Surgery: Neck Surgery Expert Witnesses

Gary Ciment, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and has taught Human Anatomy and Human Neuroanatomy to medical students, residents and physicians for 25 years.

As an expert witness, he has worked with lawyers to offer clinical insights and to develop strategies for their cases, based on anatomical and neurological principles. Ignorance of these principles is often the root cause of medical and surgical malpractice. As a professional educator with numerous teaching awards, Dr. Ciment is also an expert at communicating complex issues in an easily understood fashion. His services are available to counsel representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Neurological and Surgical Specialization:

• Anatomy of the Upper and Lower Limb
• Anatomy of the Thorax and Abdomen
• Anatomy of the Pelvis and Perineum (Groin)
• Neuroanatomy of the Brain, Spinal Cord, Peripheral Nerves
• Peripheral Nerve Damage
• Central Nervous System Damage

Over the years, Dr. Ciment has served as a reviewer of NIH and NSF grants, as well as various private research organizations. He has served on the editorial board of several international journals, and has published extensively in the area of neurobiology.

Eugene Strasser, MD, JD , FACS, ACLM, is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with 35+ years of experience. Dr. Strasser is a graduate of the the University of Maryland School of Medicine & The Sheppard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University. He trained at the world renowned R. Adam Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland & finished General Surgery training at York Hospital in York, PA. He completed his Plastic Surgery residency at Albany Medical Center in New York and is board certified in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Strasser's work is published in multiple professional journals & magazines and is on staff at several local hospitals. He serves as Chief of Staff at The Outpatient Surgery Center in Coral Springs, Florida.

Areas of Expertise

• Cosmetic Surgery - Face, Eyes, Brow, Nose, Ears, Lips, Neck, Breast, Body, Scalp, Extremities
• Liposuction, Breast-augmentation,lift,reduction, Body Contouring, Abdominoplasty, (Buttock,Arms,Thigh,Body lift), Vaginal Rejuvenation,Dermabrasion/Peels,Injectables
• Reconstructive Surgery - Post Traumatic, Burns, Cancer Removal, Wound Healing, Scars, Ulcers
• Breast Reconstruction

Memberships and Affiliations:

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc.
• American College of Surgeons
• American Medical Association
• Florida Medical Association
• Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American College of Legal Medicine

Steven B. Levine, MD, is an expert in the field of Otolaryngology and specializes in head and neck surgery (ear, nose & throat), including allergy and facial plastic surgery. He is an actively practicing physician and surgeon with 30 years of experience.

Dr. Levine is a Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at Yale University. He is a Past President of the Connecticut Ear, Nose & Throat Society and Past Governor of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

Litigation Support - Dr. Levine has experience reviewing records for both plaintiff and defense counsel. His recent cases involve issues of infection, sinus surgery complications, sudden hearing loss and use of steroids, as well as the swallowing of foreign bodies.

Areas of Expertise:

Ear, Nose & Throat Issues Allergy Head and Neck Cancer Head and Neck Surgery Ear Disorders Endoscopic Sinus Surgery ENT Causation

ENT Complications Hearing Loss Hearing / Ear Surgery Laryngology Otology Sleep Apnea Surgery Snoring

View Dr. Levine's Consulting Profile.

Larry Fishman, MD, PA, is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon with more than 22 years of experience. A Mayo Clinic-trained neurosurgeon, specializes in minimally invasive surgery, including carpal tunnel, spinal, and cranial procedures. 

Litigation Support - Dr. Fishman performs CME's and IME's, disability evaluation, permanent impairment rating, future care costs, and determines medical appropriateness of care to date. He performs medical record review, medical malpractice, as well as other medical legal issues. Dr. Fishman's services are available to counsel for both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Neurosurgery Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Disability Head & Neck Surgery Hydrocephalus

Spinal Procedures Health / Medical / Disability Insurance Neuroimaging Independent Medical Examinations (IME) Medical Malpractice Medical Record Review

View Dr. Fishman's Consulting Profile.

MRK Medical Consultants provides Medical-Legal Evaluations to help legal and insurance professionals reach appropriate conclusions about their client's situations. MRK provides a wide array of medical experts that offer objective review and analysis of personal injuries. Each stage of the process—research to review, analysis to opinion—is addressed in a comprehensive manner in order to help legal and insurance professionals reach appropriate conclusions about their client’s situations. MRK has over forty board certified physician specialists and many with subspecialty certifications. MRK provides physician experts to the entire State of California, the Reno/Lake Tahoe area and Las Vegas, and we travel to many areas of the United States. Physical therapy, registered nurses, physician assistant and billing review consultants are available services MRK provides. Oncall MD's in office daily to discuss your needs if you are unsure of what expert you need.

Edward W. Younger, III, M.D., Medical Director of MRK Medical Consultants, specializes in Orthopedic Surgery. He has extensive experience in total joint replacement, as well as reconstructive surgery of the knee, hip and shoulder. He was instrumental in bringing computer navigation technology to his hospital. He has served on the orthopedic trauma staff at Mercy San Juan Medical Center and serves on the Medical Executive Committee at Mercy San Juan. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the California Orthopedic Association.


Dr. Michael R. Klein, Jr., M.D., specializes in Orthopedic Surgery and is a founding member and the first Medical Director of Northern California Orthopedic Centers. He is a senior member of the medical staff at Mercy San Juan Medical Center and was involved with the development of the orthopedic section of the Level II Trauma Center.

Dr. Klein is a clinical instructor at University of California, Davis, Medical Center, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association.

MRK's Areas of Expertise:

Orthopedics Neurosurgery / Neurology Rheumatology General surgery / trauma Emergency Medicine Internal Medicine Cardiology Geriatrics Sports Medicine RN Physical Therapy Chiropractic Orthopedics

Neuropsychology Podiatry Vascular Surgery Family Practice Anesthesiology Ophthalmology Optometry Urology Gastroenterology Infectious Disease Pulmonary Medicine Critical care Otolaryngology

Dr. Farr Ajir, MD, MBA, FACS, CIME, CPE, is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon with more than 35 years of experience in the treatment of disorders of the Brain, Spine, and Peripheral Nerves. An award-winning physician, he is currently in private practice and a neurosurgeon on staff at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Ajir is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS),  Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and California Association of Neurological Surgeons. He is a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) with many years of leadership and administrative experience in healthcare delivery.

Litigation Support - As an expert neurosurgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Ajir offers services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. He is certified by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (CIME), performs IMEs, and provides expert reviews and medical-legal opinions. Dr. Ajir holds medical licenses in California, Colorado, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, and Utah. 

Areas of Expertise: 

Brain

Brain Abscesses & Infections Brain Concussions Brain Contusions Brain Edema Brain Hemorrhages Brain Injuries Brain Tumors Cerebral Aneurysms Cerebral Vascular Diseases Cranioplasty

Craniotomy Head Traumas Hydrocephalus Microneurosurgery Pituitary Tumors Skull Fractures Stereotactic Neurosurgery Vascular Malformations Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts

Spine

Back Pain & Injuries Back Pain & Injuries Cervical Disc Diseases Cervical & Lumbar Disc Surgeries Cervical & Lumbar Laminectomy Lumbar Disc Diseases Microdiscectomy

Neck Pain & Injuries Spinal Abscesses & Infections Spinal Cord Injuries Spinal Cord Tumors Spinal Stenosis & Spondylosis Spine Fractures Spine Injuries

             

Jeffrey H. Oppenheimer, MD is an actively-practicing board-certified Neurosurgeon with 27 years of experience. He founded and presently practices at Neurosurgery Medical Associates in Coral Springs, Florida. Dr. Oppenheimer is also on the faculty at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and holds medical licenses in several states.

Dr. Oppenheimer received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he also obtained an MS with distinction in Physiology and Biophysics. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Neurobiology and Behavior cum laude, from Cornell University. Dr. Oppenheimer completed his residency training at the University of Southern California-Los Angeles County Hospital. He has published numerous journal articles and textbook chapters in the field of neurosurgery. Multilingual, he is fluent in English, German, and Spanish.

Litigation Support - Dr. Oppenheimer is a seasoned expert witness with significant testifying experience. He has provided expert consultation for both plaintiff and defense in a variety of cases, including personal injury, medical malpractice (standard of care and causation), and worker’s compensation (IMEs).

Dr. Oppenheimer has offered litigation support services for 18 years. A seasoned deponent with both trial and deposition experience, he has excellent communication skills and a caring personality. He has testified as an expert in court or before an arbiter 20 times. Dr. Oppenheimer's services include IMEs, medical record review, conferences, and court and pretrial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Neurosurgery Spine Surgery Laminectomy Laminoplasty Artificial Disc Replacement Spinal Fusion Total Brain Injury

Brain Tumor Spinal Instrumentation BMP Infuse Bone Graft Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Neurosurgery Wrongful Death Neurosurgery Medical Malpractice

Michael Armstrong, Jr, MD is the founder and president of Richmond ENT, a private medical practice specializing in Ear, Nose and Throat disorders in Richmond, Virginia.  He is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  He has successfully completed the Fellowship program of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.  Dr. Armstrong graduated with highest honors from Princeton University (1985) and from Duke University School of Medicine (1989), and then trained for 6 years at Johns Hopkins Hospital before returning to his home town in 1995.  

Richmond ENT is an academically oriented private practice with an active research and teaching program.  Dr. Armstrong is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and in the Department of Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University–Medical College of Virginia.  His daily responsibilities include training family practice resident physicians and nurse practitioner students in the diagnosis and management of ear nose and throat disorders.  Dr. Armstrong has been the principal investigator in more than 20 clinical trials evaluating new treatment options for ear, sinus and throat infections.

Litigation support: Dr. Armstrong has provided expert review on more than 85 cases and testified at least 18 times.  He can generally review medical records and provide a verbal report within 7 days of record receipt.  Dr. Armstrong has been most commonly retained for claims regarding

Traumatic and noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo  Missed or delayed diagnosis of heand and neck cancer Complications of nasal and endoscopic sinus surgery Postoperative tonsillectomy bleeding

Airway emergencies and complications of intubation Personal injuries to the ears, nose, throat and neck Operating room fires Strangulation

View Dr. Armstrong's Consulting Profile.

Michael A. Steingart, DO, is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with a specialty in Pain Management Medicine. He is fellowship trained in the field of Laser Surgery, Endoscopic Surgery, Sports Medicine, and Disability. He has been a general orthopedic surgeon for over 25 years with a busy practice in the Phoenix area.

Dr. Steingart has been performing laser spine surgery since 1999. He also uses laser on other parts of the body, such as, knee, shoulder, wrist, hip and elbow. He has developed techniques to treat various problems and reduce surgical morbidity.

Litigation Support - Dr. Steingart and his staff have over 20 years of medical legal experience. His services include Independent Medical Exams (IMEs), medical record review, depositions, telephone conferences, and expert witness testimony when necessary. His expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Laser Surgery Arthroscopic Surgery Pain Management Sports Medicine Spine Injury Hand, Wrist, Elbow Injury Shoulder, Hip Injury Knee, Ankle, Foot Injury

Joint Pain Impairment Ratings Fractures Slip and Fall Injury Auto Accidents Back Pain and Strains Workman's Compensation Injuries IMEs

Affiliations

• Fellow of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians
• Fellowship in Sports Medicine from the University of Arizona Medical School
• Fellow of the American Academy of Minimally Invasive Spinal Medicne and Surgery
• Associate Professor of Midwestern University Medical School
• Adjunct Professor of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona

View Dr. Steingart's Consulting Profile.