2024 Washington Med-Legal Conference

Richard Seroussi MD Related Seminars and Products

Physiatrist

Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine

Dr. Richard Seroussi is a board-certified physiatrist specializing in all aspects of physical rehabilitation, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal and neurologic injuries. 

He is on the clinical faculty at the University of Washington, and is board-certified in PM&R, pain medicine, and electrodiagnosis. Dr. Seroussi has a Master's degree in mechanical engineering from Princeton University, his MD from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, and his residency in rehab medicine from the University of Washington. Some of his more satisfying work activities include interacting with patients, supervising residents from the University of Washington, and improving the work flow in our clinic in the name of better patient care.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and friends. His recreational interests include skiing, cycling, and hiking activities.

His goals as a physician are summarized as follows:

1. Provide competent, compassionate and comprehensive care to our patients.
2. Use evidence-based approaches to our care delivery.
3. Treat our employees and ourselves with the same respect as we strive to treat our patients: with fairness, understanding and respect of the individual.

Dr. Michael D. Freeman Related Seminars and Products

Consultant in Forensic Medicine

Forensic Research + Analysis

Dr. Michael Freeman is the senior scientist and director of FR+A. Dr. Freeman is a consultant in forensic medicine and forensic epidemiology, working in civil, criminal, and academic venues. He has provided expert testimony more than 1,200 times in a wide variety of civil and criminal cases, including injury and death litigation, automotive and other product liability, toxic tort litigation, life expectancy, and medical negligence cases, as well as in homicide, assault, and other criminal matters. 

Dr. Freeman has published more than 220 scientific papers, books, and book chapters, primarily focusing on issues relating to forensic applications of epidemiology and general and specific causation. He has published research on the topics of traffic crash-related injury and death, injury biomechanics and injury causation, genocide, cancer epidemiology, chronic pain mechanisms, and adult autologous stem cell therapy, among others. Dr. Freeman is the co-editor and co-author of the authoritative text on forensic applications of epidemiology; Forensic Epidemiology: Principles and Practice, published in 2016.

His 3-step approach to injury causation investigation has been adopted by U.S. courts as the generally accepted methodology, as described in the 2016 10th circuit US DCA Etherton decision.

Dr. Freeman is a tenured professor of forensic medicine and epidemiology at Maastricht University Medical Center and a joint clinical professor of psychiatry and public health and preventive medicine at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. Dr. Freeman is credentialed as a member of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM) of the Royal College of Physicians (UK). He serves as an Affiliate Medical Examiner with the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office in Pittsburg, PA, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the American College of Epidemiology, and the Academy of Forensic Medical Sciences (UK). Dr. Freeman is a past Fulbright Fellow with the U.S. Department of State, in the area of forensic medicine, and holds a diploma of legal medicine (DLM) with the Royal College of Medicine, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Freeman holds 6 university degrees, including a doctor of medicine degree (Med. Dr.) from Umeå University in Sweden, a Ph.D. and master’s degree (MPH) in epidemiology from Oregon State University, and a master’s degree in forensic medical sciences from the University of Verona (MScFMS). He has completed a 2-year fellowship in forensic pathology through Umeå University and the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner.

Dr. Freeman's curriculum vitae can be downloaded here.

Dr. Mychael Labgas Related Seminars and Products

Physiatrist

Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine

Dr. Lagbas believes in starting care with less-invasive treatments, but when indicated, uses procedural techniques such as intramuscular stimulation (IMS, dry needling), ultrasound-guided peripheral joint injections and trigger point injections. He also has a particular interest in regenerative medicine such as PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections. When there is a question of potential nerve injury Dr. Lagbas is also able to perform Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) to assist with the diagnosis.

Dr. Lagbas received his undergraduate degree in Bioengineering at the University of Washington. He then completed medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine with the University of Hawaii. He did his specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington.

Having grown up in Hawaii and received medical training there as well as in Seattle, Dr. Lagbas is very familiar in working with patients with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. He understands how these personal factors may affect the clinical visit and how they may impact discussions about diagnoses and treatment plans. He believes that the best treatment is one that is both medically indicated as well as fits the patients social circumstances. 

Outside of work Dr. Lagbas enjoys spending time with his two children. He also enjoys traveling, hiking, watching and playing a variety of sports, and cooking. 

Russel Kinder MD Related Seminars and Products

Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Specialist

Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine

Dr. Kinder strives to create a positive and mutually rewarding relationship with his co-workers and patients in order to provide the best care possible.  He has a special interest in advanced interventional techniques, and optimizing multidisciplinary support in a personalized, safe, effective, and evidence-based manner.  He believes that when somebody lives with pain, it is important to identify the goals, and then work together with the patient to design a multimodal plan focused on improving overall quality of life and returning to function.

Dr. Kinder is a fellowship trained Interventional Pain Specialist who is double board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology.  He was born and raised in Eastern Washington before moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.  After earning his Doctor of Medicine degree at the Chicago Medical School, he returned to Seattle to complete his medical training at Virginia Mason, where he gained experience at such institutions as Swedish, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Harborview Medical Center.

Dr. Kinder has presented at several national meetings on topics including medical care efficiency, and management of complications from both anesthesia and interventional pain procedures.  He was first author on the book chapter teaching advanced nerve block techniques in the best-selling textbook, Manual of Clinical Anesthesiology as well as an updated and revised version released in 2020.  He authored a book review of the textbook Acute Pain Management, which was published in the journal Regional Anesthesia and Pain Management (RAPM).  Dr. Kinder was instrumental in reinstating the previously defunct Resident Section of the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists (WSSA) and served as the President from 2010-11.   He enjoys continuing to keep up with the latest and most advanced pain management options for his patients.

He has spent more than the last decade providing Pain Management in the Pacific Northwest and was the Medical Director of the Interventional Pain Clinic at Adventist Medical Center and member of the Opioid Task Force until early 2020.

In his spare time Dr. Kinder likes to spend quality time with his wife, two daughters and friends.  He enjoys reading, taking in the great outdoors through backpacking, camping, electric skateboarding, watersports, and supporting the Seahawks.  He will “Always Compete” to provide the best care possible.

Tiffany Mathias MD Related Seminars and Products

Emergency Medicine and Interventional Pain Specialist

Coast Injury Medicine

Dr. Mathias is a southern CA native who is double board certified in Emergency Medicine and interventional pain management. She completed her fellowship in pain management at Stanford and studied healthcare entrepreneurship at Oxford. 

Dr. Mathias’s expertise includes fluoroscopic and ultrasound guided procedures, epidural steroid injections, facet joint injection, radiofrequency ablation, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) administration, & intramuscular stimulation (trigger point needling).She has published many peer-reviewed research articles and is the author of a book chapter focusing on the economics of targeted intrathecal drug delivery. 

Dr. Mathias takes pride in treating her patients as though they are her family. Her goal will always be to empower, educate, and rejuvenate her patient’s lives. She is one of the nation’s leading experts in plasma based regenerative therapies. Her true passion lies in utilizing the synergies from her different specialties to deliver cutting edge care to her patients.

Along with enjoying her work, Dr. Mathias tries to practice what she preaches— maintaining a holistic, balanced approach to life and everything that comes her way! She is a serious book nerd and read 56 books last year. The best part of her day is going home to her samoyed puppy Charlie and her husband Anthony.

Dr. Avery Knapp Related Seminars and Products

Neuroradiologist

Coast Imaging

Dr. Travis Vaughn Related Seminars and Products

Chiropractic Physician

Kennewick Chiropractic Injury Clinic

Dr. Vaughn moved to Kennewick from Western Washington in 2013. Prior to moving, he practiced in the Olympia area for 5 years. He has been in practice at Kennewick Chiropractic Injury Clinic since 2013. Dr. Vaughn has an evidence-based approach to care, often working with other medical providers to give the best care for each patient. His patient-focused approach has yielded great results over the years.

Dr. Vaughn has been married for 15 years and has 6 children.  They love to spend quality time outdoors and in the water.  They love traveling to visit family back home in Hawaii where his wife is from.  He also volunteers his time with youth in the community on a weekly basis.

Dr. Vaughn attended Brigham Young University Hawaii and then attended the University of Western States for his professional training. He received his Doctorate of Chiropractic in 2008 and is a member of The American Institute of Personal Injury Physicians (AIPIP).

Sam Elder Esq. Related Seminars and Products

Attorney

Law Offices of Sam Elder

Sam has been in practice focusing on personal injury law for more than 25 years.  After more than a decade at a traditional law firm and the birth of his daughter, he decided to transform his practice.  He is committed to providing the best possible legal representation without all the trappings of a traditional law firm.  That means personal connections with clients from the very first meeting, and ongoing support throughout the case.  While Sam does rely on his experienced team, he takes pride in having personal involvement in every case.

Early in his career, Sam made the switch from business litigation, tax advisory, and corporate formation practice, to focus on representing injured persons.  He finds that each case is an opportunity to help someone who is hurting, provide information and clarity, take stress out of people’s lives, and allow the healing process to be the primary focus.  Insurance companies are trying to take advantage of people every day – Sam is the pushback within the system.

Sam has spent his entire life in King County, and takes great pride in being a part of the community.  Sam attended Federal Way High School, Linfield College where he obtained a bachelors of arts degree in mathematics and philosophy, and graduated from the University of Washington School of Law.

Sam works on cases large and small, and routinely tries jury cases and presents cases through civil arbitration.  In addition to his work representing clients, Sam regularly provides education for other Plaintiff attorneys.  He literally wrote the guidebook on Civil Arbitration in Washington State, and leads continuing legal education classes on topics such as exposing defense experts and using remote technology in litigation.

Jason Baker Esq. Related Seminars and Products

Attorney

Law Offices of Jason A. Baker

Mr. Baker was born in Burien, WA where he also went to Highline High School.  He has been practicing personal injury law since admission to the bar in 2008.  His understanding of not just the medicine but also the physical and psychological impact of his clients' injuries and treatments stems in good measure from all the sports-related injuries he's had requiring similar treatment.

EDUCATION

• Seattle University School of Law: Juris Doctor
• Cal Poly Humboldt: Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, Minor in International Relations
• Completed pre-med coursework, including the courses, "Critical Thinking in Scientific Research" and "Philosophy of Natural Science" - so he can (1) better understand the science behind your case, and then (2) identify and overcome faulty science and specious arguments asserted by the defense
• University of New Hampshire, National Student Exchange
• Kungsgårdsgymnasiet, Norrköping, Sweden;  Economics, class E3F
• Highline High School, Burien, WA

Rob Sears Esq. Related Seminars and Products

Attorney

Sears Injury Law

Attorney Robert L. Sears was born and raised in the South Sound community. He attended Rogers High School, Western Washington University, and the Washington State Bar Association’s clerkship program, where he was able to learn first-hand from some of the best lawyers in Washington. Prior to founding Sears Injury Law, Rob worked as a top investigator and negotiator for several of Puget Sound’s top injury firms. Rob is sworn into the Supreme Court of Washington and is licensed to practice in every court in the State. Now a contributing member of the Washington State Association for Justice EAGLE program, Rob is able to connect with lawyers throughout the state and is constantly seeking to perfect his practice.

In his spare time, you can find Rob with his friends and family playing sports, getting active outside, spending time perfecting his craft, learning secondary languages, or simply relaxing in the sun near a lake.