Cardiovascular Thoracic Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1543

Colorado and California

Senior Cardiovascular Surgical Consultant in Cardiovascular, Thoracic and Surgical Critical Care Medicine

Proven success in the performance of all types of complex Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery and management of Complex Surgical Critical Care patients, ABS Certified in Cardiovascular, Thoracic, General and Surgical Critical Care specialties.

Excellent management skills, Departmental leadership skills with experience in JCAHO quality assurance programs, active membership in national and international Cardiothoracic Societies.

Strong practical and theoretical foundations in improving surgical care and utilizing the newest surgical technologies for minimally invasive surgical techniques.  Conforms to STS guidelines for evidence based surgical therapies and quality improvement guidelines.

Professional Cardiovascular, Thoracic And Surgical Intensive Care Experience

St. Joseph Heart Institute, CHI System Hospital, 2000-07
Eureka, Redding, California
Attending Consultant in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Attending Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgeon

Parkview and St. Mary Corwin Heart Institutes, 2001-07
Pueblo, Colorado
Attending Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, Surgical Critical Care

The Queen’s Medical Center, The Queen’s Heart Institute, 1992-00
St. Francis Medical Centers, St. Francis Heart Institute
Pali Momi Regional and KWCMC Hospitals, Wilcox Regional Hospital
Hawaii
Attending Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon

Provided coverage and consultation in Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic surgery at 8 inter island Hawaiian hospitals with excellent surgical outcomes with over 3500 cases.  Introduced and provided advanced minimally invasive Thoracic and Cardiac surgical techniques to Hawaii.  Active in all surgical departments, Total Quality Assurance Programs, participant in the STS surgical database programs, TCV peer review and National Health Providers Registry Programs.  Achieved a 0% mortality at St. Francis Medical Center, 1.2% overall mortality at Queen’s Medical Center.

Achievements

Increased patient care numbers and satisfaction with low morbidity and mortality statistics.  Achieved a 35% reduction in IHD (in hospital days) with MIS (minimally invasive surgery).  Increased profitability and expanded  cardiac practice to all neighbor islands hospital systems.

Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1989-02
Chief, Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Chief and Surgical Director, Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Supervised resident surgeons and junior staff, directed the Department of TCV Surgery,
provided patient care to all of the Pacific Region. Provided expertise to the Pacific Islands Heart
Program with clinics in the South Pacific Trust Territories.  Introduced and refined the tracking of
open heart patients in this region with telemedicine to remote locations. Commanded a combat surgical (FAST) team in Iraq during Desert Storm,  surgery at King Kalhed Medical Center, Riyadh.
Supervised the surgical residents and conducted daily teaching rounds in the intensive care unit at TAMC and Queen’s Medical Center.

Achievements

Reduced mortality and increased productivity of open heart program in Hawaii and Pacific regions.
Developed and implemented the Surgical Intensive Care Service.
Provided open heart surgery to those indigent patients of the Pacific Islands, Iraq and Kuwait.

Education

Chief Resident, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgical Services
Letterman AMC/University of California at San Francisco, 1988-89

Resident, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Service
Letterman AMC/UCSF, 1987-88

Attending Trauma Surgeon, 7th ID, Silas B. Hays Hospital
Monterey, California, 1986-87

Chief Resident, General Surgery Service
Fitzsimons Army Medical Center/University of Colorado HSC, 1985-86
Resident, General Surgery Service
Fitzsimons Army Medical Center/Fort Carson/University Co, 1982-85

Surgical Internship, General Surgery Service
Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1981-82

Doctor of Medicine
University of Texas, Texas Medical Center, 1977-81

Masters of Science/Bachelors of Science
University of Texas, 1973-76

Medical and Surgical Board Qualifications

Colorado, active and current, 1991-present
California, active and current, 1987-present
Hawaii, inactive, 1991-2001
S. Dakota, inactive, 2000-2003

Drug Enforcement Certificate, unrestricted

American Board of Surgery, 1987
American Board of Surgery, recertified, 1997
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 1991
American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Recertified, 1999
American Board of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, 1992
American Board of Surgery, Add. Spl. Qual Vascular Surgery, 1991

Academic Awards and Honors

National Institutes of Health, Surgical Oncology Fellowship, 1981
Alpha Chi Medical Honor Society/AOA, 1980
Beta Beta Beta Biological Sciences Honor Society, 1977
University of Texas Top Ten Graduating Senior, 1977

Professional Medical Societies and Surgical Hospital Committees

Medical Board of California, Consultant CVTS, 2002-present
Society for Thoracic Surgery Peer Review, 2001-2004
Board Member, Keiki Heart Foundation, Hawaii, 1995-2000
Board Member, Pacific Islands Heart Foundation, Hawaii, 1990-1999
Fellow, The American College of Surgeons, 1985-present
Fellow, The International College of Surgeons, 1998-present
Fellow, The American College of Chest Physicians, 1991-present
Fellow, The Society for Critical Care, 1990-present
Member, The Society Of Thoracic Surgeons, 1992-present
Member, The Denton Cooley Cardiovascular Society, 1993-1999
Member, The Pan Pacific Medical Society, 1993-1999
Member, The American Medical Society, local and national, 1991-present
Member, The Hawaii Vascular Society, 1991-2000
Affiliate Member, The American Heart Association, 1991-present
Member of Hospital Committees
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Peer Review, St. Joseph HI
Assistant Director, St. Francis West Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
Director of Surgical Education, TAMC, Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Military Awards and Service

1992 Honorable Discharge/Chief of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, TAMC
1992 Combat Medical Badge for Desert Storm/XO 274 FAST 82nd AB GRP
1992 Bronze Star with Oak Leaf, Desert Storm/XO 274 FAST 82nd/101st AB
1992 Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), MSM award
1990 Promoted LTC, USA, MC, RA, Chief Cardiac Surgical Service/XO 274 FT
1986 Airborne Combat Qualification/82nd Airborne GRP/7th ID Trauma Surgeon
1986 Army Commendation Medal (3rd award)
1986 10 year Army Reserve Medal, Major USA, RA
1985 Expert Field Medical Badge/Airborne Assault School/274 Med GRP Team
1983 Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Army Commendation Medal (2nd)
1982 Expert Weapons (Pistol) Badge/7th Ranger Detachment GRP
1982 Overseas Service Award/Navy Commendation Award for Joint Operations
1981 Commissioned Captain, USA, MC, Trauma ATLS
1977-1981 Lt. USA, MSC, Officer Basic/ Ft. Carson, 10th MASH unit

Presentations and Teaching Lectures

2007
Neurosurgical Trauma ICU, “Treatment of Thoracic Emergencies” Pueblo, CO

2007
US Army Medical Department Annual Cardiovascular Surgeons Meeting
"Endovascular Treatment of Type B Aortic Dissections and Therapies” Colorado Springs

2006
Colorado Southern Vascular, Treatment of Asymptomatic Aortic Aneurysms

2004
Sister Mary Corwin/Lakeview Hospital Trauma ER Conference, Pueblo, CO
"Traumatic Aortic Dissections, Treatment and Outcomes”

2003
Parkview Hospital CISCU “Ascending and Descending Aortic Dissections, Identification  Treatment and Outcomes”, Pueblo, CO

2002
St. Joseph Heart Institute, ICU, Eureka, CA
"Hemodynamic Highlights in the Post Operative Heart Patient”
2002
Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, SD  Off-Bypass Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Repair of Complex Mitral Valve Disease”

1999
St. Francis West Medical Center, ICU Conference, Honolulu, HI
"Hemodynamics in the ICU” and Emergency Thoracic Interventions in the ICU

1999
St. Francis Hospital, Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
"CARE Study for the use of Clopedigrel (PLAVIX) in the Cardiovascular Patient”

1998
Hilo Medical Center, Big Island, HI, Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
"Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, Mid-CAB procedures”

1998
St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Rounds, Honolulu, HI
"Thoracic Aneurysms Diagnosis and Treatment”

1997
The Queen’s Medical Center Grand Surgical Rounds, Honolulu, HI
"Current Concepts in Lung Reduction Surgery, LRVATS”

1997
St. Francis West Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
"Emergency Treatment of Tension Pneumothorax”

1997
St. Francis Medical Center Grand Rounds, Honolulu, HI
"Surgical Treatment of Empyema”

1997
The Honolulu Medical Group CME presentation, Honolulu, HI
"Mini-Thoracotomy for CABG”

1997
The Honolulu Medical Group CME presentation, Honolulu, HI
"Current Concepts in Lung Reduction Surgery NIH Program”

1997
St. Francis Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
"Treatment of Common Vascular Emergencies”

1997
Hawaii and Pan Pacific Vascular Meeting, Big Island, HI
"Current Treatment of Combined Coronary and Carotid Artery Disease”

1996
Wilcox Community Hospital, Kauai, HI
"Treatment and Diagnosis of Acute Vascular Disease”

1995
The Queen’s Medical Center, Grand Rounds, Honolulu, HI
"Lung Reduction, Lung Segmentectomy via VATS”
1994
Wilcox Community Hospital, Kauai, HI
"Surgery in China and Saudi Arabia”

1993
The Honolulu Medical Group, CME presentation, Honolulu, HI
"Current Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Invasive Breast Cancer”

1991
King Faisel and KKMC-Desert Storm Medical Conference, Saudi Arabia
"Combat Cardiac Surgery in a Forward FAST Unit”

1991
King Faisel and KKMC-Desert Storm Medical Conference, Saudi Arabia
"New Techniques in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery”

1990
The Texas Heart Institute Fall Meeting, Houston, TX
"Antibiotic Preserved Porcine Valves, Pacific Islander Study Group”

1990
Walter Reed 6th Annual Cardiovascular Symposium, Washington, D.C.
"Coronary Artery Anomalies, case presentation and review”

1989
University of Hawaii Grand Rounds, Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, HI
"The Surgical Treatment of WPW-Freedom from Medical Management”

1989
Tripler Army Medical Center Grand Surgical Rounds, Honolulu, HI
"Aortic and Mitral Valvular Disease, Current Treatment Options”

1989
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Fall Meeting, San Antonio, TX
"Surgical Treatment and Update on the Pacific Island Health Program”

1989
39th Parallel Medical Society, Seoul, Korea
"Pulmonary Sequestration, Treatment and Diagnosis”

1989
39th Parallel Medical Society, Seoul, Korea
"Surgical Treatment of Aortic Dissections in Trauma”

1989
5th Annual Cardiovascular Symposium, Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C. “Surgical Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmia's, Freedom from Medical Management”

1988
4th Annual Cardiovascular Symposium, Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C. “Management of the Difficult Aortic Root”

1987
3rd Annual Cardiovascular Symposium, Walter Reed Medical Center, Washington, D.C. “Pulmonary Sequestration, Case Report and Surgical Treatment Options”

1986
Gary Wratten Army Surgical Symposium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. “Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma”

1986
Joseph Baugh Surgical Symposium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. “Traumatic Hemipelvectomy, A Multidiscipline Approach to Team Medical and Surgical Management”

1985
Gary Wratten Army Surgical Symposium, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. “The Complications and Treatment of the Swan-Ganz Catheter”

1982
Hawaii Neurosurgical Meeting., Honolulu, HI
"C1-C2 Lateral Cervical Puncture for Subarachnoid Access”

Publications, Books, Grants, and Research Committees

Available upon request.

Advanced CME and Certifications

Gore “TAG” Thoracic Aneurysm Excluder Certification, University of Chicago Department of Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, 2007
Mini-Maze procedure for Atrial Fibrillation, Ethicon Symposium
Gore Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Excluder Certification; University of Chicago Department of Vascular Surgery, 2005
Stentless Valve Course-Medtronic, Toronto, Canada, 1999.
Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, 1998.
International Conference on Computers and Robotics, Penn State, 1998.
Surgical Implantation of SPV Valve, Toronto Heart Institute, 1998.
Lung Volume Reduction, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, 1998.
Advanced Laproscopic Gastric and Esophageal Course, Ethicon-Endo Surgery Institute, 1997.
Innovative Surgical Approaches to Heart Disease, The Toronto Hospital, 1996.
Mitral Valve Repair Course, The University of Buffalo School of Medicine, 1995.
EGD and Echo certification course, The University School of Medicine, 1993.

Current CME

The Society for Thoracic Surgeons, Annual Meetings 1995-present.
American College of Surgeons Meetings-Thoracic and Vascular Sessions, 2001.

Community Service and Hobbies

Available upon request.