"Employing Science in Medical Negligence and Malpractice Cases"
Lunch & Learn - Live Webinar
June 18th - 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Register Today!

This OACTA webinar is brought to you by S-E-A.

Join Antonio Valdevit, Ph.D. and Michael Wernke, R.Ph., Ph.D. as they explore the use of science and biomedical engineering principles to evaluate medical negligence and malpractice matters emphasizing resources available in defending these claims. Case studies will be discussed, followed by a live demonstration from S-E-A’s cadaver laboratory illustrating difficulties associated with spinal surgical procedures.

Dr. Valdevit joined the S-E-A team from Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey where he was a Professor of Biomedical Engineering since 2007. In addition, he worked as a Biomedical Consultant to Stryker Spine and the New York University Department of Orthopedics. He tested spinal products and other surgical implant devices for modes of failure and quality control.

In his role at S-E-A, Dr. Valdevit works as a Biomedical Engineer. He is responsible for accident investigation and reconstruction of incidents involving medical products and devices. The emphasis of his work is on the application of safety practices and procedures to products, processes and medical equipment. He also focuses on the biomedical analysis of failure modes and its relationship to product failures.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from McMaster University of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, his Master of Science in Physics from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, in Biomedical Engineering.

Dr. Wernke is S-E-A’s Senior Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. He has over thirty years of experience in the areas of human health toxicology and risk assessment, exposure assessment, risk communication, and strategic planning. He is also a licensed (Ohio) pharmacist. Throughout his career Dr. Wernke has thoroughly and critically evaluated the human health information, experimental data, mode of action, dose-response relationships, and pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic data for a large number of environmental and occupational chemicals, radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and feed additives and contaminants and consumer products for private and public sector clients.

In his role at SEA, Dr. Wernke is responsible for projects requiring the determination of the presence or absence of harmful or intoxicating chemicals, testing and analyzing data for harmful contaminates in consumer products or the environment, and evaluating contributing factors in the cause and manner of death or illness. Dr. Wernke evaluates exposure to and human health effects of microbial organisms, ethanol, drugs, metals, chemicals, gases, and other occupational and environmental chemicals. He also evaluates drug related cases including, but not limited to, intoxication, drug-related problems, hazardous drug combination or overdoses, indications and contraindication, and drug labeling and warnings.

Dr. Wernke is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy with Honors (Magna Cum Laude) from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, and a Ph.D. in Toxicology and Pharmacology from the Division of Graduate Studies and Research.

 CLE Credit:
This webinar is pending approval by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 1.0 general hour of live, interactive webinar credit. CLE credit will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Ohio by the OACTA office.