A career spanning more than 25 years in internal medicine underpins this physician’s specialization in rheumatology and the evaluation and treatment of rheumatologic and autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, polymyositis, fibromyalgia, and connective tissue disorders. His research experience also encompasses pulmonary artery hypertension associated with rheumatologic disease, medication safety, and investigations of undiagnosed illnesses among Persian Gulf War veterans. His laboratory experience includes immunodiffusion techniques for mixed connective tissue disease research and bacterial endotoxin decontamination. He has more than 15 years of expert witness experience providing consultation, deposition, and courtroom testimony.

His professional background includes positions as Attending Physician, Consulting Physician, Assistant Professor, Clinical Investigator and Sub-Investigator, General Internist, Chairperson of a Research and Development Committee, and physician responsible for Persian Gulf Registry examinations and prisoner-of-war examination protocols within academic medical centers, hospitals, research settings, and government healthcare organizations. His clinical research has included service as a principal investigator and sub-investigator in studies involving rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, pulmonary artery hypertension, and polymyositis. He has also held responsibilities involving medication safety, pharmacy and therapeutics, quality improvement, and clinical research.

His educational background includes a Doctor of Medicine degree, followed by an internal medicine internship and residency, service as Chief Resident in Internal Medicine, additional internal medicine fellowship training, and a Rheumatology fellowship. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Diplomate of the American Board of Rheumatology. His professional affiliations include the American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, Southern California Rheumatology Society, and Spondylitis Association of America, where he has served as a board member and past chairperson of the board. He has also authored medical publications and book chapters addressing lupus, fibromyalgia, spondylitis, and other rheumatologic conditions.