David I. Tasker, M.D.

Private Ophthalmology Practice, began May, 1975 – Present 

SPECIAL INTEREST:

Disability Ophthalmology as well as General Ophthalmology. Practice consists of medical consultants of adults with chronic and multi-system diseases: Diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, poor night vision, neurological conditions of the eye, tumors. Unexplained vision loss, injuries with visual loss.

Official Dual Role: Ophthalmology and Occupational Medicine.

OPHTHALMOLOGY:

Private practice treatment and diagnosis of eye disorders, contact lenses, treatment of glaucoma and other eye diseases, diabetic retinal evaluations and consultations for Texas Department of Insurance and Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Austin, TX.

OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE:

Currently determining cases involving both disability and impairment evaluations plus pre-op authorization for surgery in states of Texas, California, Massachusetts and Louisiana.

WORK HISTORY OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE:

1973-1975 Military: Honorable Discharge USAF. Assigned to the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, TX. Director of the Night Vision laboratory doing electrophysiology of the retina; Medical Evaluation Board work to return pilots to flying status; do complete ophthalmological evaluations for military environmental flying problems. Taught flight surgeon course: Ophthalmology. Rank: Major, Flight Surgeon, Teacher in Aerospace Medicine, ophthalmology for two years.

1983-1985 Selected by Datapoint Corporation as a Medical Industry Representative as well as Software Medical Representative. Presented talks at national meetings and on state level for medical databases and software for the medical office. Started Advanced Medical Data Service for physician’s sales.

1997-1998 State Agency Medical Consultant (SAMC) for Social Security Administration Texas Rehabilitation Commission, Austin, TX. (now called the Department of Rehabilitative and Assistive Services) 40 hours per week for ophthalmology and orthopedics. Following 1998, moved back to San Antonio, TX to continue as Consultant to Ophthalmology doing weekly evaluations of claimants applying benefits for the disabled. Total time as Consultant: 1974-present, 31 years.

1999-2004 HealthSouth Impairment Evaluation Center consultant for ophthalmology for Worker’s Compensation Commission, State of Texas. Classified as “Designated Doctor” to do dispute resolution of claims in the State of Texas. Worked both in Austin and San Antonio until October 2004, when both centers for evaluation of the disabled worker were closed, employment as part-time consultant concluded.

2001- 2003 Expert Witness Program under TASA Group (Blue Bell, Pennsylvania) 2001- 2003. Do defense and plaintiff legal cases and reviews for ophthalmology to evaluate possible malpractice and offer opinions. Undertook cases in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Transferred network from TASA to Expert Resources, 2003. Expert Witness Program with “Expert Resources” 2003 – present. Do defense and plaintiff research for eye cases involving suspected negligence. Little trail work, research only into standards of care and its violations. Review medical records of both plaintiff and defense for violation of ethics, economic loss issues, and apportionment issues.

1983-1990 Established Associated Physicians’ Photographic Services company doing medical photography from 1983-1990. Prepared slides for physicians as well as photographed surgical procedures and photographed slide talks for physicians in San Antonio area. Operated own private portrait and commercial studio.

OTHER CONSULTING FOR:

1999-2003 St. Paul Medical Protective and the Hartford Insurance Companies to advise on defense for malpractice cases. During this time also was hired to consult for the City of San Antonio and Pecos, TX when they were each involved in lawsuits for ophthalmology cases.

1999-Present Quality Assurance and Peer Reviews: CorVel, Concentra Medical Group, Review Med, Concentra, MedConfirm, MES Solutions, Nortec Solutions, Advanced Medical Reviews (California), IMED, and others – Peer Review and chart quality assurance reviews in Texas and other states to evaluate quality of care in ophthalmology, pre-authorize eye surgery nationwide.

2009-Present Veteran’s Administration ophthalmology consultant for those retiring and those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan military deployment for exit physicals.

Appearing in Contested Case Hearings  and District Court trials for Workers’ Compensation claims to clarify the principles of ophthalmology as they apply to the injured worker.  (Over 13 such cases to date).

EDUCATION:

• High School Los Angeles High School, 1958-1961. Outstanding graduate award: Speech and debate.   Life member; National Forensic League.
• Undergraduate Pomona College, 1961-1965. Graduated: BA Zoology
• Home Study Program New York Institute Of Photography

GRADUATE SCHOOL:

• Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia PA, 1966-1969. Graduated: Doctor of Medicine.
• St. Mary’s University, San Antonio. Graduated: Master of Arts: Theology
• University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 1988-1991. Graduated: MBA (Masters of Business Administration). Published three medically related papers during enrollment for degree.
• Dallas Theological Seminary  2 ½ years.  Continuing education program.

MEDICAL TRAINING:

• 1969-1970 Rotating Internship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
• 1970-1973 Residency in Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery at Mt. Sinai Hospital of Cleveland, Cleveland OH (Case Western Reserve University )Department of Ophthalmology, Cleveland, Ohio.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE:

• Ophthalmology, 1976, American Board of Ophthalmology. Board Certified, Ophthalmology by examination. No expiration on certification.
• State of Texas – License E1426 – 1974-Present
• State of California – License G23025 – 1971-Present

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

• Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Bexar County Medical Society
• Texas Medical Association
• Texas Ophthalmological Association, active
• American Association of Christian Counselors, active

CONSULTING AFFILIATION:

1. Medical Quality Assurance Panel, Division of Workers’ Compensation.
2. Former Consultant for Disability Determination Services, Austin, TX.
3. Consultation for Veteran’s Administration Disability Determination: Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard.
4. Quality Assurance Reviewer: Multiple insurance companies: ReviewMed, Concentra, Dane Street, ExamWorks, and others.
5. Consultation for Workers Compensation Eye Injuries.
6. Medical Advisory Board Texas Dept. Of State Health Services.