Plastic Surgeon-Risk & Patient Safety Experience

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

I am a board-certified plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with 10 years of post-training full-time clinical experience. I completed an integrated residency in Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in 2016, followed by fellowship training in microsurgery and complex reconstruction at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2017. After completing training, I was employed as a plastic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente for nine years. During this time, I served as Assistant Physician Director of Risk and Patient Safety at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center. In this role, I participated in peer review, adverse event investigations, root cause analyses, and system-level quality improvement initiatives within a large integrated healthcare system. This experience provided direct insight into institutional standards, documentation practices, risk mitigation strategies, and how healthcare organizations evaluate potential liability. I now own a solo private practice. My professional experience, therefore, spans employment within one of the largest physician groups in the country to independent practice ownership. During my time within an HMO-based system, I developed an understanding of utilization management, care coordination, and documentation practices. In solo private practice, I have developed experience in practice development, advertising and patient recruitment, and the development of safety protocols. This range of experience allows me to assess cases arising from both complex health systems and independent practice environments, with direct experience in both settings. Clinically, I have a decade of experience as the primary surgeon performing breast reconstruction, cosmetic breast surgery, gender-affirming surgery (including top surgery, phalloplasty, and vaginoplasty), lower extremity reconstruction (frequently required after traumatic injury), abdominal wall reconstruction, skin cancer excision and reconstruction, complex head and neck microsurgical reconstruction, lymphedema surgery, blepharoplasty, and body contouring following massive weight loss. As a medical-legal consultant, I provide medical record review, case merit analysis, standard-of-care evaluation, causation assessment, and expert opinion development. My analyses are objective, evidence-based, and grounded in accepted professional standards. I am experienced in identifying deviations from the standard of care, clarifying medical timelines, and translating complex clinical information into clear, structured reports suitable for litigation. In 2024, I completed a Certificate in Effective Writing for Healthcare from Harvard Medical School, strengthening my ability to produce precise, well-organized, and analytical written opinions. I approach each case with professionalism, attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of healthcare delivery.