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Scope & Range of Services
Dr. Herschel Lessin has been a full-time practicing Pediatrician
since 1982 and has served as an expert witness in Pediatric
malpractice litigation since 1987, working for both plaintiff
and defense. Trained at Stanford and Yale, Dr. Lessin has experience
in case review as well as both deposition and trial testimony.
He a founding member and medical director of one of the largest
Pediatric practices in the United States, The Children's Medical
Group, PLLC. His daily practice includes children from birth
through college age. Dr. Lessin has had broad media experience,
hosting medical spots on both radio and TV. He is a member of
the Child Health Focus faculty of the health information portal,
Healthology.com, where he authors articles and appears in streaming
video webcasts. In addition, he authors a biweekly column for
a regional newspaper. He appears on regional radio providing
parenting advice 10 times monthly as well as appearing on live
call in programs concerning Pediatric care. Dr. Lessin provides
honest and accurate expert case review with rapid turn around
time, as well as poised and competent testimony at both deposition
and trial. He is willing to travel if necessary.
In addition to his Pediatric expertise, Dr. Lessin has extensive
experience and involvement in all aspects of Managed Care. He
was a founder, and for 12 years, was Chairman of a 2000 physician
IPA that contracts with Managed Care organizations and covers
over 150,000 lives. He is a Certified Managed Care Executive
throughAmerica's Health Insurance Plans, the Managed care trade
organization. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors
of several managed care companies.
EDUCATION
1995-96 CMCE (Certified Managed Care Executive). Graduate of
year-long Executive Leadership Program of the American Association
of Health Plans. Via mentoring, site visits, didactic sessions
and hands on experience, the CMCE isimmersed and trained in
the cutting edge of managed care.
1980-82 Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Resident, Pediatrics
1979-80 Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Intern, Pediatrics
1975-79 Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto,
CA
Doctor of Medicine
1971-75 Union College, Schenectady, NY
Bachelor of Science--Summa Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2004- Director of Clinical Research, The Children’s Medical
Group, PLLC. Responsible for over-seeing all clinical research
activities at the group, supervising study co-ordinators and
staff, interfacing with study sponsors.
2000- Medical Director, The Children’s Medical Group,
PLLC. Responsible for developing Quality Improvement processes
and clinical protocols. Also conducts audits and supervises
in-house CME for phyicians and other clinical staff.
1997- The Children's Medical Group, PLLC. A founding partner
of this large group practice that resulted from the merger of
Pediatric and Adolescent Associates (est. 1932) and the Hudson
Valley Pediatric Group (est. 1954). Through planned growth and
expansion, the group now has 19 pediatricians and 1 pediatric
nurse practitioner, providing care for nearly 38,000 children
in six Hudson Valley offices, with 2 additional offices in the
planning stages. The group sees almost 115,000 patient visits
per year and is one of the
largest single specialty Pediatric groups in the USA.
1988-2000 Chairman, Board of Directors, Taconic Independent
Practice Association. TIPA contracts with managed care organizations
to provide physician services to the contracted plan’s
subscribers. With over 2000 physician members, TIPA is one of
the largest IPA’s in the United States and provides care
for over 150,000 patients.
1982-1997 Hudson Valley Pediatric Group, PC, Poughkeepsie,
NY. Served as partner and Vice-President of this six physician,
one physician asssistant, and one urse practioner private Pediatric
practice. In addition to patient care, management responsibilities
included billing, coding, HMO negotiation, cooperative bulk
vaccine buying program, and financial and statistical analysis
of the practice.
MEMBERSHIPS
2002, 2004 Re-certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support
2001 Re-certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics
(voluntary)
2000, 2004 Re-certified as a Certified Managed Care Executive,
American Association of
Health Plans
1997- National Association of Medical Communicators
1994-2000 American College of Physician Executives
1996 Certified Managed Care Executive, America’s Health
Insurance Plans (AHIP)
1994- Section of Administration and Practice Management, American
Academy of Pediatrics
1987- Section of Pediatric Dermatology, American Academy of
Pediatrics
1986- Taconic Independent Practice Association
1984- Diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics
1984- Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
1983- Medical Society of the State of New York
1983- Dutchess County Medical Society
1982-1989 Mid-Hudson Pediatric Society
1979-1984 Junior Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
1974- Phi Beta Kappa, Union College, Schenectady, NY
APPOINTMENTS
2004- Director of Clinical Research, Children’s Medical
Group, PLLC.
2004- Member, Clinical Specialists Advisory Board, MedImmune,
Inc. The board
advises the company on clinical aspects of their pharmaceutical
products.
2003- 2005 Chairman, Nominating Committee, Section on Administration
and Practice
Management, American Academy of Pediatrics.
2003- Process Improvement Committee, Department of Pediatrics,
Vassar Brothers Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY.
2002- Member, Peer Review Committee, Taconic IPA. The committee
reviews
medical quality issues and complaints involving IPA physicians.
2001-2002 Member, Professional Relations/Medical Management
Committee, Taconic
IPA. The committee oversees communication and relationships
with member
physicians as well as reviews and makes recommendations about
medical
utilization management within the IPA.
2001- Board of Directors, MVP Health Plan, a NYS Article 44
company which,
with its subsidiary corporations operates a diverse array of
health insurance
products including HMO, PPO, EPO,POS and indemnity. The company
has over 10,000 participating physicians in 5 states, over 500,000
covered lives and over $1.1 billion in annual premium revenue.
2000-2005 Medical Director, The Children’s Medical Group,
PLLC.
1999- Board of Directors, MVP Health Insurance Company, a NYS
Article 42 company which provides health care via a Preferred
Provider Network of physicians in PPO, EPO and indemnity products.
1999 Honorary Chairperson, Vassar Brothers Hospital Mothers’
Club, Festival of Trees: an annual fundraising event raising
money to benefit the Maternal/Child
Health units of the hospital.
1998-2000 Attending Physician, St. Francis Hospital Family
Practice Residency Program. Responsible for inpatient and outpatient
teaching of Pediatrics to residents, both clinical and didactic.
1997- Vice-president and member Executive Committee, Children’s
Medical Group, PLLC. I am involved in all executive decisions
and strategic planning for the group.
1997- Attending Pediatrician, St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie,
NY
1995-2001 Media spokesman for the “Adopt an Angel”
fund raising campaign, Make-a- Wish Foundation, Hudson Valley
Chapter. Make-a-Wish is a non-profit group that grants wishes
for terminally ill children. This campaign raises nearly the
entire wish granting budget for the chapter. I record TV commercials
as well as news media interviews on behalf of the organization.
1995-1998 Board of Directors, MVP Corporate Care. The board
provided policy and planning for the corporation’s offering
of Worker’s Compensation Case Management services and
Occupational Health services to employers.
1995- Vice-Chairman, MVP Select Care Board of Directors--provides
policy and planning for corporation’s offering of third
party administration services to self- funded employer groups
in New York State and Vermont.
1994-1998 Associate Medical Director, MVP Health Plan--responsible
for IPA development, physician recruiting and liaison, and public
relations.
1994-2000 Board of Directors, American Cancer Society, Hudson
Valley Unit.
1993 Member, Global Budgeting Grant Writing Committee. At the
request of the NYS DOH, local hospital officials and physicians
formed a group to prepare a grant proposal to the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation requesting funding for a study of the feasibility
of Global Budgeting of all health care services in Dutchess
County. This was the first proposal of its type in New York
State that included physician and other out-patient services
within the budget. The committee drafted a grant application
that forged consensus among its disparate members and interests
in designing a plan to meet the needs of a rapidly changing
health care environment. Funding of $1,000,000 per year was
sought from the Foundation, New York State, and other sources.
1993- Certified, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, American
Heart Association.
1993 Strategic Service Unit on Managed Care, Mid-Hudson Medical
Center-involved in
planning the future of the new medical center vis-a-vis its’
relationship to and involvement in managed care systems.
1993- Board of Directors, MVP Health Services Corporation--provides
policy and planning for the offering of point of service HMO
and indemnity products to employers in its NYS service area
and the entire state of Vermont.
1992-1993 Board of Directors, March of Dimes, Mid Hudson region--responsible
for planning and execution of fund raisers, service projects,
and distribution of funds. Guest speaker at “Baby and
You” educational seminars offered to area employer groups.
1991 Attendee, NYS Department of Health Immunization Retreat.
I was one of six private pediatricians invited to attend a two
day retreat with state officials to examine immunization policy
in reference to the state supplying free vaccine to
physician offices throughout the state in order to improve immunization
rates.
1990-1995 Member, PPAC Advisory Committee to New York State
Medicaid Program. Advised in the design and implementation of
the Preferred Physician and Children’s Program (PPAC).
This PPO program, implemented statewide on October 1, 1990,
revised the fee structure and coding requirements for the NYS
Medicaid program in order to involve more quality physicians
and to insure
indigent children access to private practice care in the state.
1989 Community Publications Committee, American Academy of
Pediatrics, District II, Chapter 3, New York. Served as a liaison
between the Academy and local media with the goal of disseminating
information relevant to the health care of children.
1989 Board of Trustees, St. George’s School, Poughkeepsie,
NY.
1989 Chairman, Committee on Practice, American Academy of Pediatrics,
District II, Chapter 3, New York.
1988-2000 Chairman, Taconic Independent Practice Association.
TIPA is a group of over 1800 physicians that contracts with
HMOs to deliver health care services to their insured members.
As of 2002, we served over 130,000 patients. As chairman,I coordinated
all IPA activities, sat on several major committees, and chaired
the IPA Board of Directors.
1987-1988 Executive Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics,
District II, Chapter 3, New York.
1987-1988 Secretary, Taconic Independent Practice Association.
1986-2000 Founding member, Board of Directors, Taconic Independent
Practice Association.
1986-1987 Executive Committee, Dutchess County Medical Society.
1985-1987 Director, Special Care Nursery, Vassar Brothers Hospital.
1984-1986 President, Mid-Hudson Pediatric Society.
1982-1984 Vice-President, Mid-Hudson Pediatric Society.
1982-1984 Education Director, Department of Pediatrics, Vassar
Brothers Hospital.
1982- Attending Physician, Vassar Brothers Hospital.
LICENSURE
1984-1995 Massachusetts
1982- New York
1981-1982 Connecticut
PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
General Pediatrics
Asthma/Allergy
Behavioral Pediatrics
Pediatric Dermatology
Health Care Finance and Politics
Practice Management
Clinical Research
Managed Care
Medical Liability Issues
Patient Education via the Media and Internet
PUBLICATIONS
2001 “School Problems” in Primary Care Pediatics,
Carol Green-Hernandez,
Joanne K. Singleton, and Daniel Z. Aronzon, eds. Lippincott,
Philadelphia,
2001 “Acute Dermatologic Complaints”, with Sharma,
P., in Primary Care Pediatrics, Carol Green-Hernandez, Joanne
K. Singleton, and Daniel Z. Aronzon, eds. Lippincott, Phildadelphia.
CLINICAL RESEARCH
2005 Attendee, Good Clinical Practices for the Clinical Research
Professional.
Sponsored by the Drug Information Association.
2005- Member, Drug Information Association (DIA)
2005 Completed Human Participant Protection Education for Research
Teams
sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Partial Listing of Sponsors and CROs worked with: Novartis,
MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline, Nestle, Roche, PPD, ICON, Scirex,
Proctor and Gamble, AztraZeneca, and McNeil
2005- Principal Investigator, Effects of Prebiotics in Infant
Formula on Fecal Microbiota,
A Randomized, Controlled, and Double-Blind Clinical Trial of
Two Groups using an
Investigational Starter Formula containing Prebiotics to Infants
using a
Commercially Available Product, with a Breast Fed Reference
Group.
2005- Principal Investigator, a Randomized, Controlled, and
Double-Blind Clinical
Trial of Two Groups Comparing Weight and Other Anthropometric
Measures,
Tolerance, and Frequency of Morbidity in Infants Using an Investigational
Infant
Starter Formula Containing Synbiotics to Infants Using a Commercially
Available
Product.
2004, 2005 Principal Investigator, “FluStar”, an
epidemiological influenza surveillance study sponsored by Roche
Laboratories.
2004-2005 Principal Investigator, an Investigation of an Enhanced
Potency Humanized Respiratory
Syncytial Virus (RSV) Monoclonal Antibody, for the Prophylaxis
of Serious RSV
Disease in High-Risk Children, a Phase III study.
2004-2005 Principal Investigator, a Prospective, Double-blind,
Randomized Trial to
Demonstrate Equivalent Immunogenicity of an Investigational
Product and FluMist in
Healthy Participants Ages 5 through 49 Years, a Phase III study.
2004-2005 Principal Investigator, a 1 Year, Randomized, Double
blind, Parallel-group, Placebo-
controlled, Multicenter Evaluation of Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics
and
Pharmacodynamics of an Injectible Product in Children (6 - <12
years) with Moderate-
Severe, Persistent, Inadequately Controlled Allergic Asthma,
a Phase III study.
2004- Principal Investigator, an Investigation of the Safety
and Efficacy of a Topical
Immunomodulator in Atopic Disease Modification, Assessed in
a 3-Year
Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Study to Evaluate
the Effects of
Atopic Dermatitis in Infants, and a 2-3 Year Open-Label Phase
to Evaluate the
Effect of Early Intervention versus Delayed Intervention with
Product on the
Incidence of Asthma in Children, a Phase IV study.
2004, 2005 Principle Investigator, “RSV Alert”
(Respiratory Syncytial Virus), an epidemiologic study sponsored
by MedImmune Corporation.
2003-2004 Investigator, a Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of
Prophylactic Iron to Prevent Iron
Deficiency and Elevated Lead Levels in Children during the Second
Year of Life, a
Pilot Study.
2003 Principal Investigator, Determine Rates of Seroconversion
Following Varicella
Vaccination of Asthmatic Children Between the Ages of One and
Eight Years Treated
with Pulmicort Respules versus Non-Steroidal Conventional Asthma
Therapy, a Non-
Blinded, Non-Randomized, Multi-Site Phase IV study.
2003-2004 Principal Investigator, a Randomized, Double-blind,
Double Dummy,
Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Multi-Center Clinical Trial
of Four Weeks
Treatment with an Inhalation Aerosol, 25 micrograms BID and
Placebo
Administered via a Valved Holding Chamber with Facemask in Subjects
with
Asthma Age 6 to 23 Months, a Phase IV study.
2003 Principal Investigator, Observation of Treatment versus
Treatment, A Multicenter,
Randomized, Parellel-Group Study Evaluating Treatment Outcomes
of an Approved
Stimulant Treatment and an approved Non-Stimulant Treatment
in Children with
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a Phase IV study.
PRESENTATIONS
2005 “Win-Win Collaboration in Pediatrics” Presented
with Joseph Heavey, MHA
& Adil Ameer at the Heath Strategists Istitute Conference
on Hospital-Physician
Relations, October 12, 2005.
2005 “Strength in Numbers: Thriving Pediatric Practices
Share Their Experiences
and Their Tips.” Presented with Dr. Charles Scott at The
American
Academy of Pediatrics Super CME program, April 15, 2005, Orlando
Florida.
2005 “Omigod I’m Being Sued!!-Practical Tips on
How to Reduce Your Risk and
How to Respond If and When it Happens to You.” Presented
at The American
Academy of Pediatrics Super CME program, April 14, 2005, Orlando
Florida.
2004 “Implementing ADHD Practice Guidelines: A Practical
System for the Busy
Pediatric Office’. Presented to the Section on Administration
and Practice
Management, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Conference,
October 9. 2004.
2004 “Emergency Treatment of Asthma in Children”,
presented to the Dept. of
Emergency Medicine, Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie,
NY
June 17, 2004.
2003 “Hot Topics in Pediatrics” Panel discussion
moderator. Presented to the Section on Administration and Practice
Management, American Academy of Pediatrics,National Conference,
November 1, 2003.
2003 “Implementing Asthma Guidelines: A Practical System
for the Busy
Pediatric Office’. Presented to the Section on Administration
and
Practice Management, American Academy of Pediatrics, National
Conference,
November 1, 2003.
2003 “Practical Asthma-Physiologic Basis of Treatment”.
Presented for the regional
chapter of the Americal Lung Association Educational meeting
for nurses.
2003 “Treatment of ADHD in the Busy Pediatric Office”.
Presented to groups of
physicians in our region. Sponsored by Novartis Speakers Bureau.
2003 “Be Your Own Expert Witness”. Presented to
the annual meeting of the
Dutchess County Medical Society”, October 29, 2003.
2002- “Applying Asthma Treatment Guidelines in an Office
Setting”. Presented to
groups of physicians in our region. Sponsored by GlaxosmithKline
Speakers
Bureau and Sepracor Speakers Bureau.
2000 “Pneumococcal Vaccination in an Era of Bacterial
Resistance”. Presented to
groups of physicians in our region. Sponsored by Wyeth Speakers
Bureau.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
2003 Medical Mission Volunteer, Honduras. Travelled with my
son to provide free
medical care to the Mayan Chorti tribe in the villages near
the Copan ruins on
Guatemala border.
2002 Medical Mission Volunteer, Jamaica. Provided free Pediatric
care to several
small villages in rural Jamaica.
2002 Medical Mission Volunteer, Constanza, Dominican Republic.
Provided free Pediatric care to this small village in the mountains
of the Dominican Republic.
2001- Editorial Director, Healthology.com. Responsible for
defining the scope and
content of the Pediatric section of the website. Review all
content and update
same. Provide input and direction for development of the section
on the site.
2000- Columnist, “Pediatrician On Call”, Poughkeepsie
Journal. A biweekly
column answering common pediatric questions.
2000 Medical Mission Volunteer, Honduras. Travelled with my
daughter to a small
jungle village on the North Coast as part of a volunteer medical/dental
team
providing free care.
1999 Medical Mission Volunteer, Republic of Vietnam. Provided
free Pediatric care to
indigent patients at Long Dat Medical Clinic and Ham Tan Medical
Center, two
small rural clinics located 100 and 200km respectively outside
of Ho Chi Minh
City. Met with Consulate General of the United States to help
procure support
for further medical mission work.
1999 Medical Mission Volunteer, Constanza, Dominican Republic.Provided
freePediatric care to this small village in the central mountains
of the DominicanRepublic.
1999-2000 Child Health Focus Editor, Healthology, com. Healthology
is an internet start- up company devoted to providing medical
information content delivered to the general public and distributed
to other web-sites, portals, and publications. I am responsible
for the development and maintenance of the Children’s
Health area of the site, recruiting faculty and reviewing submitted
articles.
1999- Contributor, Children’s Health Focus, Healthology.com.
I provide content posted on the web site and also participate
in live streaming “webcasts”, which are panel discussions
with physicians on a topic of interest that are later archived
for future download. In addition, I act as moderator for webcasts
involving physician of various specialties in both adult and
pediatric medicine.
1998- Responsible for planning, design, and maintenance for
the web site for The Children’s Medical Group, www.childrensmedgroup.com.
1998-1999 Host of “The Medical Minute” segment
for RNN-TV (Regional News Network).This segment is an informational
look at medical topics of general interest.
1996-1997 Host of “Kids Korner” segment for RNN-TV
Morning Show. Appeared several times monthly live on the morning
news talk show to speak about various pediatric topics and to
respond to live phone calls.
1996 Keynote Speaker and Honoree, Annual “Breakfast of
Champions”, Tobacco Free Action Coalition.
1995- Member, International Jugglers Association. I use juggling
in my pediatric practice to entertain and distract my young
patients. I also use these skills, when appropriate, in my speaking
engagements, as well as my group
appearances at trade shows.
1994- Member, Tobacco Free Action Coalition. Active in smoking
cessation programs for children and adults. I do public service
radio announcements and make personal appearances at area schools
on behalf of the organization.
1993- Guest speaker, Health Care Reform and IPA Formation.
I speak to physicians and medical organizations on managed care
and IPA activities.
1990 Panel Member, Poughkeepsie Journal panel on Parenting.
I took phone calls and authored an article for a special section
of the newspaper on Parenting.
1990- Author and Host of “Kidstuff”, a parenting
program on local radio. The show is aired 10
times monthly. Each day a topic of interest to parents is discussed.
The main focus is on
practical parenting advice in all areas of Pediatrics, both
medical and behavioral. In
addition, I periodically appear as a guest on hour long call-in
shows which feature live
questions and answers about Pediatric issues.
1982- Frequent lecturer at area schools and community groups
on topics of interest
to parents. This service is provided at no cost through The
Children’s Medical Group and Vassar Brothers Hospital
Speakers Bureau.
**Last updated December 15, 2005
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