications, including two book chapters.

Litigation Support - Dr. Tabor's work includes serving as a consultant and expert witness in the private sector and serves the Department of Defense in military trials. She has testified before in criminal, federal, and military trials, as well as before the Arkansas legislature and the Pentagon. Dr. Tabor provides consultation and assistance with the application of medical findings, research, evidence based, and best practices associated with case / inquiry in the following area:

Sexual Assault Strangulation Stalking Intimate Partner Violence Elder Abuse Child Maltreatment

Infant Death Investigation Abuse Head Trauma Human Trafficking Healthcare Serial Killers Intentional vs. Unintentional Injuries SAM, CAGE and DUNS Numbers

Dr. Steven Helfand, PsyD, is a licensed Psychologist with over 25 years of direct Correctional Mental Health and Health Leadership experience. He has overseen the mental health and health service delivery in over 50 small, mid-size, and large scale jail, prison, and juvenile systems in accordance with national and local standards as well as multiple consent decrees and settlement agreements. 

Dr. Helfand holds long term certification as a Certified Correctional Health Professional through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) where he was a contributor to the inaugural Mental Health Standards and a long standing presenter of those standards. He is a former Board Chair for the Academy of Correctional Health Professionals and has published book chapters and articles related to behavioral treatment (self-injury and management of the disruptive inmate) and management plans, and serves as a consultant and expert witness to address those challenges.

Dr. Helfand has served as Executive Director of Bleuler Psychotherapy Center since 2015 overseeing both the licensed OMH and OASAS programs. He currently consults to NCCHC Resources Inc providing evaluation and technical assistance to several jail systems. He has held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations for Correct Care Solutions, overseeing mental health and health services in city and county jails throughout the east coast. Dr. Helfand is the former: Statewide Director of Mental Health for all Connecticut jails and prisons, Deputy Director / Acting Director of Mental Health at Rikers Island jails, Director of Forensic Mental Health at Nassau County Correctional Center, and Director of Mental Health / Health Service Administrator at the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.

Litigation Support - Dr. Helfand serves as an expert witness on jail suicide, death, neglect, segregation, and other issues for individual and class action matter. Dr. Helfand also actively consults to several jail systems providing contract monitoring, accreditation preparation, and risk reduction recommendations. He also consults to DHS related to conditions of confinement. He is well respected within the NCCHC community and his approach to case review draws upon his experience and familiarity with national standards and best practices. 

Areas of Expertise:

Jail Suicide Review Wrongful Death Review Deliberate Indifference Review Management of Self-Injurious Inmates Accreditation Preparation Correctional Healthcare Deadly Force / Excessive Force

Forensic Psychology Jails & Prisons Malingering Mental Health Staffing Medical Staffing Segregation

View Dr. Steven J. Helfand's Consulting Profile.

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.

Mohan Nair, MD, trained at the University of California (Irvine) and Harvard and is board certified in:

Brain Injury Medicine Psychiatry Child Psychiatry Forensic Psychiatry

Addiction Medicine Pain Medicine Psychopharmacology Behavioral Neurology / Neuropsychiatry

Dr. Nair brings his extensive training, clinical experience, and formal board certifications to provide in-depth and nuanced medico-legal analysis of cases for both adults and children involving brain injury, frequently and tragically combined with chronic pain and severe psychological trauma (PTSD). He is committed to comprehensive and accurate forensic examinations, quality neuropsychological assessment, and the use of the most up-to-date technology available in the field.

Dr. Nair has provided extensive trial testimony in defense and plaintiffs' cases. He provides and coordinates medical, psychological, neuropsychological, toxicological, and imaging experts for complex civil litigation. Dr. Nair has been on cases involving:

• TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: TBI, Mild TBI, CTE, Concussions, Chronic Pain
• SCHOOL DISTRICT CASES: Discrimination, Personal Injury, Willful Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct, and other abuse
• ADULT-ADOLESCENT-CHILD PSYCHIATRY: Neurocognitive Assessment, Neuropsychological Testing, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Malingering, Police Violence, Psychosomatic Disorders, Trauma Evaluations, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• ELDER MATTERS: Abuse, Dementia, Testamentary Capacity, Undue Influence
• MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY: Lead Exposure, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Mold
• STANDARD OF CARE: Psychiatric/Psychological / Psychotherapeutic Malpractice, Wrongful Death from Prescribing Psychiatric Medication

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

• 1970-75 Doctor of Medicine, University of Bombay
• 1981-83 Clinical Fellow in Child Psychiatry, Harvard University; McLean Hospital / Massachusetts General Hospital
• 1978-81 University of California at Irvine: Residency in Psychiatry

CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES:

Dr. Nair is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in Brain Injury Medicine, Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. Additionally, he is board-certified in Pain Medicine, Psychopharmacology, and Behavioral Neurology / Neuropsychiatry. He currently holds medical licenses in California and Hawaii.

Joshua A. Schwimmer, MD, FACP, FASN, is a Columbia-trained, double board-certified, full-time practicing Nephrologist and Internist based in New York City. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Schwimmer is on the medical staff at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. An award-winning physician-teacher of medical students and doctors, Dr. Schwimmer trained at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Dr. Schwimmer has published more than 30 scientific papers, abstracts, and book chapters; his scientific publications are cited in the medical literature and in textbooks; and his research has been presented at national and international conferences. Dr. Schwimmer is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Nephrology.

Degrees / Certifications: Nephrology Fellowship, Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Internal Medicine Residency, Strong Memorial Hospital. M.D., University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Board Certified in Nephrology. Board Certified in Internal Medicine. New York State Medical License.

Awards / Honors: Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology. Clinical Fellowship Award, National Kidney Foundation of NY and NJ. Clinical Fellowship Award, Kidney and Urology Foundation of America. Medicine Fellow of the Year Award for House Staff Teaching, Columbia University Medical Center. Human Values in Health Care Award, University of Rochester Medical Center. Phi Beta Kappa, Wesleyan University.

Litigation Support - Dr. Schwimmer is a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) and internist (general medical doctor) available for expert witness consultations to both defense and plaintiff attorneys. His services include medical record review, causation determination, thorough reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed. He has provided expert review and testimony in cases involving:

Acute Kidney Injury Kidney Failure Hyperkalemia Hyponatremia Rhabdomyolysis Electrolyte Disorders

Hypertension Urinary Tract Infections Pyelonephritis End Stage Renal Disease Dialysis Other Medical Conditions

Robert B. Sklaroff, MD, is medical specialist, Board-Certified in Internal Medicine since 1977 and in Medical Oncology since 1979. Currently a solo practitioner, Dr. Sklaroff has been an Independent Medical Examiner since 2009.

Dr. Sklaroff has testified on the issue of health care before nine governmental bodies including the National Cancer Advisory Board. He has also provided written testimony to the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means regarding FDA Reform and has delivered over 190 lectures on topics within his area of expertise including smoking cessation. A prolific author, Dr. Sklaroff has written numerous articles on issues involving cancer and smoking.

Robert B. Sklaroff, MD, is an Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine specialist who has been retained as an Expert over 500 times. Having worked with the legal industry for over 27 years, Dr. Sklaroff has been qualified by a court to give expert testimony more than 60 times and has given more than 1000 depositions.

Dr. Sklaroff, completed Fellowships at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and at Hahnemann University; he is currently a solo-practitioner, Board-Certified in Internal Medicine since 1977 and in Medical Oncology since 1979. He has been an Independent Medical Examiner since 2009. Dr. Sklaroff offers Expert Witness services for both Plaintiff and Defense on issues involving Causation, Damages and Standards of Care. Selected Areas of Expertise:

Breast Cancer Rectal Cancer Colon Cancer Leukemia Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia

Bone Metastases Chemotherapy Administration Pump Infusions Hematology Tobacco - Smoking Cessation

View Dr. Sklaroff's Consulting Profile.

Ray S. Kim, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Board Certified Forensic Psychologist. Dr. Kim is also a Board Registered Mental Illness / Substance Abuse Provider, Diplomate of the American Psychotherapy Association, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, and Fellow of the American College of Advanced Practice Psychologists. 

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. 

Litigation Support - Since 2010, Dr. Kim has testified in over 40 cases in both criminal and civil court proceedings. He is sensitive to the nature of legal matters, and provides comprehensive, timely, and professional services. Dr. Kim's services are available to attorneys or defendants seeking a qualified evaluator to help support a case, or wishing to obtain a second opinion on a legal matter already in progress. He is skilled in utilizing the field of psychology's most up-to-date assessments to provide recommendations for prosecution or defense teams. 

Areas of Expertise:

• Psychological Evaluations
• Pre-Sentencing Evaluations
• Sex Offender Evaluations
• Violence Risk Assessments
• Competency to Waive Miranda Rights
• Diminished Capacity
• Fitness for Duty Evaluations
• Substance Abuse Assessments
• Independent Medical Examinations (personal injury, workers' compensation, disability determination, malpractice)
• Detection of Malingering
• Federal Evaluations (competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility)

View Dr. Kim's Consulting Profile.

Dr. Pia Quimson-Guevarra is Board-Certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has expertise in psychiatric issues in civil litigation, employment matters, and criminal cases. She also has additional and extensive experience with diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and severe psychotic disorders both as a treating physician and as possible features in a medical-legal case as a forensic consultant. Psychiatric conditions can impact judgment, clarity of thought, and even criminal responsibility. In the case of psychotic disorders, symptoms may include hallucinations and delusions. She opines about medication or drug impact on behavior.

Dr. Pia Quimson-Guevarra has conducted over 20 competency assessments: competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility evaluations. She is a Certified Forensic Evaluator in Oregon.

Her work is divided between clinical and forensic/expert witness work. Dr. Quimson-Guevarra conducts medical and legal records review as a Forensic Psychiatrist, and medico-legal Independent Medical Evaluations by video and face-to-face, as appropriate. Her assessments are thorough and inform thoughtful and objective expert opinions issued by written report and testimony

Dr. Quimson-Guevarra has a clinical practice, Quimson Behavioral Health, providing psychiatric patient care, medication management, and psychotherapy, for patients who suffer from mental disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, and PTSD. She is based in the greater Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area.

At Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Dr. Quimson-Guevarra worked on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, a method to deliver an intensive level of services to patients in the local community. Her patients consisted of individuals who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness. Her expertise in treatment of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia is applied to patients with these medical conditions. At Cascadia, she also treated patients with a history that includes forensic medical-legal issues.

Previously, Dr. Quimson-Guevarra treated patients who suffered from anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders at Cedar Hills Hospital, Multnomah County Detention Center, Washington County Jail, Snake River Correctional Institute, and the Portland Veteran's Administration.

She continues to use her expertise in psychopharmacology to treat mental health conditions in the context of medically complex cases.

Dr. Quimson-Guevarra has served as a forensic consultant for the Washington County mental health court in Oregon. She also has worked in the forensic evaluation service department at the Oregon State Hospital where she performed competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility evaluations to patients at the Oregon State Hospital or defendants located in various jails.

Leonard J. Weiss, MD, is a Forensic Psychiatrist with unparalleled qualifications, Board-Certified physician in 5 distinct and complementary disciplines applied to Medical-Legal questions:

Psychiatry Forensic Psychiatry  Addiction Psychiatry

Internal Medicine Nutrition Medicine

Dr. Weiss has more than 40 years of experience as a physician. He has been in practice for more than 20 years as a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Forensic Psychiatrist and Addiction Psychiatry specialist, preceded by more than 2 decades in Internal Medicine.

As an Addiction Psychiatry specialist, Dr. Weiss developed and served as Chief of the first Dual Diagnosis (Addiction) program at Michael Reese Hospital of the University of Chicago. He has served as Medical Director of Austin Lakes Hospital.

Before pursuing his interest in psychiatry, Dr. Weiss practiced Internal Medicine in Michigan where he maintains a Medical License. He has treated patients in psychiatric practice in Chicago and Atlanta. In 2013 he relocated to Austin, Texas where he has a private clinical psychiatric practice, Psychiatry Austin.

Dr. Weiss graduated from Wayne State University Medical School and MIT (Mathematics), with residency training in Internal Medicine, Fellowship in Clinical Nutrition, and Psychiatry at, respectively, the University of Michigan Henry Ford Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York (Fellow) and Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago.

Litigation Support: Dr. Weiss has special training and experience in the application of psychiatric knowledge to legal issues, and works in areas where Mental Health and the Legal System overlap, such as Medical Malpractice and Standard of Care. He offers objective evaluations and psychiatric consultation in a wide variety of legal matters, including expert testimony, as well as clinical work with perpetrators and victims.

Dr. Weiss provides IMEs and expert opinions on mental health questions via written report, deposition, or courtroom testimony. He works with attorneys, courts, and other parties involved in actual or potential litigation. His research and assessment and his clinical practice cover areas such as:

Areas of Expertise:

Psychiatric Treatment Standard of Care Addiction Treatment Standard of Care Private Practitioner Standard of Care Detox Facility Standard of Care Internal Medicine and Psychiatry Overlap Medication and Drug Interactions Pain Management Malpractice DUI / DWI Physician Competency Employer Fitness for Duty Assessment

Mental Disability Competency to Stand Trial Competency to Waive Rights / Legal Representation General Competency (Wills, Medical Consent, etc.) Criminal Responsibility Confidentiality Involuntary Treatment Correctional Psychiatry Juvenile Justice Violence and Abuse

Marcel O. Ponton, PhD, has over 25 years of experience in the field of Psychology. He specializes in the Neuropsychological Assessment and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury patients and patients with Psychological Trauma.

Dr. Ponton continues to treat brain injury and trauma survivors in his private practice. He has extensive expertise in the assessment of Spanish-speaking patients. He is a published author, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA, and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Litigation Support - Over the past 22 years he has served as an expert witness, Dr. Ponton has executed hundreds of evaluations and been retained for his expertise over 300 times. He has testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator over 40 times. Dr. Ponton's services include neuropsychological assessments, psychological assessments, report writing, medical records review, consulting, and assessment of children and adults.

Areas of Expertise:

Forensic Neuropsychology Traumatic Brain Injury Brain Injury Rehabilitation Spinal Cord Injury Trauma Malingering Personal Injury

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Psychology Dementia Sanity / Trial Competency Sexual Harassment Sexual Discrimination Handedness

Dr. Patricia J. Bartzak, DNP, RN, CMSRN, TCRN, CNRN is a skilled hospital nurse clinician with 19 years of direct nursing care of patients with infectious diseases and trauma patients, including injuries and diseases related to neurologic, cardiac, renal, renal transplant, spinal, orthopedic and acute and chronic pain and oncologic diagnoses.  Located on the east coast with current nursing licenses both in Massachusetts and California. Has reviewed more than 60 cases in 6 years, written several reports, and been deposed about a dozen times in person and video. Currently working in a hospital designated as level-1 trauma center.

Continued active contributions to the field of nursing as staff nurse, nurse researcher, professional journal column editor and leadership initiatives through active participation in professional nursing organizations.  Served 2 terms as an elected Regional Coordinator for Sigma Theta Tau, the nursing honor society. Currently, serving on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. 

Direct care experience with complex airways, cervical instability, multi-drain management, invasive monitoring, complex wounds, pain management and surgical interventions from many services: orthopedics, neurology, general surgery, thoracics, infectious disease and gastrointestinal medicine. 

Co-chaired the American Nurse's Association (ANA) Scope & Standards of Practice (4th edition, 2021), a document that guides nursing practice for the country's 4 million nurses and Chair of Nursing Research in a level-1 trauma center. 

Nurse educator for several years from undergraduate through the doctoral level including clinical rotations.

Column writer for Nursing Evidence-Based Practice column, having published dozens of articles on safe bedside nursing care. Peer reviewer for the Journal of Trauma Nursing.

Served as a nurse voting members of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) with current Collaborative Institutional Training (CITI) certification.

Professional nursing certifications in medical-surgical nursing, trauma nursing, neuroscience nursing and telemetry. 

View Dr. Bartzak's Consulting Profile.