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CAP Speakers Bureau

Experts and Thought Leaders

Medical Practice Management, Risk Management, and Patient Safety

CAP Speakers Bureau is a compilation of CAP experts and thought leaders in medical risk management, practice management, legal, and public affairs. Our speakers are the preeminent resource that medical societies, medical practices, and other organizations turn to for in-depth presentations, conference appearances, and special events. 

Current List of Available Topics

If you need a speaker for any of these topics, please contact us. Interested in a topic not on this list? Let us know and we will connect you with an appropriate speaker.

What Lessons Can I Learn from Real Litigated Cases?

CAP's General Counsel Gordon Ownby provides unique and meaningful insights into the experience of physicians who have been involved in legal disputes with patients over their care. Based on his popular book "Medicine on Trial – Risk Management Lessons from Litigated Cases, Second Edition," topics include:

  1. Communicating with your patients
  2. Communications among physicians
  3. Problem patients
  4. Self-inflicted wounds
  5. Hospital-based risks
  6. And more!
How Can I Reduce Liability and Increase Patient Safety in My Practice?

Our risk management experts can speak about the following topics:

  1. Fundamentals of risk management
  2. Latest news in risk management
  3. Documentation
  4. Informed consent
  5. Medication management
  6. Recall and tracking
  7. Risks associated with EHRs
  8. Patient portals
  9. Terminating the physician/patient relationship
  10. Adverse outcomes
What Does My Office Need to Do to Remain HIPAA Compliant? What are the Benefits and Risks of Changing Technology?

Our risk management experts can speak about the following topics:

  1. Fundamentals of HIPAA compliance
  2. Documents to ensure compliance
  3. Meaningful Use
  4. Privacy and the HIPAA Security Rule
  5. Risk management strategies for EHRs
  6. Communicating with patients via telephone and email
  7. Electronic prescribing and other medication issues
  8. Negative online reviews and online reputation management
  9. Social media in the modern medical practice
  10. Data breach: causes, trends, and tips to mitigate risk
What Can My Specialty Do to Reduce Risk?

CAP Speakers Bureau currently offers presentations for the following specialties:

  1. Anesthesiology
  2. Elder Care
  3. Hospital Medicine
  4. Obstetrics and Gynecology
  5. Ophthalmology
  6. Pain Management
  7. Pediatrics
  8. Primary Care
  9. Psychiatry
  10. Radiology
What is Enterprise Risk Management?

Our risk management experts can speak about the following topics:

  1. Creating the extraordinary patient experience
  2. High reliability organization (HRO)
  3. How physician leadership impacts quality and safety
  4. Transition of care
  5. Future of patient-centered care
What Do I Need to Learn About Professional Development?

Our panel of experts can speak about the following topics:

  1. Professionalism as risk management strategy
  2. Dealing with difficult people
  3. Meeting the challenge of the disruptive clinician
  4. Apology and disclosure
  5. Understanding contract elements
  6. Your money and your life
  7. Resilience: a new take on wellness
How Do I Turn My Practice Into a Successful Business?

Our practice management experts can speak about numerous topics including:

  1. Successful practice administration
  2. The extraordinary patient experience
  3. Billing, coding, and reimbursement
  4. Starting your own medical practice
  5. Human resources principles to protect your practice
  6. Hiring the right people
  7. Business insurance options for your medical practice
  8. Financial advice for physicians
Our Risk Management and Practice Management Experts

 CAP’s highly qualified speakers have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with members, medical societies, and practices to help reduce risk and increase the quality of patient care. Our risk management program is facilitated by specialists whose backgrounds encompass a cross-section of the healthcare and legal professions. CAP also has a range of ancillary practice management programs to help you optimize the business side of practicing medicine. This comprehensive approach enables you keep up with the ever-changing practice management rules and regulations.

Douglas Shin
General Counsel
Douglas Shin
General Counsel

Douglas Shin is general counsel for the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. Mr. Shin directs a legal staff and outside counsel to deliver legal solutions to this industry-leading medical professional liability company. Mr. Shin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and his law degree from Loyola Law School where he was a member of the Loyola Law Review.

Mr. Shin began his career as a legal intern for the technology transfer team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and coauthored an article on the commercialization of intellectual property in central and eastern Europe. He also previously worked as a litigator, defending numerous clients in the general and medical malpractice liability, employment and healthcare arenas, including settlement of numerous matters and an arbitration.

Gwen Spence
Gwen C. Spence, MBA
AVP, Membership Services
Gwen C. Spence, MBA
Gwen Spence
AVP, Membership Services

Gwen C. Spence, MBA, is CAP’s Assistant Vice President of Membership Services. She works with independent physicians and medical groups on coverage inquiries, practice and employee issues, and financial questions. She also oversees CAP’s Residents Program and The Successful Physician Program to educate residents and physicians about topics including patient safety, quality care, and patient experience.

Ms. Spence worked in the insurance industry for a great deal of her career before joining CAP in 2010 as an underwriter. She began working with the Membership Services department in 2017. Ms. Spence received a BA in Anthropology and a BA in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton, and then went on to earn an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Dona Constantine, RN, BS
Risk Management
Dona Constantine, RN, BS
Risk Management

Prior to joining CAP’s Risk Management & Patient Safety team, Dona Constantine served in various positions throughout her career including Certified Emergency Nurse, Case Management Advisor, and Quality Manager. She was also the Director of Health Projects for the Foundation for Independence in Nicotine Dependence and the Executive Director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness Orange County.

Ms. Constantine is a graduate of Paradise Valley School of Nursing and she obtained a Legal Assistantship Certificate from University of California, Irvine. She earned her Bachelor of Health Science from Chapman University.

Lee McMullin
Lee McMullin, CPHRM
Risk Management
Lee McMullin, CPHRM
Lee McMullin
Risk Management

A Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management with more than 25 years of experience in claims and risk management, Lee McMullin originally joined the organization 15 years ago to provide claims and risk management consultation for CAP’s 24-hour Hotline. After working closely with the Risk Management and Patient Safety Department, in 2009 he transitioned to his current position with the CAP Cares, an early intervention program designed to assist CAP members in managing adverse outcomes arising from patient care. Before joining the staff at CAP, Mr. McMullin gained extensive experience in both risk management and litigation-management services.

Mr. McMullin is a graduate of the Litigation Program from the UCLA Post Graduate School of Law and holds a certificate in Administration of Justice from Los Angeles Valley College. In addition to his studies in biology and genetics at California State University, Northridge, he holds a number of certificates from the Pierce College School of Nursing, including the Nursing Critical Care Core Curriculum. In addition, Mr. McMullin was a nationally registered Emergency Medical Technician and Instructor.

Mr. McMullin is the president-elect of the Southern California Association of Healthcare Risk Management (SCAHRM).

Our Legal Experts

Since its inception in 1984, Schmid &Voiles has been dedicated to the defense of CAP members. The firm’s attorneys in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Jose, and San Diego have a single-minded goal of obtaining the best result for their physician clients. The profiles of the Schmid & Voiles attorneys shown below illustrate the depth and diversity of experience of attorneys who are dedicated to  dedicated to the defense of medical professionals in California. 

Robert Fessinger
Robert Fessinger
Managing Attorney, Orange County, San Diego, Walnut Creek
Robert Fessinger
Robert Fessinger
Managing Attorney, Orange County, San Diego, Walnut Creek

Since 1991, Robert Fessinger has devoted his practice to the defense of doctors and hospitals throughout California. He has handled every aspect of medical malpractice defense litigation, from case inception through discovery and trial. He has successfully defended physicians in trials and binding arbitrations as well as handling class-action matters against healthcare providers.

In 2005, Mr. Fessinger relocated his practice to the San Diego office of Schmid & Voiles. Sharing his knowledge and insight, he frequently is asked to lecture to claims specialists, doctors, and attorneys. Mr. Fessinger is a 1991 graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. As part of his legal training, Robert attended London’s Regents College, Inns of Court, where he studied under Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Denise Greer
Denise Greer
Managing Attorney, Law and Motion
Denise Greer
Denise Greer
Managing Attorney, Law and Motion

Specializing in arbitration agreement enforcement and appellate advocacy, Denise H. Greer is an accomplished trial attorney that has successfully tried and arbitrated cases on behalf of CAP members. 

Before her admission to the State Bar, Ms. Greer served as an operating room nurse in various units at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. For nearly eight years, she was instrumental in initiating and operating the Outpatient Surgery Center at Cedars and was the Lead Operating Room Nurse of the Gynecologic/Oncology Service. While at Cedars, Greer served as a member, and later as Head of the Operating Room Quality Assurance Committee.

A graduate of the University of the State of New York in Albany with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Ms. Greer attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, earning her law degree in 1988. While at Southwestern, she gained recognition as a candidate for the Paul Wildman Scholarship, was a Dean’s Merit Scholarship recipient, and received the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Sales.
 

Michael Lamb
Michael Lamb
Managing Attorney, Los Angeles
Michael Lamb
Michael Lamb
Managing Attorney, Los Angeles

Since 1982, Michael V. Lamb has specialized in the defense of physicians and hospitals. After working as an associate with Rushfeldt, Shelley & McCurdy for seven years, in 1989 he became a founding partner in Elliot, Lamb, Leibl & Snyder, a 17-attorney firm specializing in medical malpractice defense. As a trial attorney, Lamb has successfully defended physicians on numerous occasions in both the Superior Court and arbitration. Immediately prior to joining Schmid & Voiles in 1997, he gained insight into the plaintiff’s bar, working at Grassini & Wrinkle, where he prevailed at trial in a legal malpractice case.

Following his graduation from Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu and his admission to the California State Bar in 1979. Mr. Lamb worked as a claims representative and supervisor for The Travelers Insurance Co., handling legal malpractice claims for nearly three years. Mr. Lamb received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he graduated with distinction.
 

Maggie Cahill
Margaret Cahill
Margaret Cahill
Maggie Cahill

With a dual background in nursing and law, Margaret Cahill joined CAP as a claims specialist in 2003 and joined Schmid & Voiles in early 2009. Prior to CAP, her law practice from 1988 through 1993 included medical malpractice defense of hospitals and other personal-injury claims while employed by Madory, Booth, Zell & Pleiss. This was followed by 10 years in private practice at the Law Offices of Hardiman & Cahill, where she and her physician partner handled all aspects of medical malpractice and healthcare litigation, including defense of medical and nursing administrative actions. Ms. Cahill’s career includes federal court practice which resulted in several published and unpublished opinions after successful argument to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal and the state appellate courts.

Ms. Cahill earned her law degree in 1988 from Western State University’s College of Law, where she graduated in the top 20 percent of her class and earned several honors, including American Jurisprudence Awards in Criminal Law and Contract Law, as well as academic recognition on the Dean’s List. She received a bachelor’s degree in Laws from Western State University and had earlier received an associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing from Youngstown State University in 1979. She received National Honor Scores on her State Board exams. While attending law school, Ms. Cahill was employed as a registered nurse at the UC Irvine Medical Center and also was employed on a part-time basis handling medical malpractice claims for a private company.

Patrick Meyer
Patrick Mayer
Patrick Mayer
Patrick Meyer

Since 1986, Patrick W. Mayer focused his practice of law on the representation and defense of healthcare professionals. From 1993 until joining Schmid & Voiles in 2002, he was a partner in a Century City law firm where he defended claims on behalf of physicians, medical groups, and institutional providers. His experience includes the successful resolution and trial to verdict in the Superior Court of numerous medical malpractice cases.

Mr. Mayer attained his Juris Doctorate in 1984 from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Real Property. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland.
 

Deborah Taggert
Deborah S. Taggart
Deborah S. Taggart
Deborah Taggert

Since joining Schmid & Voiles in 1990, Deborah Taggart has become one of the firm’s most accomplished trial attorneys and has served as an arbitrator in binding arbitrations involving medical malpractice litigation. She joined the staff with 10 years of broad-based litigation expertise in both trials and arbitrations. From 1984 to 1990, Ms. Taggart represented healthcare providers while serving as a litigation associate with the law firm of Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges. She gained expertise in defending medical malpractice actions in both binding arbitrations and at jury trials.

Ms. Taggart received her Juris Doctorate with academic honors from Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles. While attending Loyola, she participated in the Honor Society Speakers Program and Tutorial Project. Taggart’s undergraduate studies were completed at UCLA, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Cum Laude, with a French minor. Before receiving her undergraduate degree, Ms. Taggart attended the Sorbonne at the University of Paris, where she studied French literature and art history.
 

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Rodney G. Tomlinson
Rodney G. Tomlinson
photo not available

With a strong background in all areas of trial and arbitration, Rodney Tomlinson has specialized in the defense of healthcare providers since 1984, having tried and arbitrated to conclusion more than 50 cases involving complex medical and legal issues. A frequent speaker and lecturer, he shares his knowledge and insights with claims specialists, medical groups, residency programs, hospitals, and attorneys. Mr. Tomlinson’s presentation topics include effective risk management, efficient case handling, trial preparation, and successful arbitration practices.

Mr. Tomlinson earned his law degree in 1984 from the University of San Diego. While attending law school, he studied in England at the London Institute of International Comparative Law. He received his undergraduate degree at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.
 

Lawrence Wong
Lawrence Wong
Lawrence Wong
Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wong has been engaged in professional liability matters related to healthcare professionals since 1992.  He began his legal career and gained specialized knowledge and proficiency in the defense of medical malpractice actions as an Associate Attorney in the Long Beach office of O’Flaherty & Belgum. In addition to his experience as a defense attorney, Mr. Wong also practiced on the plaintiff’s bar while working with a physician/lawyer specializing in catastrophic birth injury and products liability litigation and secured multi-million dollar awards.

Mr. Wong joined Schmid & Voiles in 1997 and devoted his practice exclusively to the defense of physicians throughout California.  He is admitted to practice before the State and United States District Courts throughout California.  He has been lead trial counsel in Superior Court trials and binding arbitrations since early 2000.  Mr. Wong is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national, by-invitation-only association of accomplished trial lawyers.  He is also a frequent lecturer on the issue of navigating medical malpractice cases before physicians at numerous Southern California Hospitals and was a keynote presenter at the annual Convention of Osteopathic Family Physicians in 2018.

Mr. Wong is a 1992 graduate of California Western School of Law in San Diego, where he was a dean’s scholarship recipient. While an undergraduate student at University of California, Irvine, he participated in the Economics Honors Program and earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics.  Mr. Wong is a Southern California native having gone to St. John’s Lutheran School and Lutheran High School of Orange County.    

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