Pediatric Medical Geneticist Expert Witness

Current Primary Position

Associate Physician Diplomat
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Pediatrics and Section of Medical Genomics
University of California at Davis Medical Center

 

Education

July 2003-June 2005
Fellowship
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA Intercampus Medical Genetics Fellowship
Department of Medical Genetics

June 1999-July 2002
Residency
University of California at Davis Medical Center
Department of Pediatrics

Aug. 1995-May 1999
Medical School
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Medical Doctorate

Oct. 1991-May 1995
College
University of California at Davis
Bachelor of Science in Genetics

Aug. 1990-Dec. 1990
College
Beloit College
Porter Scholar as a high school senior

Aug. 1987-June 1991
High School
North Boone High School
Class Salutatorian, graduated with Honors

 

Professional Certifications and Licenses

Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Genetics in Clinical Genetics, 2009-2019
Diplomat of the American Board of Pediatrics, 2002-2012
California State Medical License
Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate
National Physician’s Identification
Universal Physician Identification

 

Professional Work Experience

Sept. ‘13-current:    Consulting Physician
Fresno Regional Community Hospital, Fresno, CA
I provide genetic telemedicine consultations for the NICU as a part of a contract between Fresno Community Hospital and UC Davis Medical Center.

March ‘12-current:   Medical Geneticist
Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, Sacramento, CA
I have weekly medical genetics clinics at the Shriners Hospital and see up to 6 patients per clinic.  This is through a contract between Shriners Hospital for Children and the UC Davis Medical Center.

June ‘11-Dec. ‘11:     Per Diem Pediatrician
Pediatric Clinic
Sutter Solano Medical Group, Vallejo, CA
I covered the pediatric clinic at the Vallejo office twice a week while recruiting is occurring for a new pediatrician.  I did well child examinations, newborn check ups, sick visits, behavioral and ADHD assessments and follow up, and patient phone calls.  I stopped working in this clinic because a new permanent pediatrician was hired.

March ‘11-Feb. ‘13:    Locum Pediatrician
Oroville Hospital, Oroville, CA
I covered newborn and inpatient pediatric admissions at the Oroville Hospital from Friday5pm to Monday 7am roughly one weekend per month.  I stopped working there after the birth of my daughter as I did not wish to be away from home any longer.

Feb. ‘08-Dec.’13:     Per Diem Pediatrician
Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Roseville Pediatric Clinics
Sacramento Sierra Sutter Medical Group/Sutter Medical Foundation, Sacramento, CA
On an as needed basis, I provide general outpatient pediatric care for urgent/same day visits with occasional newborn check up visits and well child examinations. I also work evening urgent care clinics.  My credentialing was cancelled as I had not worked for a period of time due to my pregnancy and the birth of my daughter in 2013.

Jan. ‘08-April ‘10:     Per Diem Pediatrician
Pediatric and Urgent Care Clinics
Sutter West Medical Group, Davis, CA
I provided general outpatient pediatrics care for urgent/same day visits for the pediatric clinic.  I also provided pediatric care and support for the urgent care clinic.  I have also covered well child visits for patients when their provider was out on maternity/paternity leave.  I have not been at the clinic since April 2010 secondary to the fact that the clinic has not needed my services.

June ‘07-June ‘08,    Consulting Physician
June ‘10 to current:    Mercy Health Care System, Sacramento, CA
I was credentialed as a consulting specialist in medical genetics until May 2008 when I did not renew my privileges as I was no longer providing medical genetics care.  Privileges have been renewed as of June 2010 I have resumed practicing genetics.  I have provided medical genetic consultations for Mercy San Juan, Mercy General, and Mercy Methodist in the NICU, newborn nursery, and pediatric wards as part of a contract between the Mercy Health System and UC Davis Medical Center.

Feb. ‘07- Sept. ‘08,    Consulting Physician
April ‘13 to current:    North Bay Medical Center, Fairfield, CA
I was credentialed as a consulting specialist in medical genetics until August 2008 when I did not renew my privileges as I was no longer providing medical genetics care.  When my medical genetics board status was finally obtained, the contract between North Bay Medical Center and UC Davis Medical Center had been discontinued. However, in April 2013, I was hired as a consulting geneticist through an independent contract and provide medical genetics consultations for the hospital.

Aug. ‘06-current:    Associate Physician Diplomat and Assistant Clinic Professor
Department of Pediatrics and Division of Medical Genomics
University of California at Davis Medical Center
M.I.N.D. Institute, Sacramento, CA
I provided clinical medial genetic care, evaluating new and follow up clinic patients as well as inpatient genetic consultations, until August 2007 when I lost my active candidate status for The Board of Medical Genetics.  From that time until September 30, 2008, I have managed enzyme infusions for patients with Hunter Syndrome, Fabry Disease, and adult onset Pompe Disease.  I regained my active candidate status in October 2008 and have seen patients in the Medical Genetics Clinic since November 3, 2008.  I currently see patients twice a week.   I also provide inpatient Medical Genetics consultations one to two weeks each month.  I have done medical examinations for participants in the Autism Phenome Project from December 2007 through October 2009.  Since February 2012, I have been covering the Metabolic Genetics Clinic as well as taking calls and managing abnormal newborn metabolic screens through the California State Newborn Screening Program.  I also see genetic patients periodically through the Telemedicine Clinic.

July ‘06-Oct. ‘06:    Per Diem Pediatrician
Marin Community Clinic, Greenbrae, CA
I provided general pediatric outpatient care, seeing sick visits and well child examinations during a brief time when the clinic was short on physicians. The physician staffing improved and my services were no longer required after October 2006.

Nov. ‘05-Feb. ‘08:    Independent Contractor Pediatrician
River Rock Pediatrics, Folsom, CA
I provided general pediatric outpatient care, seeing sick visits, well child examinations, follow up visits, and adolescent gynecological examinations.  I left the practice because it was better for me financially to work for the Sutter Medical Group.

Nov. ‘05-current:    Per Diem Pediatrician and Pediatrics Consultant
Petaluma Health Center, Petaluma, CA
From November 2005 through December 2007, I provided general outpatient pediatric care, seeing sick visits, well child examinations, newborn follow up examinations, and complex pediatric cases.  In January 2008, I cut back my hours, as I started work with the Sutter Medical System, and now primarily work as a pediatric consultant for the more complex pediatric cases at the Petaluma Health Center.  I have been involved in the work up and evaluation of patients, as well as participate in the care of patients with known diagnoses of a variety of disorders.  Petaluma Health Center primarily employs Family Practice physicians and midlevel practioners, so pediatric support is needed for the more unusual or complex cases.  I still see patients at the clinic periodically and provide consultation via the telephone and email for the other medical practioners.

Dec. ‘02-June ‘03:    Pediatric Pool Physician
Department of Pediatrics
Roseville, Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Napa,
Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo Clinics
Kaiser Permanente of Northern California, Oakland, CA
I provided outpatient pediatric coverage for seven clinics in the Kaiser Northern California system.  I saw sick visits, newborn follow up visits, and well child examinations.  I also saw pediatric patients in the Kaiser Vacaville Urgent Care Clinic.  I left the position to enter fellowship training for medical genetics.

Oct. ‘02-July ‘03:    Volunteer Clinical Faculty Member
Department of Pediatrics
University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA
I was credentialed as a Volunteer Clinical Faculty Member in order to examine research patients at the M.I.N.D. Institute. I left the position to enter fellowship training for medial genetics.

Aug. ‘02-June ‘03:    Postgraduate Researcher
Departments of Biochemistry and Epidemiology and M.I.N.D. Institute
University of California at Davis and University of California at Davis Medical Center
Davis, California and Sacramento, California
I worked with Dr. Randi Hagerman and Dr. Sebastien Jacquemont on the Fragile X Genotype-Phenotype Project.  I traveled around California doing research protocol examinations on FXTAS patients and controls.  I would also occasionally see Fragile X patients and their families for the research study.  I often performed blood draws to obtain samples for research studies.  I also did data analysis, comparing ADOS and ADI scores and subset scores and molecular data on children with Fragile X Syndrome, with and without autism.  I participated in the general organization and design of the CHARGE Study with Dr. Robin Hansen.  I was also responsible for initiating the development of the protocol for the examination and measurement of physical features of photographs taken of the children participating in the study.  I left the position to enter fellowship training for medial genetics.

April ‘93-April ‘95:    Research Assistant
Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology
University of California at Davis, Davis, California
I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. R. Scott Hawley, doing work in Drosophila genetics.  I was involved in collecting flies, setting up crosses, and gathering data on two research projects.  I left this position when I graduated from college.

 

Teaching Experience

April ‘13        University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student MERN course, Lecturer

 

Jan. ‘13, ‘14        University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student AMP course
Author of AMP case and small group instructor for case 1

Jan. ‘13-Feb.’13    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
3rd year pediatric clinical rotation
Student attending small group instructor

Oct. ‘12-Nov. ‘12    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student Human Genetics course
Small group instructor

Oct. ‘11-Dec. ‘11    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student Human Genetics course
Co-instructor with Dr. Billur Moghaddam, lecturer and small group instructor

Oct. ‘10-Dec. ‘10    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student Human Genetics course
Co-instructor with Dr. Billur Moghaddam, lecturer and small group instructor

Oct. ‘08-Dec. ‘09    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
1st year medical student Human Genetics course
Co-instructor with Dr. Dena Towner, lecturer and small group instructor

Feb. ‘08, Feb. ‘09    University of California at Davis School of Medicine
4th year medical student module on Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Topics in Genetics
Genetic curriculum organizer and instructor for clinical genetics topics

Feb. ’07        University of California at Davis School of Medicine
4th year medical student module on Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Topics in Genetics
Genetic curriculum organizer and instructor for clinical genetics topics

Sept. ‘03-Nov. ‘03    UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
2nd year medical students Medical Genetics course
Small group instructor with Dr. Rhona Schreck

Aug. ‘98-May ‘99    Southern Illinois School of Medicine Problem Based Learning Curriculum
2nd year medical students Neurology/Psychology Unit
Group tutor

 

Volunteer Experience

Available Upon Request

 

Honors

2014:  Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association Versatility
Program Adult Supreme Championship
2000 and 2002: Pediatric Residency Director Leadership Award
1998: AOA National Research Fellowship for Medical Students
1998: One of three students chosen for a local article on medical students in research
(Medical Missions, The State Journal Register, September 14, 1998, pages 17 and 22)
1995: Outstanding Senior Student Award, University of California at Davis
1995: Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! Warren Moony Graduating Senior Award
1994: Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association Scholarship
1993: Dean’s List, University of California at Davis, fall quarter
1993: UC Davis, Webster/Thoreau Hall Activity Council, Residence Halls Leadership Award
1991: Jack T. Pickett Agricultural Scholarship, University of California at Davis
1991: National Walking Horse Trainers’ Auxiliary Scholarship
1991: Rockford Soroptimist Scholarship
1985 and 1991: Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association Versatility
Program Youth Superior Championship (first person to win this award twice)
 

Committee Positions

2012- 2013: UCDSOM Genetics Curriculum Task Force Member
2011-current: UCDMC Bioethics Committee and Hospital Consultation Team Member
2000-2002: UCDMC Resident Medical Housestaff Committee, Pediatric Representative
2000-2002: UCDMC Resident Medical Housestaff Committee, Meals Subcommittee Member
1999-2001: UCDMC Department of Pediatrics Residency Education Committee
1999: UCDMC Resident Medical Plan Task Force
1998-1999: Class of 1999 student representative to the SIUSOM Curriculum 2000 Task Force Committee
1995-1999: Class of 1999 student representative, SIUSOM Educational Policy Committee

 

Other Professional Participation and Experience

Available Upon Request

 

Research Projects

Available Upon Request

 

Peer-Review Publications & Abstracts and Presentations

Available Upon Request