These are medical professionals I know or have been recommended to me by another PWC. While some, myself included, have used and recommend alternative treatments, the focs of this site is not on treatment, but on those professionals that can properly evaluate and articulate your condition for legal purposes. If you have any you feel should be added to the list please forward me the reference at 3Neurons@CFSDisabilityAppeal.com
** Additional medical listings in process **
** Example physician reports for LTD coming soon! **
CFS Specialists
Dr. Charles W. Lapp
Hunter-Hopkins Center
Charlotte, NC
www.drlapp.net
(704) 543-9692
Internationally recognized CFIDS expert based out of Charlotte, NC. Dr. Lapp is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and as an Independent Medical Examiner. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians (AADEP). He was appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Board and is and has been on the faculties of the medical schools at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. Dr. Lapp has published numerous articles regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in medical journals and textbooks as well as having presented numerous lectures on this topic. Dr. Lapp is the co-author of the AADEP Position Paper on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
PWC Comment:
“Dr. Lapp’s ability to assess my condition, provide treatment and guidance and his ability to articulate my situation to the insurance company was instrumental in overturning their termination of my benefits.”
Dr. Samuel Shor, M.D.
Internal Medicine of Northern VA
Reston, VA
703-309-1119
Internist in Northern Virginia who has specialized in CFIDS for many years. The physician of choice for most Northern Virginia PWC as well as sought out regionally. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Healthcare Sciences at George Washington University. He has taught Attending Rounds for Georgetown University Internal Medicine Health Staff and is a Preceptor for Primary Care Apprenticeships for George Washington University School of Medicine. He has also published numerous articles in medical journals regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and has lectured on this medical condition as well.
PWC Comment:
“Dr. Shor has been my physician since I was diagnosed with CFIDS in 2003. In addition to being very knowledgeable medically, has been extremely helpful in documenting and describing my condition for my LTD purposes. He knows the illness and knows how to address things for both SSDI and LTD. Works very well with CFIDS attorneys.”
David Silver, MD
8641 Wilshire Blvd #301
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310)657-9650
Rheumatology/Internal Medicine. Does full Disability Reports for Fibromyalgia and CFIDS, as well as other conditions.
PWC Comment:
“Extremely knowledgeable and highly personable. A true advocate for the disabled.”
Neuropsychologists
Dr. David Shostak, Ph.D.
Springfield, VA
(703) 451-8816
Very knowledgeable regarding cognitive characteristics of CFIDS. Well versed on knowing how to word reports to satisfy insurance company requirements regarding disability status and issues.
PWC Comment:
“After evaluating me, Dr. Shostak very clearly, and in a scientifically detailed manner, articulated the neurological aspects of my condition and how they translate in the ability, or inability in my case, to perform in an employment circumstance.”
Dr. Cynthia L Sullivan
Neuropsychology Associates of Fairfax
Fairfax, VA
(703) 876-0966
Performs thorough neuropsychological testing and understands CFIDS and its cognitive implications. Very professional and thorough.
PWC Comment:
“Dr. Sullivan performed a full battery of tests and wrote a very detailed and comprehensive report outlining my condition and her position regarding my ability to perform in a work environment. Her report was instrumental in overturning the termination of my benefits.”
Dr. Charlotte Callens
Annapolis, MD
(410) 268-8188
Performs very comprehensive neuropsychological testing for both individuals and insurance companies.
PWC Comment:
“Dr. Callens was engaged by my LTD to perform an IME. As such, she was provided my complete claim file by the insurance company and performed testing over a two day period. Dr. Callens’ maintained her integrity and made it very clear in her very comprehensive report that I was completely disabled and unable to maintain any sort of full-time employment.”
Dr. Gudrun Lange
NJ
Dr. Lange is nationally recognized as a leading researcher on cognitive and behavioral aspects of chronic pain and persistent fatigue. She is a member of the Board of the International Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and has served on major committee assignments regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with the National Institutes of Health. She has published books and articles regarding the cognitive issues related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in numerous well-respected medical journals. Her work is also heavily involved with Gulf War Illness. Dr. Lange is currently working through a VA hospital in New Jersey. Dr. Lange performs extensive neuropsychological testing as well as offers a third party review of neuropsychological report.
PWC Comment:
“Dr. Lange did an outstanding job of reviewing my multiple neuropsychological reports and providing an objective assessment of my overall cognitive condition and its impact on my ability to perform in a work setting.”
Sheila Bastien, PhD
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510)526-7391
Neuropsyc Evals for CFIDS/FM/MCS pts. Was one of the first to ever perform cognitive testing on CFIDS pts (during the Incline Village outbreak of the '80s). One of the few who totally understands Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as these illnesses effect the brain. Well published. About 25 yrs of experience in this specialty.
Physical Therapists
Functional Capacity Evaluations are not recommended for evaluation of CFS because (1) they measure mostly strength and range of motion; neither of which are generally affected by CFS; (2) they do not measure post-exertional malaise – the worsening of symptoms for days after the test; and (3) they do not measure the factors that most impair persons with CFS, namely fatigue, inability to perform on a regular or sustained basis, pain, or cognitive dysfunction. That being said, if you also suffer from some form of Dysautonomia, the dysfunction of your ANS may very well present itself and further support your case.
Jayne Gribble
National Rehabilitation Hospital
Bethesda, MD
Performs Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) using a protocol which can help identify ANS dysfunction.
PWC Comment:
“Ms. Gribble’s evaluation noted the variability of my heart rate and blood pressure as well as my other physical reactions to activity, including sedentary. Her data and resulting report showed that this variability affected my ability to complete tasks and his ability to perform consistently to a significant extent. Very professional and thorough.”
Theodore J. Becker, PhD
Everett Pacific Industrial Rehabilitation
Everett, Washington
(425)-353-9300