Surgery: Neurosurgery Expert Witnesses

Joseph A. Hlavin, PhD, PA-C has 27 years of surgical experience as a Physician Assistant in Neurological Surgery. Dr. Hlavin originally became NCCPA board certified as a Physician Assistant in 1992 and re-certified in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2015. He has held licensure in both the state of Michigan and the state of Oklahoma. He is presently licensed in the state of Texas.

Dr. Hlavin has been in the practice of neurosurgery since 1991. He has been involved in the training of physician assistants enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and Grand Valley State University in Michigan as a clinical preceptor. He is currently a Clinical Instructor for the TAMHSC College of Medicine and the Founding Program Director of the developing PA program at Texas A&M University College of Medicine. He continues as the director for the Texas A&M Health Science Center Postgraduate Physician Assistant Residency in Neurosurgery and precepts physician assistant students from both national and state PA graduate programs.

Dr. Hlavin has held several appointments:

• Physician Assistant liaison to Membership Committee, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
• Physician Assistant liaison to Scientific Program Committee of the AANS
• Physician Assistant liaison to the Executive Committee, Joint section of Neurotrauma and Critical Care
• President of the Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants (ANSPA)

Dr. Hlavin is a veteran of the United States Navy receiving an honorable discharged in 1990 after serving over 6 years as a hospital corpsman. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and ribbons for service overseas and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Litigation Support - Joseph A. Hlavin, PhD, PA-C has experience as an expert witness on several cases regarding postoperative complications in spine surgery. His services are available to counsel representing Plaintiff and Defendant and include medical record review, written reports, depositions, and trial testimony.

Areas of Expertise:

Surgical Assistant Surgical First Assistant Neurology Spinal Surgery Brain Surgery

Postoperative Spine Complications Neurological Surgery Malpractice Spinal Surgery Malpractice Traumatic Brain Stem Injury (TBI / TBSI) Neuro Oncology

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.

Elite Medical Experts works with attorneys to provide 100% Board-Certified physicians and surgeons practicing at the professorial level at the nation's leading universities. From Stanford to Yale, and from every medical and surgical specialty, Elite secures full-time practicing high-level experts from the nation’s most respected medical institutions. Each specialist is truly unique – a Board Certified professor with a dedicated clinical practice, extensive publications, and top-tier credentials from a major U.S. medical center. When an Elite expert aligns with your case, you have a powerful voice – ready to testify – on your side. Why choose Elite?

• Immediate access to top-tier university physicians and surgeons.
• Cost-effective case analysis on a flat-fee basis.
• Panels of expert witnesses for complex cases.
• Independent Medical Examinations (IME) within a favorable radius of any location Our physician-led team will hand-select a top-tier, full-time practicing professor from a major U.S. university who will independently analyze your case. If the facts support your theory, your case will move forward with a leading expert witness who remains committed throughout all phases of litigation. Elite Medical Experts works directly with legal teams and does not accept inquiries from private parties. If you are not a legal professional, please ask your attorney to contact us on your behalf. Please call (877) 670-8625 to speak directly with a Board-Certified physician or nurse on our staff. There is no charge for the initial phone consultation and we will outline a strategic plan for moving forward. We welcome the opportunity to work with you on your next case. Dr. Burton Bentley II, M.D., FAAEM
  President, Elite Medical Experts, LLC. Areas of Expertise:

  • Anesthesiology Bariatric Surgery Cardiology Cardiothoracic Surgery Critical Care Dermatology Ears, nose & throat (Otolaryngology) Emergency Medicine Endocrinology Epidemiology Family Medicine Gastroenterology General Surgery Gerontology Gynecologic Oncology Gynecology Hand Surgery Hospital medicine (Hospitalist) Infectious Disease Intensive Care (ICU) Medicine Internal Medicine Interventional Radiology Laparoscopic Surgery Maternal Fetal Medicine

    Neonatology Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Obstetrics Oncology Ophthalmology Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Orthodontics Orthopaedic Surgery Pathology Pediatrics Perinatology Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR) Podiatry Psychiatry Pulmonology Radiology Rheumatology Sports Medicine Toxicology Urology Vascular Surgery

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.

Spine Surgery and Spine Medicine Consultant

The concepts of Evidence Based Medicine have been the cornerstone of Dr. Dillin's education during his spine surgery fellowship in Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and the format for decision making in his subsequent practice.

The critical analytic features inherent in the "best evidence" approach to patients have permeated his writing and his lectures, allowing flexible adaptation as the science has changed. The combination of logical clinical analysis based on these principles, and twenty five years of experience exclusively devoted to spine surgery and spine related problems, allows specialty focus on any Independent Medical Evaluations or Medical-Legal Reviews.


William Dillin, MD is a spine surgery and spine medicine consultant at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. The Kerlan-Jobe physicians serve as consultants to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Los Angeless Rams, Loyola Marymount University and USC Trojan Football.



Los Angeles and Orange County Appointments
Email: keena.giles@independentspine.com
Web: IndependentSpine.com

IME Information and Medical Legal Reviews
424-276-7715

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