Expert Information

Currently engaged in clinical practice: Yes

Degree: MD

Specialty / Subspecialty:

  • Pediatrics  -  Pediatric Cardiology

Area of Expertise: Pediatric Cardiology

Year of Medical Training Completion: 1988

City of Practice: HERSHEY

State of Practice: Pennsylvania

Previous Experience As Expert Witness: Yes

Type of Practice: Academic

  • Deposition(s) Given For the Defendant: 4
  • Deposition(s) Given For the Plaintiff: 6
  • Testified in a Trial For the Defendent:
  • Testified in a Trial For the Plaintiff: 3

Available to Review Cases: Yes, for either the defendant or the plaintiff

Available to Be Deposed: Yes, for either the defendant or the plaintiff

Available to Testify In Trial: Yes, for either the defendant or the plaintiff

Training and Additional Credentials

Medical School: Cetec University

Year of Completion: 1983

Residency: Brookdale Hospital and Medical Center

Year of Completion: 1986

Fellowship: Yale University

Year of Completion: 1989

Academic / Leadership Information

Highest Academic/Leadership Position Achieved: Professor of Pediatrics

Current Academic Affiliation: Penn State University School of Medicine

Distinguishing Achievements

Awards: None

Number of Publications on PubMed: 50

Professional Organizations: SCAI and PICS

Fee Schedule

Medical Record Review:

Review of Medical Records, Review of Additional Materials, additional office consultation

  • $600
  • $2400

Independent Medical Examination:

Independent Medical Examination with written report

  • Per Hour: $300

Deposition in office:

Deposition: Discovery/Evidence

  • First two hours: $2000
  • For each Additional hour or any portion thereof: $500
  • Retainer (due 14 days prior to scheduled disposition): $2000
  • Cancellation fee (less than 7 days notice): $2000

Trial (InState):

  • Initial day: $5000
  • Cancellation fee (less than 72 hours notice): $5000
  • For each additional day: $2500
  • Cancellation fee (less than 72 hours notice): $2500
  • Retainer (due 14 days prior to scheduled trial): $5000

Trial (Out of State):

  • Initial day: $5000
  • Cancellation fee (less than 72 hours notice): $5000
  • For each additional day: $2500
  • Cancellation fee (less than 72 hours notice): $2500
  • Retainer (due 14 days prior to scheduled trial): $5000

Case Responses

Closure of VSD results in cerebral infarcts (Case #426)

  • Medical Probability: 6 / 10
  • Medical Error Summary: The main issue from my perspective would have been the indication to consider VSD closure at months of age and would be based upon the clinical findings (symptoms and growth curve) with or without the...
  • Causation Probability: 5 / 10
  • Causation Summary: I do not see from the summary provided that the technical aspect of the catheterization procedure was performed incorrectly although the management of anti-coagulation during the procedure might be an...
  • Expert Summary: I have been practicing pediatric cardiology for over 34 years and direct the pediatric cardiac cath lab at my institution. since my arrival. I have performed thousands of cardiac cath procedures on n...
  • Similar Summary: I have never personally experienced this type of cardiac catheterization complication and I suspect it would be considered very unusual. This particular type of procedure (VSD device closure) is not ...

Newborn with AVCD repair has multiple post-op complications, dies at 15 months old. (Case #440)

  • Medical Probability: 3 / 10
  • Medical Error Summary: From a peds cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical standpoint closure of a primum ASD and clef mitral valve is a standard low risk procedure in most centers assuming there was no evidence of pulmonary...
  • Causation Probability: 3 / 10
  • Causation Summary: There is not sufficient information to say for certain that the surgical procedure was performed below the standard of care especially if the patient was hemodynamically stable coming off CPB and with...
  • Expert Summary: I have been practicing pediatric cardiology and managing patients pre and post operatively for 35 years at a children's hospital with a moderate size pediatric cardiology and peds cardiothoracic surgi...
  • Similar Summary: This would be considered an unusual postoperative course for a child with an isolated primum ASD and cleft mitral valve who is otherwise asymptomatic

PDA Closure failed, contraindicated equipment? (Case #503)

  • Medical Probability: 6 / 10
  • Medical Error Summary: The decision to close a PDA in the cath lab vs surgical ligation is primarily based on symptoms or echocardiographic findings in relation to the size of the patient and what device would be the best f...
  • Causation Probability: 6 / 10
  • Causation Summary: Same response as above The decision to close a PDA in the cath lab vs surgical ligation is primarily based on symptoms or echocardiographic findings in relation to the size of the patient and what ...
  • Expert Summary: I have been practicing as an interventional pediatric cardiologist for 36 years and to date have closed about 500 PDA's in the cath lab utilizing numerous devices in patients of all ages and sizes (as...
  • Similar Summary: I have infrequently experienced device embolization in PDA closure cases although usually the device migration does not lead to immediate cardiovascular symptoms and can typically be retrieved in the ...