Curriculum Vitae
Stephen M. Raffle, M.D.
In 1969, during his military service, Dr. Raffle began his career as a Forensic Psychiatrist. One of his duties, as the psychiatric consultant to the Surgeon of 5th U.S. Army, was to be the psychiatric consultant to the JAG of 5 USA. Taking a fourth year of psychiatric residency, Dr. Raffle participated in a special program at Boalt Hall, the University of California School of Law (Berkeley), where he studied law courses relevant to the practice of forensic psychiatry under the mentorship of Bernard Diamond, M.D., Chairman of Criminology and Professor of Law at UC Berkeley, and Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF Medical School.
Dr. Raffle has developed an active clinical psychiatric practice, and has taught in the departments of Psychiatry and Orthopedics as a psychiatrist at UCSF Medical School. He also taught at the Hastings Law School postgraduate course “Trial and Appellate Advocacy” for 11 years instructing attorneys about the direct and cross-examination of expert witnesses.
Since 1972, 50% of Dr. Raffle’s practice has been spent consulting with attorneys, insurers, employers, and judges in multiple venues. As a Forensic Psychiatrist, he has evaluated and/or testified about virtually all of the issues in his profession and about most causes of action: criminal, maritime, personal injury including toxic torts, product liability, negligence, breach of contract, civil, EEOC, ADA, Title VII, Social Security, Military, employment, and long-term and short-term disability. Dr. Raffle has offered his expert opinion in approximately 150 trials, and conducted over 5000 independent medical examinations over the course of his career. See Dr. Raffle’s discussion of many of the psychiatric disorders he has addressed, both clinically and as a Forensic Psychiatrist.
Education:
| 1958-1959 | University of Chicago |
| 1959 - 1962 | University of California, Berkeley, California A. B. Physiology |
| 1962 - 1966 | The Chicago Medical School, Chicago, Illinois Doctor of Medicine |
| 1966 - 1967 | Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Illinois Medical Internship |
| 1967 - 1968 | University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio 1st year Psychiatric Residency |
| 1968 - 1969 | Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 2nd year Residency |
| 1970 - 1972 | Herrick Hospital, Berkeley, California 3rd and 4th year Psychiatric Residency |
| 1971 - 1972 | Auditor, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall) |
| 1977 | American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Diplomate in Psychiatry |
| 1994 | American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Diplomate in Forensic Psychiatry |
| 2006 - Present | Qualified Medical Examiner (QME), State of California, Department of Industrial Relations Division of Workers’ Compensation Medical Unit |
Academic Positions:
| 1980 - 2001 | University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine Assistant Clinical Professor, Psychiatry |
| 1983 - 2001 | University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine Assistant Clinical Professor, Orthopedic Surgery |
| 1985 - 2000 | Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Hastings College of Law Faculty |
| 1972 - 1983 | Herrick Hospital Psychiatric Residency Instructor, Training Program |
| 1974 - 1980 | University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Instructor, Psychiatry |
Professional Consultant:
| 2009 - Present | Hospice by the Bay, Psychiatric Consultant |
| 1993 - Present | Senior consultant, Work Trauma Services, San Francisco |
| 1979 - Present | U. S. Dept of Labor, Independent Medical Examiner, Longshoreman’s and Harbor Act |
| 1972 - Present | Consultant on case-by-case basis to defense firms, plaintiff’s firms and Applicant’s firms, and insurance companies (including Worker’s Compensation) |
| 2006 - Present | Qualified Medical Examiner, State of California Department of Industrial Relations |
| 1994 - 1998 | Consultant, United States Postal Service Threat Assessment Team, Oakland, California |
| 1979 - 1993 | Independent Medical Examiner, State of California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board |
| 1978 - 1987 | Administrative Law Judges of Social Security Administration |
| 1976 - 1980 | Alameda County Personnel Department. Includes second opinions for Sheriff’s Department |
| 1971 - 1974 | Herrick Hospital, Berkeley, California, Psychiatric consultant - Neurological Rehabilitation Unit |
| 1970 - 1971 | Headquarters 5th United States Army: Psychiatric consultant to the Surgeon of the 5th United States Army, Psychiatric Liaison to Judge Advocate General, 5th United States Army, Examiner for prospective West Point Cadets, Acting Chief, Office of Physical Standards |
Consulted By (partial list):
Plaintiff and Defense Law Firms
Multinational Law Firms
Fortune 500 Insurance Companies
Sample List: Zurich, State Farm, Matson Navigation, Liberty Mutual
Fortune 500 Employers and EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs)
U.S. Department of Justice; U.S. Attorney’s Office
U.S. Department of Defense: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines
U.S. Department of Treasury: Coast Guard
U.S. Postal Service
PG&E
Gas and Oil Refineries
Hazardous Materials Shipping Companies
State Law Enforcement
California Department of Transportation
Public Defenders and District Attorneys in California and Alaska
Municipal Utility Districts
Municipal Police Departments
Municipal Fire Departments
For reasons of confidentiality, private individuals and private companies are not listed
Professional Organizations:
American Medical Association
California Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
Northern California Psychiatric Society
American Academy Psychiatry and Law
California Academy of Medicine
Fellow, Royal College of Medicine (Member, forensic psychiatry committee)
California Society of Industrial Medicine and Surgery (CSIMS)
Professional Committees and Board Memberships:
| 2007 - 2008 | Board of Directors, Hospice by the Bay Foundation |
| 1994 - 1995 | Medical Board of California, Board of Podiatric Medicine, Podiatry Diversion Evaluation Committee |
| 1991 - 1995 | Medical Staff Assistance Committee, Impaired Physician Committee, Samuel Merritt Hospital |
| 1983 - 1986 | Education Committee, Northern California Psychiatric Society |
| 1976 - 1987 | Task Force about the Role of the Psychiatrist in the criminal law process, Northern California Psychiatric Society |
| 1973 - 1990 | Chairman, Committee on Informed Consent. In 1978, this committee merged into Committee on Psychiatry and Law |
Hospital Affiliations:
| 2002 - 2008 | Staff Privileges, Kentfield Rehabilitation Hospital, Kentfield, CA |
| 1977 - 2002 | Summit Medical Center, Oakland, California; previously Merritt Hospital and Providence Hospital |
| 1972 - 1977 | Herrick Hospital and Alta Bates Hospital, Berkeley, California |
Presentations:
| 2011 | “A Few Thoughts About the Direction Examination and Cross Examination of a Mental Health Expert Witness in Worker’s Compensation Proceedings,” Sacramento County Bar Association, Featured Speaker |
| 2010 | “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Stress Response Syndromes,” Industrial Claims Association of San Francisco, Featured Speaker |
| 2009 | “Suicide Prevention,” and assistance with preparation of suicide prevention materials for Employee Asssistance Program at employer utility company |
| 2009 | “Threat Assessment in the Workplace,” for Regional Medical Unit Personnel, United States Postal Service |
| 1996 | “Chronic Pain Syndrome: An Interdisciplinary Approach,” Management Circle, The Public Pension Fund Forum for New Trustees Conference |
| 1995 | “Permanent and Stationary is not Forever,” Institute for International Research, Controlling Disability Payments in the Public Pension Plan |
| 1992 - 1994 | “Sexual Harassment,” American Bar Association |
| 1992 | “Trial of a Sexual Harassment Case: From Voir Dire to Jury Decision,” American Bar Association, Division for Professional Education: Consultant and Psychiatric Presenter |
| 1992 | “Sexual Discrimination in the Workplace,” American Bar Association, National Meeting |
| 1991 | “Treatment of Chronic Pain,” Merritt-Peralta Medical Center, Oakland, CA |
| 1990 | “Crisis Management for Psychiatric Emergencies,” U.S. Postal Services |
| 1990 | ”Psychiatric Malpractice: A Review of Treatment Risks, Opportunities and the Law,” Alaska Psychiatric Institute, Anchorage, Alaska |
| 1990 | “Assessment of Chronic Pain,” Merritt-Peralta Medical Center, Oakland, CA |
| 1989 | “Crisis Management for Psychiatric Emergencies,” U.S. Postal Services |
| 1985 | University of California, San Francisco Medical School: Intensive Residency for Occupational Medicine. “Stress and Cardiovascular Disease” |
| 1985 | “Psychiatry and Workers’ Compensation Law” (a twelve hour course presented by me over four days), California Applicant Attorney’s Association |
| 1984 | “Psychopathology and Physiology of Pain,” Northern California Psychiatric Society |
| 1976 | “The Role of the Psychiatrist in the Courtroom,” American Society of Criminology, Tucson, Arizona |
| 1973 | “Psychiatry and Criminal Law,” CEB, California |
