Specialties

Work primarily with attorneys practicing in trusts and estates, probate, and real estate on legal matters requiring identification of next-of-kin.
Family tree reconstruction of complete families or select branches of interest.
Identification of unknown heirs, missing beneficiaries, or interested parties, both domestically and internationally.
Descendancy research to locate contact information for living people.
Verification, completion, or correction of research begun by other parties.
Researchers hold disinterested third-party status, producing independent findings and impartial testimony.
Production of court-ready work product, including affidavits of due diligence, family charts, exhibits, and custom deliverables.

Degrees/Licenses

Our research staff hold the following industry credentials: Accredited Genealogist, Certified Genealogist, Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, Genetic Genealogy Certification, Project Management Professional (PMP), paralegal certificate, court-qualified expert witness
Degrees and fields of study include: Advanced degrees (4 Juris Doctors, 10 Ph.D., 59 MA); BBA/MBA (Marketing, Management); Bachelor’s degrees (with concentrations in Family History, History, Civil War, 19th Century America, Museum Studies, Oral History Art History, English, Linguistics, Anthropology, Photography)
Licenses: Private Investigator
Languages: 32 read, 20 spoken
Our research staff includes many published authors and conference/institute speakers on genealogical topics.

Specialties

I am available to serve as an expert witness, and provide legal and forensic consultation, medical record reviews, and assessments concerning psychiatric issues in older individuals, including testamentary capacity, contested wills and trusts, competence, undue influence, dementia, delirium, Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, psychosis, nursing homes, assisted living, hospitals, psychotropic medication, Medicare.

Degrees/Licenses

M.D., licensed in CA and FL.

Formal Education

B.S., Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 1965-1969; M.D., Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1969-1973; Internship and Residency, Psychiatry, Herrick Memorial Hospital, Berkeley, CA, 1973-1976.

Registration and Licenses

Board Certified in Geriatric Psychiatry, Board Certified in Psychiatry.

Previous/Current Position

Clinical Psychiatrist in Geriatric Psychiatry program, San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center 2021-present. Psychiatric Consultant to San Francisco Towers CRCC Life Care Community 2020 - present. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Voluntary), University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. Served as Director of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Geriatric Psychiatric Hospital for the Jewish Home of San Francisco, 2010-2020. Previously in Private Practice of Geriatric and Older Adult Psychiatry in Miami and Miami Beach, Florida for 33 years. I have been Medical Director for the Community Mental Health Center of Miami Beach, Medical Director of an Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry program, and Medical Director of an Inpatient Mood Disorder program, as well as consulting at Nursing Homes, Assisted Living and other facilities.

Honors/Awards

Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. In 1997, given the Founder’s Award by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry for contributions to the field, only the 3rd recipient in 35 years. In 2001, given the Weinberg Memorial Award in Geriatric Psychiatry by the American Psychiatric Association, their highest award in Geriatric Psychiatry. ln 2003, was the first recipient of the Clinician of the Year Award from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. In 2004, given Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of Miami School of Medicine. Listed in Best Doctors in America beginning 1992. Board of Directors (1982-1985) and twice elected President of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (1985-1987). Treasurer (1989-1993) and on Board of Directors (1993-1997) of the International PsychoGeriatric Association, and Member of the Task Force on Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence (2007-2016).

Prof. Affiliations

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, Northern California Psychiatric Society, American Geriatrics Society, Gerontological Association of America, International PsychoGeriatric Association. American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and Member of the Geriatric Psychiatry and the Law Committee (2202-2024).

Publications

Author/co-author of multiple books and book chapters, and articles in the professional literature. Lecturer at local, regional, national, and international conferences. Recent publications include "Geriatric Psychiatric Outpatient Care: The Private Practice Model in the USA", in the textbook Principles and Practice of Geriatric Psychiatry, 3rd Edition (2011), and "Does your client have testamentary capacity? Mental health and memory issues that affect estate planning." California Trusts and Estates Quarterly, 17 (2), 2011.

Prior Expert

Legal consultation regarding Geriatric Psychiatry matters in more than 70 cases. I have worked with attorneys representing both plaintiffs and defendants.