Surgery (General) Expert Witnesses

Dr. Thomas J. Berger was board certified in 1981 as a cardiac surgeon by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and has been involved, as an expert, in over 300 medical malpractice cases. Most of this experience has been since 1998, when his firm, Heart of the Matter Expertise, began to gain recognition, within the legal community, as the premier expert witness service for cases involving cardiac surgery and cardio-thoracic disease.

Areas of Expertise:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Cardiology
• Surgery - General
• Thoracic Surgery

Mission Statement

To see that the truth about every case, in which an associate of Heart of the Matter Expertise becomes involved, is uncovered and understood, whether this means assuring justice for a poorly treated patient or protecting the precious reputation of an unfairly accused physician.

Gail Fisher, BSN, RN, CNOR, LNC, has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare industry with a primary focus on Perioperative Nursing services. Within this domain, her expertise lies in General, Orthopedic, Trauma, and Cardiac Surgery Procedures.

Ms. Fisher has gained fluency in various nursing surgical specialties, such as Scrub, Circulating, Charge, Cardiac Specialty Coordinator, Informaticist, Educator, and Perioperative Director. Additionally, she spent 5 years as a Quality Improvement Coordinator, conducting retrospective reviews of inpatient medical records and resolving documentation discrepancies for the cardiovascular lab. She has also played a crucial role in large-scale transition and activation projects, facilitating procedural areas and ensuring smooth moves into new healthcare facilities.

For a decade, Ms. Fisher has been dedicated to providing perioperative instruction and expert guidance to over 100 experienced transitioning and new grad nurses. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has made me a valuable asset in the healthcare industry.  She has designed, developed, and implemented a successful surgical technician program. 

Litigation Support - As an expert witness, Ms. Fisher's expertise in AORN standards, guidelines, and workflows is invaluable in providing credible, objective testimony in legal matters related to perioperative practices and procedures. Her extensive knowledge, proficiency, and insider's viewpoint in this domain make her well-equipped to deliver comprehensive support and insights. Additionally, Ms. Fisher's role as a Quality Improvement Coordinator has afforded her the opportunity to develop a high level of proficiency in identifying errors and missing information in patient records

Services:

• Comprehensive medical record review and analysis 
• Expert witness
• Detailed medical chronology, fact summary report with expert opinion for medical legal cases 
• Observation and reporting for defense medical exams 
• Expert witness location, demand letters, merit reviews, and declaration prep 

Skills: Training Course Development · Microsoft PowerPoint · CNOR · Cerner Educator · Cardiac Surgery · Certified Education Master

Elite Medical Experts is a physician-led team that hand selects nationally recognized Professors of Medicine and Surgery as expert witnesses. Each expert is a board-certified specialist with a busy clinical practice and impeccable credentials.  From Stanford to Yale, and from every healthcare specialty and field, Elite aligns leading specialists from top-tier medical universities.

Actionable benefits to our clients:

     ♦  Zero-Risk Guarantee:  Approve the expert or we'll refund the fee.

     ♦  Avoid costly mistakes with real-time access to our physician-led Strategy Team.

     ♦  No subscriptions - we earn trust one case at a time.

     ♦  Work directly with hand-selected university experts screened for your specific case.

     ♦  No database or advertised experts - we plan for discovery and transparency at every stage.

Please call [877] 670-8625 to speak directly with our in-house Case Strategy Team. There's no charge for phone or video consultation consultation and we'll outline a a strategic plan for moving forward.

Dr. Burton Bentley II, M.D., FAAEM
CEO, Elite Medical Experts

Areas of Expertise:

Anesthesiology Bariatric Surgery Cardiology Cardiothoracic Surgery Critical Care COVID-19 (SARS Cov-2; Coronavirus) Dermatology and Aesthetic 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 Orthopedic (Orthopaedic) Surgery Pathology Pediatric Surgery Pediatrics Perinatology Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR) Podiatry Psychiatry Pulmonology (Pulmonary Medicine) Radiology Rheumatology Sports Medicine Toxicology Transplant Surgery Trauma Surgery Urology Vascular Surgery

View Medical Legal Consultants' Business Consultation Profile.

Robert B. Prehn, MD, has been a Board-Certified Otolaryngologist / Head and Neck Surgeon for over 30 years. His practice is in the field of general Otolaryngology, with extensive experience covering the full spectrum of his field. He was a founding partner of a large single specialty clinic in South Central Wisconsin, fostering profound growth in provider coverage as well as creating an extensive network of referrals for what has become one of the largest Otolaryngology practices in Wisconsin. An early adopter of new technology, he and his have leveraged these tools into an efficient and thriving practice which employs over 80 people.

Dr. Prehn has extensive experience in Medical Administration, including serving as Chief of Staff at Aurora Hospital in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He has also served as Chairman of Peer Review for all of the Aurora Hospitals in Wisconsin, adjudicating issues dealing with medical complications, malpractice, and physician behavior..

Litigation Support - Dr. Prehn provides expert testimony to Medical Arbitration Boards in cases of suspected malpractice, and to attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant. His services include IMEs, thorough medical review, deposition, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Otolaryngology Ear, Nose, and Throat Head and Neck Surgery Otorhinolaryngology Facial Plastic Surgery Pediatric ENT Neurotology Otology

Rhinology Laryngology Chronic Sinusitis Hearing Loss Tinnitus Vertigo Surgical Injury / Medical Malpractice

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

Hugh S. Selznick, MD, is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with subspecialty fellowship-based training in Orthopaedic Traumatology. Dr. Selznick is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.). He holds academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and has served as Medical Director/Chief of Trauma Services for Orthopaedic Trauma Services at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center in Las Vegas. He is the Medical Director of Consultants Medical Group since 2006.

Litigation Support - Dr. Selznick performs Orthopedic Independent Medical Exams and Record Reviews and can provide objective reviews and analysis of cases arising from personal injury litigation. He also has access to a network of highly qualified physicians across other subspecialties, allowing us to bring in additional expertise when needed. He has extensive experience in forensics since 2006, and has been able to assist attorneys and insurance professionals in understanding the medical/orthopedic issues particular to each case, with a focus on utilizing evidence-based medicine.

Areas of Orthopedic Trauma Expertise:

Spine & Musculoskeletal Trauma High Energy Fractures Pelvic and Acetabular Trauma Complex Lower Extremity Fractures Femoral Neck / Shaft Injuries Open Tibial Fractures ACL Tear Gunshot-Related Orthopedic Injuries

Total Knee Arthroplasty  Post-Operative Complications   Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Knee & Joint Surgery Cartilage Transplantation Ankle Surgery

Education/ Training:

• BA in Biological Sciences from Cornell University (Magna Cum Laude, Arts & Sciences)
• MD from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, elected to Alpha Omega Alpha
• Orthopedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute in New York, served as Chief Resident
• Fellowship in Orthopaedic Traumatology at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle

Yolanda Anderson, RN, BSN, CEN, CLNC is a Registered Nurse and has been working in the Emergency Department for more than 25 years. A Certified Legal Nurse Consultant with a detail-oriented approach, Ms. Anderson is knowledgeable about all aspects of Hospital Care and Standards of Care for Physicians, Nurses and Ancillary Personnel.

Ms. Anderson's background experience includes work in the Emergency Department of Los Angeles County, USC Medical Center, a level I Trauma Center and in the Emergency Department at Saint Anthony Hospital Central in Denver, Colorado, a level I Trauma Center where she helped initiate the Hyperbaric Medicine program. For 15 years, she worked as a staff RN, Charge RN and Assistant Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department at Littleton Adventist Hospital - Littleton, Colorado, a level II Trauma Center. There, she helped with the expansion and reconstruction of the current Emergency Department facility.

Ms. Anderson has been retained as an Expert 27 times. Her litigation support services include chart review for merit, chronologies, medical care research, Independent Medical Assessments, and more. Ms. Anderson's services are available to attorneys for both Plaintiff and Defense.

Areas of Expertise:

Emergency Department Care Inpatient Hospital Care Trauma, Cardiac, Neurological Emergency Adult, Pediatric, and Infant Care

Triage & Documentation Nursing Home Care Electronic Medical Records Worker's Compensation

View Yolanda Anderson's Consulting Profile.

Clive M. Segil, MD, FACS, FRCS is an internationally renowned Orthopedic Surgeon with 45 years of experience in the management of Musculoskeletal Disorders. He practices orthopedic surgery, treating all orthopedic conditions.

Dr. Segil is on the staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, St Johns Hospital Medical Centre, Valley Presbyterian Hospital.

He is in active practice in the Los Angeles, with offices in Century City, Encino, Lawndale, Glendale, Lancaster, Pomona. He is a past assistant clinical professor of orthopedics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine and a past Clinical Chief of Orthopedics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Segil completely understands the forensic system, is comfortable and confident in presentation and trial appearance, and is not intimidated by court proceedings. He has experience in all aspects of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is familiar with the new changes in the Workers' Compensation arena, including using the AMA guidelines, the ACOEM guidelines, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery guidelines for spine problems.

Dr. Segil testifies for defense and plaintiff cases with an unbiased, erudite, understandable, and logical argument to support the facts and evidence. He has provided unbiased, detailed, ratable, and credible reports concerning injured workers and has given an honest opinion as to their condition, causation, prognosis, disability, and apportionment in a precise organized manner.

View Dr. Segil's Consulting Profile.

William Bisordi, MD, FACP, is a Board Certified Internist and Gastroenterologist with 35 years of experience in private practice. Dr. Bisordi currently serves as a consultant in field of medical record review, lab analysis, and outcomes and adverse reactions for the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare industry.

Career Experience:

• New York State Department of Health Office of Professional Medical Conduct, Hearing Board, 2003-2019
• Board of Directors, Secretary, Westchester Health Care Corporation, 1998-2003
• Medical Director, Care Plus Health Plan, 1995-1997
• Senior Physician Consultant, Island Peer Review Organization, 1992-1998

Litigation Support - Dr. Bisordi has extensive experience in record review for both plaintiff and defense attorneys over the past 35 years. His expertise includes Medical Record Review, Negligence Issues, Standard of Care Issues, Medical Damages, and Medical Data Analysis. In his capacity as a Medical Expert, he helped win a $20,000,000 verdict.

Areas of Expertise:

Gastroenterology Liver Disease Colitis

ERCP Colonoscopy Related Gastroenterology Topics

  Fee Schedule upon Request.

Elbridge F. Bills, MD, FACOG, is a board certified OB/GYN with over 20 years of clinical experience in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Bills is a graduate of Emory Medical School and received a Master's degree in Metabolic & Nutritional Medicine from the University of South Florida.

With a full-time practice caring for and managing low and high risk pregnancies and deliveries, Dr. Bills also has an active gynecological practice including hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic procedures. He is licensed in both Georgia and Florida.

Dr. Bills is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Litigation Support - Dr. Bills offers expert witness services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defense. He is available for cases involving medical malpractice and other OB-GYN related injuries. His services include medical record review, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Normal & High Risk Pregnancies Hysteroscopic Gynecology Laparoscopic Gynecology Reconstructive and Robotic Surgery

Gynecological Ultrasound Integrative Medicine Hormone Therapy Testosterone Therapy

Dr. Fred DeLucia provides Adult and Pediatric Foot and Ankle Surgery. Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery.

15+ years of experience with lower extremity pathology

Education/Training:New York University New York College of Podiatric Medicine

Deg/Cert:Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Dual Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery and Podiatric Medicine