Session 1: Using Equipment to Make Your Neuromuscular and Musculoskeletal Systems Physical Examination More Objective and Accurate

Presenter Bio:

Mark Ross is Board-certified in PM&R and electrodiagnostic medicine (EMG). Currently employed by the Riverside Medical Group in Virginia as the medical director of their inpatient rehabilitation centers as well as an outpatient non-interventional pain management practice. Has been performing forensic/medicolegal work for approximately 25 years including record reviews, independent medical evaluations, depositions and court testimony. He is a current member of the IAIME Board.

Session 2: Overview of the Federal Workers Compensation System & Guidelines

Presenter Bio:

Christopher Armstrong is the Chief Medical Officer for the U.S. Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs in Washington, D.C. He serves as the principle advisor to the Director on medical policy; recommends changes to legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures; and represents the Department of Labor to medical professionals, government agencies, academic institutions, professional and trade associations, labor organizations, industry groups, and public interest groups. He is guiding the implementation of National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits in the agency’s Workers’ Compensation Medical Bill Process (WCMBP) system and the implementation pharmacy benefit manager contracts for the agency’s compensation programs. Both initiatives are improving patient safety for claimants; reducing the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse in the compensation programs; and decreasing costs for federal agencies and the taxpayers.

Session 3: Report Writing Panel Discussion: Refining Your Expert Opinions with the Best Scientific Evidence and Rationale

Bhavesh R.J. Pandya is the Physician Lead in Occupational Medicine for Kaiser Permanente on the Job (KPOJ) in Los Angeles. He has served on numerous IAIME committees and is the current IAIME Treasurer.

Fabrice Czarnecki currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Additionally, he serves as the Chair of Public Safety Medicine Section of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and has served as the President of the Southeastern Atlantic College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine as well as Past President of IAIME

Joseph Gallen has concentrated his practice in the defense of all types of workers’ compensation cases throughout Illinois for over 40 years. Mr. Gallen has been a frequent lecturer on Workers’ Compensation at both local and national seminars. He has held leadership positions in the ABA Workers’ Compensation Tort and Insurance Practice Section and Employee Law Committees and is a member of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers and its Board of Governors.  

Paolo  Longo, Jr. is a partner in the Orlando office of Bichler & Longo, PLLC . A native Floridian, Mr. Longo has spent his legal career representing Florida’s injured, specializing in the representation of law enforcement and fire fighters. Mr. Longo received his B.A. from the University of Alabama and J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law and has been representing Florida’s injured workers for over 15 years. He is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Longo is bilingual, and represents injured workers in the Hispanic community in both workers’ compensation claims and all areas of personal injury, including automobile/truck accidents, premises liability and wrongful death. 

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Session 4: Assessment of Pain and Related Symptoms

Presenter Bio:

Joe Etherton serves as a clinical psychologist in part-time private practice, as well as being a psychology professor at Texas State University. His training has been primarily in cognitive-behavioral interventions, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based, empirically supported approaches to understanding, assessing, and effectively treating psychological disorders.  I also conduct psychological and neuropsychological assessments.

Session 5: Pearls and Pitfalls of Neuropsychological Testing and Interpretation

Presenter Bios:

Les Kertay is a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist with expertise in evidence-based treatment, assessment, and medicolegal applications of behavioral health including disability evaluation and workers’ compensation. He is currently SVP of Behavioral Health at Axiom Medical, LLC and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is also published and has presented extensively on the application of behavioral health in impairment compensation systems. He has presented to IAIME on several occasions, and has served as IAIME’s President.

James G. Underhill is a neuropsychologist with principal offices in Austin, Texas.  Originating from New York and Texas, Dr. Underhill has completed fellowships in neuropsychology, and forensic psychology.  Since 2010, Dr. Underhill has maintained active clinical, forensic, and academic practices in the states of Iowa, New Mexico, and Texas.  He also practices medical psychology in the state of Louisiana.   Dr. Underhill regularly consults and speaks on both national and international bases. He is the current IAIME President.  

Session 6: Legislative Advocacy and the IME

Presenters Bios:

Gary Pushkin is the current IAIME President-Elect. In addition to his career as an Orthopedist and a busy IME practice, he has served as President of The Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) and chaired its Opioid Taskforce. He has served on MedChi’s Legislative Committee and understands firsthand the importance of a successful legislative mission.

Gene Ransom has served as the CEO of MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, for 15 years. MedChi serves as an advocate and resource for licensed physicians. From 2002 to 2010, he was on the Queen Anne’s County Commission, serving as the president during his last years in office. He holds a Juris Doctor from University of Baltimore School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland.

Session 7: Testimony Skills for the Expert Witness

Presenter Bio:

Charley Brooks is a health care provider located in Bellevue, Washington. He has 44 years of experience, with a specialty of Orthopedic Surgery. Currently, he is an Independent Medical Examiner at Orthopedic Evaluations Northwest.

Session 8: Open Discussion of the Day’s Content with IAIME Leadership

Session 9: Pathway to Fellowship

Session 10: Review of Orthopaedic Pearls for Evaluation of the Upper Extremity

Presenter Bio:

Noah Raizman specializes in hand and upper extremity Surgery at the Orthopaedic Medicine and Surgery division in Washington, D.C., with a particular interest in minimally invasive approaches to hand and elbow surgeries for carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and Dupuytren’s contracture. As an athlete himself, Dr. Raizman is also interested in sports medicine. He has participated in the care of many professional athletes, including active players on the PGA Tour, the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers and has also provided care for the Division 1 collegiate hockey championships, George Washington University athletics, D.C. high school football games and the Marine Corps Marathon.

Session 11: Review of Orthopaedic Pearls for Evaluation of the Lower Extremity

Presenter Bio:

Charles Xeller did all of his medical training in New York City but he is NOT a Yankee fan.  He is a NY Met fan. He has been Board Certified In orthopedics since 1987. Dr. Xeller is a Medical Director of Veteran Evaluation Services QME/AME for California and Nevada, and designated doctor in Texas. He is a Past President and Chairman of the International Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon. He also teaches the 4th and 5th Edition of the AMA Guides. Dr. Xeller is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons.

Session 12: Review of Electrodiagnostic Studies: Interpretation and Clinical Use

Presenter Bio:

James Williams is in the Private Practice Outpatient Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic at the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic of St. Louis, LLC. He is a Past President and Board Chair for IAIME.

Session 13: Evidence-Based Chiropractic Care for Spine and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Presenters’ Bios:

Jim Myers is a Chiropractor and a Fellow and past Board member for IAIME.

Dennis Teal is a Chiropractor in Livingston, Texas and current IAIME Board member.

Session 15: Difficult Questions During Cross Examination for the Expert

Presenters’ Bios:

Charley Brooks is a health care provider located in Bellevue, Washington. He has 44 years of experience, with a specialty of Orthopedic Surgery. Currently, he is an Independent Medical Examiner at Orthopedic Evaluations Northwest.

Session 16: AMA Guides Update 

Presenters’ Bios:

Barry Gelinas is an advisor to the AMA Guides Editorial Panel. He is a Fellow of IAIME and is a Certified MedicoLegal Evaluator. He is a Course Facilitator for the Health Science Education and Research Commons Collaborative Practice course at the University of Alberta. He has served in various leadership roles within IAIME, including Past President and Board Chair. He continues to serve on the examination and certification committee, and as faculty, includes teaching the AMA Guides Sixth Edition.

Mark Melhorn is a practicing occupational orthopedic surgeon who sees patients daily with work injuries, return-to-work (RTW) and stay-at-work (SAW) issues, impairment, and disability.  He advocates by support, research, writing and educational presentations regarding the need for early return to work and prevention of disability by presenting scientific data to employees, physicians, employers, insurers, legislators, judges, and governments.  He is a Clinical Associate Professor in Orthopaedics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita and a fellow of the following professional organizations:  AAOS, ACOEM, IAIME, ASSH, AAHS, and ACS.  As a patient advocate, he wants injured workers to enjoy the benefits that SAW/RTW adds to quality of life.

Accreditation Statement

The International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators (IAIME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators (IAIME) designates this live material for a maximum of 14.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. IAIME designates an additional 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ for the enduring Mini BioMechanics School course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The International Academy of Independent Medical Evaluators (Provider #330) is accredited by the California Division of Workers’ Compensation for QME continuing education. This course is accredited for 14.0 QME CME credit hours. IAIME designates an additional 6.0 QME CME credit hours for the Mini BioMechanics School course.