Board Certified General Surgeon Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.304

New Jersey

Present Positions

1994 - present
Professor of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School

1988 - present
Trauma and Surgical Attending, University Hospital

2001 - present
Assemblyman – New Jersey, General Assembly

1998 - present
Municipal Chair of the Republican Party, NJ

2003 - 2004
President – University Hospital Medical Staff

2002 – present
Chairman, Board of Directors, National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC), Washington, D.C.

2001 – present
Chairman, Section on Academic Medicine, Medical Society of New Jersey

Education

B.A., University of Virginia, 6/69

M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 6/74

M.B.A., Columbia University Graduate School of Business, 6/83

Surgical Residency

Internship In Surgery, Yale-New Haven Medical Center  6/74-6/75

Residency In Surgery,Yale-New Haven Medical Center   6/75-6/78

Chief Resident In General,Yale-New Haven Medical Center   6/78-6/79

Licensure

N.J. Medical License
N.Y. State Medical License
DEA
NJ CDS

Certification

American Board of Surgery
(1982, 1995)
Board Certified
Recertified to July 1, 2006

American Board of Emergency Medicine
Board Eligible
1984-1988

Past Positions

2001 – 2002, Chairman, University Hospital Performance Improvement (QA) Committee

1997 – 2001, Medical Affairs Liaison, University Hospital

1997 – 2001, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, New Jersey Medical School

1998 – 2001,Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, University Hospital

1988 – 1997, Medical Director and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs UMDNJ-University Hospital

1990 – 2001, Chairman, Medical Practitioner Review Panel (MPRP), State of New Jersey (Appointed by Governor Jim Florio in 1990 and reappointed by Governor Christine Whitman in 1995)

1988 – 1994, Associate Professor of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School

1995 – 2001, Councilman-At-Large, City of Summit, NJ

1983 – 1988, Assistant Professor of Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York

1983 – 1988, Attending Surgeon, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY

1983 – 1988,Attending Surgeon, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY

1983 – 1985, Physician-in-Charge, Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Queens Hospital Center

1981 – 1983, Attending Surgeon, Lincoln Hospital Center, New York

1980 – 1981, Assistant Professor of Surgery, New York Medical College

1979 – 1980, Instructor in Surgery, New York Medical College

1978 – 1979, Instructor in Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine

1979 – 1981, Attending Surgeon, Shock-Trauma Unit, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, New York

1978 – 1979, Attending Surgeon, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, New Haven, Connecticut

Other Professional Positions And Major Visiting Appointments

2002 – present, Member, National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institute of Health, Washington, D.C.

2002 – present, Member, Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the Continuing Care Advisory Council, N.J. Assembly

1998 – present, Member, Board of Trustees, Caucus Educational Corporation, Caucus New Jersey

1999-2000, Committee on Hospital Relations of the Essex County Medical Society

1999 – present, Committee on Legislation & Political Action of the Essex County Medical Society

1997 – 1999, Executive Committee, Governing Board of New Jersey Region II Local Advisory Board (LAB) to the State Health Planning Board, representing Union, Essex, Bergen and Hudson counties

1998 – present, Chairman, Robert Treat/Newark Boy Scouts District of the Essex County Boy Scouts of America

1997 – 2001, Member, Advisory Commission to the Office of Minority Health, NJDHSS

1997 – 2001, Member, Essex County Human Services Advisory Council

1997 – 2001, Member, Essex County Emergency Services Advisory Council

1997 – 2001, Member, Continuing Medical Education Committee of Medical Society of New Jersey

1997 – present, Representative of the Essex County Medical Society to the Council of Medical Society of New Jersey

1997 – 2000, Member, Nominating Committee, and Board of Directors of Regional Health Planning Area II for Essex, Union, Bergen and Hudson counties

1997 – 2001, Member, 10 Member Panel to devise long-range plan for Essex County Hospital

1996 – 1997, Member, “Blue Ribbon” panel to review Essex County Hospital, Appointed by Essex County Executive, James Treffinger

1995 – 1997, Member of the NJ State Health Planning Board

1995 – 1997, Chairman, Governing Board of New Jersey Region III Local Advisory Board (LAB) to the State Health Planning Board, representing Union and Essex counties

1995 – present, Member, Board of Directors, New Jersey Ballet

1994 – 1998, Chairman - Board of Directors, National Puerto Rican Coalition, (National Hispanic Advocacy Group), Washington, D.C.

1993, 1997, 1998, Delegate, Essex County Medical Society, (Committee of Legislation and Political Action to the Medical Society of New Jersey
1993 – 1997
Member – Board of Directors, Runnells Specialized Hospital, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

1992, Member – United States Delegation to the 45th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland (Appointed by President George Bush)

1992 - 1994 , Vice Chairman - Governing Board of New Jersey Region III  Local Advisory Board (LAB) to the State Health Planning Board, representing Union and Essex counties

1992 – 2001, Member - Mayor's Hispanic Task Force, Newark New Jersey

1991 – 1993, Member - "Blue Ribbon" Review Panel for New York City Health & Hospital System, New York City (Appointed by Mayor David Dinkins)

1991 - present , Member - Health Science Advisory Committee, Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey

1987 – 1990, Commissioner, Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (ProPAC), Washington, D.C.

Awards And Honors

2000 - Selection for Special Millennium Edition of Who’s Who In Medicine and Healthcare

1999 - “Outstanding Puerto Rican Citizen of the Year” - Puerto Rican Heritage Statewide Committee

1998 - Recognition in the Castle Connolly Guide: How to Find the Best Doctors: New York Metro Area, 1999 Edition

1997 - Honoree selected as a role model for Hispanic Youths by the Latino American Committee of Monmouth County, New Jersey

1997 - Selected as one of the role models for youths in the “Follow A Leader” program, launched by Macy and The Star Ledger

1996 - “State Surgeon” designated by the New Jersey State Law Enforcement Officers’ Association

1995 - American Heart and Soul Award, American Heart Association

1995 - Distinguished Health Care Service Award, Essex Council of Boy Scouts of America

1994 - Distinguished Lecturer Award, The American Society of Emergency Radiology

1993 - Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) - Faculty Member

1992 - Life Achievement Award - National Puerto Rican Coalition Washington, D.C. (Given for outstanding achievement for the Puerto Rican community)

1992 - Fourth Annual Award of Excellence - St. James Episcopal Church, Newark, New Jersey (Given for outstanding community service)

1991 - Premio de Ciencia - Instituto de Puerto Rico, New York  (Given for excellence in sciences)

1991 - Gino Barone Award - North Ward Cultural Center, Newark, New Jersey (Given for outstanding community service)

1991 - Hispanic Leadership Award Luis Quintana Civic Association (Given for service to the Hispanic community)

1988 - Lucien Howe Prize - Medical Society of the State of New York, Lake Success, New York (Given for physician excellence)

1982 - Columbia University Graduate School of Business Academic Review, New York, NY

1972 - National Medical Scholar, Washington, DC

1972 - Medical Tutor, Biochemistry, Washington, DC

1969 - Septre Society, University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA

Board Of Directors/Trustees

2001 – present, Medical Society of New Jersey, Section on Academic Medicine

1998 – present, Caucus Education Corporation, Caucus, NJ

1994 – 1998, Chairman - Board of Directors, National Puerto Rican Coalition, (National Hispanic Advocacy Group), Washington, D.C.

1992 – present, The National Conference of Christians and Jews

1991 – present, Boys and Girls Club of Newark

1991 – 1993, Newark Fighting Back, Newark Aids Task Force

1988 - present , National Puerto Rican Coalition (NPRC)

1987 – 1988, International Health Economics and Management Institute, Institute, New York, NY

1986 – 1988 - Chairman, Board of Directors, Association of Puerto Rican Scientists and Engineers

1985 -1988 - City University School of Medicine Bridge to Medicine Program, New York, N.Y.

1984 - present  - Association of Puerto Rican Scientists and Engineers (APRSE), New York, NY

Publications

Available upon request.

Professional Societies

American Surgical Association (ASA)
Society of University Surgeons (SUS)
The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)
Association for Academic Surgery
American College of Physician Executives (Advanced Standing)
International Health Policy and Management Institute
American College of Preventive Medicine
Fellow American College of Surgeons
New York Surgical Society
International Health Economics and Management Institute
American Association of Puerto Rican Scientists (APRSE)
American Public Health Association
New York State Public Health Association
American Federation of Clinical Research
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Columbia University Graduate School of Business Association
Columbia University Graduate School of Business, Public Health Association
American College of Surgeons, New York-Brooklyn, Committee on Trauma
American Marketing Association
Columbia University Graduate School of Business Association for Non-Profit Organization
Columbia University Graduate Business Women's Association of M.B.A. Executives
Columbia University School of Business Follies
Columbia University Lacrosse Team
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of University Professors
American Medical Association
Association for Interns and Residents

Principal Clinical And Hospital Service Responsibilities

1979 – 1981, Supervised General Surgery Service, Metropolitan Hospital Center

1981 – 1983, Trauma Surgeon, Lincoln Hospital Center

1983 – 1985, Director, Surgical ICU, Queens Hospital Center

1985 – 1988, Associate Surgeon with the Chairman and Managed the University Clinical Surgical Service, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

1988 – present, Attending Trauma Surgeon, UMDNJ-University Hospital

1979 – present, Major Administrative Responsibilities

Major administrative activities at all hospitals have included teaching, research, quality assurance and clinical practice.

1983 – present, Major administrative responsibilities at the local, state and federal levels as a consultant vis-a-vis medical costs, health care delivery, and the quality of medical care.

1997 – 2001, As Medical Affairs Liaison

A member of the senior operations administrative team involved at a strategic planning level including implementation and evaluation

A position created in an organization undergoing major structural and operational changes; which requires innovation and flexibility in helping the organization successfully achieve its new direction and goals

Develops external physician relationships that support specialty referrals

Develops affiliations and networks with hospitals and community-based physicians

Develops CME focused programs for community-based physicians

Develops and coordinates community alliances with community-based organizations, city of Newark, Essex county, etc.

Represents as Board members in external forums such as State Health Planning Board, Regional Advisory Board, Essex Medical Society, Medical Society of New Jersey, etc.

Represents as Chairman of the State Medical Practitioners Review Panel

Coordinates and interacts with municipal, county, state and federal elected officials

1997 – 2001, As Director Of Graduate Medical Education And Associate Dean For Clinical Affairs

Oversees 50+ GME training programs and supervises 550+ house staff physicians

Facilitates the recruitment of medical students into the NJMS residency programs

Develops common curricular goals and ensures the GME programs adhere to goals

Oversees the development of materials for accreditation processes

Oversees the evaluation of all GME programs and ensures compliance with University, State and National regulations and requirements

Represents the Dean with the University, State and National organizations on issues related to residency training

1998 – 2001, As Director Of Continuing Medical Education And Associate Dean For Clinical Affairs

Oversees the planning, development and implementation of Continuing Medical Education programs

Determines the educational needs of physicians and other health related professionals and works cooperatively with faculty, staff and administration to develop educational activities to meet identified needs

Plans, develops and maintains working relationships with faculty and staff to develop, implement, and evaluate Continuing Education activities

Interfaces with Industry in obtaining funding for Continuing Education activities

Oversees the development and administration of Continuing Education grants

Represents the Dean with the University, State and National organizations on issues related to Continuing Education

1988 – 1997, As Medical Director And Senior Medical Administrator Umdnj University Hospital

As Senior Medical Physician Manager of University Hospital

Coordinates and supervises medical administrative and clinical activities of all 600 residents and 1,000 attending physicians at University Hospital.

Oversees the Clinical Chiefs of Service, and the Physician Directors of the Emergency Room, Emergency Medical Services, Operating Room and Ambulatory

Care Services regarding 19,000 inpatient admissions, 160,000 patient clinic visits, and 70,000 patient emergency room visits

Coordinates reviews and inspections by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO), the New Jersey State Department of Health (SDOH), and other licensing and regulatory bodies regarding medical issues.  Initiates appropriate corrective actions regarding same

Coordinates all hospital Quality Assurance and Risk Management and physicians credentialing activities

Coordinates activities of all 19 Medical Staff Standing Committees including: Ambulatory Care, Bioethics, Bylaws, Cardiorespiratory Care, Clinical Practice, Credentials, Infection Control, Invasive Procedures, Medical Records, Nutrition, Oncology, Operating Room, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Quality Assurance, Radiation Safety, Research, Resuscitation/Critical Care, Transfusion, Utilization Review

Provides liaison within and for community, local, city, county, state and federal government, as well as state and national professional associations

1988-2001, As Associate Dean For Clinical Affairs

Coordinates with the Dean of the Medical School clinical program delivery within the Hospital, in conjunction with the Chiefs of Service/Chairmen of Departments including: Anesthesiology, Family Medicine, Hospital and General Dentistry, Medicine, Neurosciences, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Oral Maxillary, Orthopaedics, Pathology, Pediatrics, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Psychiatry, Radiology, and Surgery.

Provides liaison between the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital and the Dean of the Medical School.

1990-2001, As Chairman - New Jersey State Medical Practitioner Review Panel

Presides over the Medical Practitioner Review Panel which oversees all 17,000 licensed physicians in New Jersey regarding clinical practice, and investigates 800 annual reports to the state and federal data bank and institutes corrective actions regarding state medical licensure with the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners.

1983 – 1988, Practice - Department of Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

1988 – present - Trauma Surgeon