Critical Care Medicine Expert Witnesses in California
The SEAK Expert Witness Directory contains a comprehensive list of critical care medicine expert witnesses who testify, consult and provide litigation support on critical care medicine and related issues. Critical care medicine expert witnesses and consultants on this page may form expert opinions, draft expert witness reports, and provide expert witness testimony at deposition and trial. The issues and subjects these critical care medicine expert witnesses testify regarding may include: Sepsis, Icu, Critical Care, Trauma, Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Embolism, ARDS, Asthma, Icu Procedure Complication, Intensive Care, Mechanical Ventilation, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wrongful Death, and Airway Management.
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Natalia Solenkova, MD, PhD, MLS FACP
Experienced Critical Care Physician/Expert
Natalia Solenkova MD PA
Critical Care Medicine
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Critical Care Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine, ICU, Intensivist, Septic shock, Shock, Cardiogenic Shock, ARDS, Acute respiratory failure, Hypertensive Emergency, post-operative patients, post-surgical patients, status epilepticus, multi-organ failure, stroke
Dr. Solenkova is a critical care physician experienced in different ICU and hospital settings. She received her residency training from Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and critical care fellowship training from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Solenkova is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Solenkova cares for patients in the medical ICU, coronary care unit, cardio-thoracic ICU, and surgical ICU. Her patients have various conditions that include but not limited to sepsis, septic shock, cardiogenic shock, acute respiratory failure, ARDS, pneumonia, intraabdominal infection, heart attack, stroke, brain bleed, status epilepticus, COPD exacerbation, acute kidney failure, and multi-organ failure. Dr. Solenkova also cares for patients using mechanical heart-lung support such as ECMO, Impella, IABP, post-cardiac surgery, post-abdominal surgery, post-vascular procedures, post-lung and heart transplants, and many others. She h...
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Joseph E Tonna, MD, MS, FCCM, FACEP, FAAEM
Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine
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Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Surgery, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) / ECLS, Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), physical therapy, ventricular assist device (LVAD), cardiothoracic surgery, ventilation
HIGHLIGHTS:
--Full Time Clinically active
--Tenured Associate Professor at high volume referral Tertiary Academic Medical Center
--NIH Funded Researcher (>150 peer reviewed journal articles)
--International Leader in ECMO/Critical Care
--Authored Multiple Guidelines in ECMO/Critical Care
--Previous ICU Medical Director
--Section Head of Critical Care
--Medical Director of ECMO
--Expert Witness since 2014
--Authored multiple reports/depositions. Effective reports, honest/direct assessments, rapid turn around, repeat clients.
Dr. Joseph E Tonna, MD, MS, FCCM, FACEP, FAAEM, is a clinically active attending physician with dual board certification in both Emergency Medicine and in Critical Care Medicine, and is a leading international expert in the use and management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and life support, with 150 peer reviewed publications on PubMed.
He has particular expertise in emergency medicine, ECMO, mechanical circul...
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Bobbak Vahid, MD
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Specialist
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Medicine
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Pulmonary, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Respiratory, Expert, ARDS, Pulmonologist, ICU physician, Asthma, Sepsis, lung disease, Bronchoscopy, ICU, Wrongful Death, Pulmonary malpractice
Bobbak Vahid, MD, is board-certified in pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and Internal Medicine and is an attending teaching physician at Highland Hospital, Oakland California.
In addition to his 20+ years of extensive private practice, Dr. Vahid has privileges at five California hospitals (Alameda County Medical Center, Alameda Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Saint Rose Hospital, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, California Pacific Medical Center, Marin General Hospital, Delta Hospital, Sutter Mills-Peninsula Hospital, Sutter Eden Medical Center, and Sutter Santa Rosa Hospital).
Dr. Vahid also has been an adjunctive associate professor at Touro University lecturing courses in respiratory diseases.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vahid has been ICU director, Respiratory director, Chief of Medicine, Quality Review Committee Chair, and member of the medical executive committee for several hospitals for 6 years & has advised hospitals during the COVID-19 epidemic. He a...
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Zafia Anklesaria, MD
Medical Director: Pulmonary and Critical Care
Los angeles, California
Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease
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Intensive Care, Inhalation lung disease, Pulmonary nodules, Interstitial Lung Disease, ARDS, Pulmonary embolism, Sepsis, Occupational lung disease, Lung Cancer, pleural effusion, Pulmonary hypertension, ICU delay in Care, ICU procedure complication, Tracheostomy, Mechanical ventilation, Hospital Acquired infections, Pressure wound
I am a board certified seasoned Pulmonologist and Intensivist, currently in full time active clinical practice. My current position which I have held for 7 years, is as the medical director of the intensive care unit and pulmonary services at a busy downtown Los Angeles community hospital. I have extensive experience in all fields of critical care medicine including cardiac and neurological critical care. I also have vast experience and knowledge regarding the treatment and prevention of pulmonary embolism, management of sepsis, mechanical ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, interstitial lung disease, and obstructive lung diseases. At my hospital I am a respected educator of residents, and I am a leading member of our peer review committees, quality and safety committees, resuscitation committees, venous thromboembolism treatment and prevention committees and I am chairwoman of our hospital bylaws committee. I am a clear communicator and pride myself on being fair and ...
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Barry M. Czeisler, MD, MS, MHPE, FAAN
Neurointensivist, Neurologist
NeuroStat Consulting LLC
Los Angeles, California
Neurology, Critical Care Medicine
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neurocritical care, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, encephalopathy, status epilepticus, neurotoxicology, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenic crisis, meningitis, encephalitis
I am a neurointensivist and neurologist in active clinical practice at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, CA and am board-certified in both Neurocritical Care and Adult Neurology through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and also in Neurocritical Care through the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties. In my practice I provide comprehensive neurological and critical care services to patients with acute brain, spinal cord, and/or nerve injury, and have extensive experience in the management of disorders such as acute ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, hypoxic-ischemic (anoxic) brain injury, encephalopathy, status epilepticus, neurotoxicology, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenic crisis, meningitis, encephalitis, and perioperative complications of neurosurgical procedures.
I completed my undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Lou...
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Rajan Garg
ICU Medical Director, Los Angeles
Burbank, California
Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine
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ICU litigation , ICU procedure complication , Critical Care physician , ICU delay in care , ICU Physician , Critical care legal expert , ICU legal case review , ICU Medical expert , ICU Medical malpractice , ICU negligence , Critical care consultant , Wrongful death , ICU complication
I am a dual board certified physician, in active clinical practice with over 10 years of experience. I currently serve as ICU medical director at USC Arcadia hospital and Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. I am currently active in my clinical practice with over 40 over per week being spent on patient care. My medical expertise includes standard ICU care for medical & surgical patients including (but not limited to), Ventilator management, septic shock, postoperative ICU care, ICU procedures such as central line , chest tube, tracheostomy, thoracentesis, paracentesis, lumbar puncture, intubation, arterial line placement. Specialty care experience include pericardiocentesis, post cardiac arrest care, post MI care, post stroke care including post neurosurgery and post Thrombectomy care. I have fair amount of experience reviewing physician care as part of intra-hospital peer reviews, RCT analysis and medicolegal cases on behalf of medicolegal law firms. I like to ...
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Dustin H Lugod, RN, BSN
Emergency Medicine and PACU Registered Nurse
San Marcos, California
Nurse, Emergency Medical Services
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Emergency, Trauma, Trauma Nurse, PACU, CPR, Recovery, general surgery, Perioperative, Massive Transfusion Protocol, medical record review, medication errors, robotics, sepsis, GSW, triage, emergency intubation, STEMI, ambulatory surgery, Critical Care Medicine, nursing
Dustin has more than 17 years of experience in the field of nursing, including bedside nursing in the Intensive Care Unit, Code Team, Rapid Response Team, Emergency Department, Trauma Activation & Resuscitation, Highly Infectious Disease Training, and Perioperative Services. His experience includes leadership roles as he has served as relief charge nurse for the departments mentioned and was an Advanced Clinician in the Emergency Department for Sharp Healthcare, providing mentorship, preceptorship and training to both newly hired staff and current staff to specialty roles.
Dustin has also instructed in departmental continued educational programs annually since 2015. In addition to his diverse nursing experience, his qualifications are highlighted by a detailed understanding of electronic medical records and chart auditing. Dustin served as a unit-based EPIC SuperUser for Long Beach Memorial’s Go-Live Implementation in 2008 and Sharp Healthcare’s Go-Live implementation in 2024.
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Rajbeer S Sangha, MD
Neurology, Stroke & Brain Injury Expert Witness
California
Neurology, Critical Care Medicine
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Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, spine injuries, neck injuries, vascular neurology, Neurocritical Care, Brain injury, mild concussion, headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, TBI, Brain Injury Medicine
Board-certified neurologist with ABMS certifications in Neurology, Vascular Neurology, and Neurocritical Care, with additional board certification in Neurosonology. I currently serve as Director of Inpatient Neurology and Vascular Neurology in Northern California and have extensive clinical experience evaluating and managing complex neurologic injuries, including traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic injury, seizures, neurocritical illness, and long-term neurologic disability.
I have substantial experience with traumatic brain injury cases, including mild, moderate, and severe TBI; post-concussive syndrome; cognitive and functional impairment; causation analysis; prognosis; future care needs; and the distinction between traumatic, vascular, degenerative, and pre-existing neurologic conditions.
My academic work includes publications in high-impact medical journals, authorship of American Academy of Neurology guidelines, and presentati...
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James L Pearle, MD
Western Pulmonary Medical Group, Inc.
Corona Del Mar, California
Pulmonary Disease, Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine
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occupational lung disease, hospitalist medicine, sleep apnea, apnea, COPD, asthma, asbestosis, critical care medicine, lung cancer, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, medical malpractice, Covid, mold exposure
Asbestosis and Occupational Lung Diseases with national expertise and publications. Medical Malpractice. Sleep Disorders, Hyperbaric Medicine, Hospitalist, Pulmonary , Critical care and Internal Medicine.
Former Medical Director Kindred Hospital,
Former Hospital Chief of Staff,
Director of Hospital Respiratory Therapy,
President Western Pulmonary Medical Group, Inc,
President Southern California Hospitalist Network,
Independent Medical Examiner,
President and Principal Investigator California Research Medical Group, Inc. (over 125 trials as PI), over 100 depositions and trials.
Board certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease.
Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians,
Former Assistant Professor, UCLA School of Medicine.
Clinical Professor of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Chairman, Physician Well-Being Committee, St. Jude Medical Center
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Charles G Volk, MD
Pulmonary & Intensive Care - Former Military
San Diego Pulmonary
San Diego, California
Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease
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Military Medicine, Asthma, Ventilator Expert, Sepsis, Swimming Induced Pulmonary Edema, Procedural Standards, Pulmonary Embolism, Shock, Angiostrongylus, Invasive Lines, Transplant, Vasopressors, Mycobacteria, Respiratory Failure, Critical Care, Chest Tubes, Bronchiectasis, ICU Management, Bronchoscopy
Board-certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, I currently serve as the Head of Pulmonary Services, where I oversee clinical operations and specialized respiratory care. My background includes significant experience within the military medical system, having served as a medical expert in two high-stakes cases focused on military medicine and highly specialized pulmonary disease. Now practicing as a pulmonary intensivist, I leverage my clinical leadership and prior experience with complex medicolegal reviews to provide authoritative, evidence-based analysis for expert witness consultations.
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Bobbak Vahid, MD
Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Specialist
San Ramon, California
Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, Critical Care Medicine
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Pulmonary, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Respiratory, Expert, ARDS, Pulmonologist, ICU physician, Asthma, Sepsis, lung disease, Bronchoscopy, ICU, Wrongful Death, Pulmonary malpractice
Bobbak Vahid, MD, is board-certified in pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and Internal Medicine and is an attending teaching physician at Highland Hospital, Oakland California.
In addition to his 20+ years of extensive private practice, Dr. Vahid has privileges at five California hospitals (Alameda County Medical Center, Alameda Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, Saint Rose Hospital, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, California Pacific Medical Center, Marin General Hospital, Delta Hospital, Sutter Mills-Peninsula Hospital, Sutter Eden Medical Center, and Sutter Santa Rosa Hospital).
Dr. Vahid also has been an adjunctive associate professor at Touro University lecturing courses in respiratory diseases.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Vahid has been ICU director, Respiratory director, Chief of Medicine, Quality Review Committee Chair, and member of the medical executive committee for several hospitals for 6 years & has advised hospitals during the COVID-19 epidemic. He a...
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Michelle Zhang, MD
Pulmonary & Critical Care Physician
San Diego, California
Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine
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Acute respiratory failure, Sepsis, Critical Care, Cardiogenic shock, Thoracic imaging, Mechanical ventilation, Septic shock, ICU Medicine, Mixed / undifferentiated shock, ARDS, Airway management, Failure to rescue, Ventilator acquired pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism, Delayed intubation, Hemorrhagic shock, Pulmonary nodules
I am a board-certified physician in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Internal Medicine with active clinical practice in both critical care and pulmonary medicine. My practice includes managing a wide range of critically ill patients with medical, surgical, cardiovascular, and neurologic pathologies in a closed ICU at a community hospital in San Diego, California. I have extensive knowledge in the diagnosis and management of airway emergencies, acute respiratory failure / ARDS, ventilator management, shock, pulmonary embolism, and ICU procedures and complications. I also have experience in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), serving as a key decision-maker in determining candidacy and timing of cannulation for both veno-venous (VV) and veno-arterial (VA) ECMO in patients with severe respiratory failure or circulatory collapse. I am experienced in the evaluation of hospital-acquired complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia and line-associated inf...
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Andrea N Abrams, MSN, RN, CCRN, PHN
Critical Care Nurse Expert
Abrams Nurse Expert Consulting
Menifee, California
Nurse, Critical Care Medicine
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Critical Care, Trauma, Surgical, Recovery Room, Adult, Pulmonary, PACU, Nursing Education, Post-Anesthesia, ICU, Informatics, Discharge, Stroke, Documentation, Anesthesia, Life Support, Head Trauma, Brain Bleed, Cardiac Arrest, Neurology
I am a highly experienced critical care nurse with more than 10 years of practice at a Level 1 trauma center, where I have provided care to critically ill and medically complex patients in high-acuity, fast-paced environments. My clinical background includes extensive experience in Neuro-ICU and Post-Anesthesia Care, with a focus on managing neurologically compromised patients, post-surgical recovery, and rapid clinical deterioration.
I hold a master's degree in nursing and am currently completing my PhD, reflecting my commitment to advancing clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and healthcare outcomes. I have maintained national certification in critical care since 2017, demonstrating continued expertise and adherence to the highest standards of nursing practice.
Throughout my career, I have served in multiple roles that support both bedside care and hospital-wide clinical operations, including critical care nurse, rapid response nurse, house supervisor, charge nurse, and...
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Jory Adam, PA-C, MPAS, MBA
CaNPA Solutions
San Diego, California
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Critical Care Medicine
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heart, lung, thoracotomy, ICU, intensive care, minimally invasive, robotic surgery, vascular, esophagus, IABP, intra-aortic balloon pump, sternotomy, sternal closure, wound infection, ECMO, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, pulmonary catheter, wound, central line, heart rhythm
I am an experienced (nearly 15 years), detail-oriented physician assistant well versed in managing patients with cardiac, lung, vascular and esophageal disorders. I manage patients from consultation, through the operating room and intensive care, all the way to the outpatient setting, and have exclusively worked in the specialty of adult cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
Skilled as an operative first assistant, managing pre- and post-operative issues in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital, I can explain what should happen if all goes well during a patient's hospital course and manage any untoward outcome.
I have harvested over 1300 greater saphenous veins, first-assisted in thousands of cases, and hundreds of radial artery harvests and sternal closures. Cardiothoracic surgical cases are quite complex, with several different sub-procedures within the procedure. I can help make sense of this so that interested parties can have an accurate picture of what likely took pl...
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Emily Venne, BSN, RN, CEN
Experienced Emergency RN, Legal Nurse Consultant
Critical Insight Nurse Consulting, LLC.
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services
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Travel Nursing, Pediatric Emergency, Emergency Intubation, Trauma, Triage, Cardiac Arrest, DKA, Sepsis, GSW, STEMI Chest pain, respiratory arrest, Stroke/ TNK, Emergency Nurse, coronary artery disease, COVID, Medical Record Review, Medication Errors, Legal Nurse Consultant, Critical Care Medicine, wrongful death
Emily Venne has been an emergency nurse for over 14 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University and received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Chaffey College. Emily completed the legal nurse consult certificate program through California State Long Beach. She currently holds certifications in basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), and is a certified emergency nurse (CEN). She was a nominee of the Extraordinary Nurse of the Year Award in 2025.
Meticulous and detail oriented she is an expert in both adult and pediatric emergency nursing. She is a seasoned nursing professional with excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Emily has also worked as an emergency travel nurse. This experience has given her a unique perspective of different clinical settings in various cities and states. Emily possesses a deep understanding of emergency care protocols, documentation standa...
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Rosalind J Boyer-Cole
Acute care, Critical care, Anesthesiology Expert
Legal Nurse Consultant
California
Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine
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Emergency, Labor and Delivery, Pain, Standard of Care, Endoscopy, Trauma, Cesearean, General, Airway, Intensive care, Acute Care, Epidural, Regional, Chronic, Outpatient, Obstetrics, Spinal, Medical Malpractice, Cardiac, Pharmacology
BIO: Rosalind Boyer-Cole
The Pacific Northwest is considered home for Rosalind Boyer-Cole, DNP, RN, NE-C, and I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Portland. My clinical specialties include Critical Care, Trauma, and Emergency services. Following my professional experience in Critical Care, I obtained my Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia at St Joseph’s University and completed my training in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My passion for being a successful clinician and my special interest in Public and Community Health, as well as serving diverse and indigenous populations, have led me to multiple volunteer experiences in anesthesia and Public Health in Latin America, Europe, and African countries, where I have worked alongside students and other healthcare professionals. I am currently the founder of Legal Nurse Advocate Consultants, LLC, https://legalnurseadvocate.com/, which was established to collaborate with attorneys and provide clarity t...
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Shawn Kaku, MD
Critical Care Physician Expert Witness
San Ramon, California
Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine
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Sepsis, Respiratory failure, Trauma, Stroke, Neuro, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), ICU, Anoxic Brain Injury, Mechanical Ventilation, Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS), Shock, ICU procedure complication, ICU delay of care, Pulmonary Embolism, Multi-Organ Failure, Brain hemorrhage, Overdose, Infection, Airway management, Sedation
Shawn Kaku, MD, is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Medicine and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University Hospital
Dr Kaku has over 10 years of clinical experience in Critical Care Medicine, and hold privileges at 3 hospitals systems in the California Bay Area (Kaiser Permanente, Sutter and Stanford). He has experience with medical and surgical patients, including traumatic and neurological injuries.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr Kaku has held multiple leadership roles including ICU Director, Vice Chair of Medicine, and Chair of Medicine and has helped develop the ICU program at Sutter Eden as well as the Emergency Critical Care program at Stanford University
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Ayesha Murtuza, MD
Internal Medicine Physician/Hospital Medicine
San Ramon , California
Hospitalist, Internal Medicine
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Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Primary Care, Critical Care medicine, Pulmonology, Infectious disease, cardiology, Traumatic Brain injury, Cardiovascular Care, Endocrinology, Diabetes, Obesity, Geriatics, Perioperative, Sepsis, Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Care
I have near 10 years of post graduate experience in different patient care settings amongst various roles as board certified internal medicine physician. I have completed my residency training at University of California, San Diego and I am currently a hospitalist in the East Bay Area, California. From the acute inpatient setting to end of life care, I am a qualified expert to provide consultation. I have experience in treating hospitalized patients in the acute care setting. I work in a high acuity stroke and trauma center, having specific experience in caring for patients with stroke, trauma, infectious diseases, heart failure, sepsis, etc. In addition to direct patient care, I have been involved in quality review committees, assessing physicians and certain clinical scenarios. I have experience in reviewing records and peer review, evaluating for opportunities for improvement in medical decision making while serving on the Quality Review Committee. I have been active in the ethic...
You can also find Critical Care Medicine Expert Witnesses in:
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin