Michael Welner, M.D. Email & Phone Number

United States

New York, Ny, Us

West Palm Beach, Us

The first forensic practice in America to employ prospective peer review, The Forensic Panel was founded in 1998 by Dr. Welner with a vision of advancing the integrity of forensic assessment by applying structured oversight to replicate that found in the best hospital care. The Panel’s peer review system was designed to eliminate bias, ensure exceptional diligence to all relevant areas of a case, and verify conformity with best practices and up-to-date knowledge within the different scientific disciplines. Practice specialties span psychiatry and neuropsychology, pathology, toxicology and medical sciences. Dr. Welner, as Chairman of the practice, has stewarded and optimized its peer-review protocols as a model for others to emulate.

Courts, attorneys, and agencies rely upon Dr. Welner to transcend the pressures of intense litigation and public controversy and aim squarely at unvarnished truth. Dr. Welner’s discerning investigation and interviewing skills are consistently responsible for uncovering critical new evidence, even in cases previously examined by multiple highly qualified peers. His scientifically-grounded fact finding has pivotal impact and frequently leads to resolution of cases without trial, even in the most contentious of criminal, civil, testamentary and employment litigation.A selection of notable, disclosable cases which Dr. Welner has impacted are included in the below document. Many notable cases are not disclosed as a matter of confidentiality, while other material cases are not listed because the matters remain pending or subject to Dr. Welner’s potentially evolving role.

Pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatment of adults; Civil and criminal forensic psychiatry

New York, Ny, Us

Teach psychopharmacology, forensic psychiatry; Guest discussant for case conferences at affiliated hospitals

Consultant to Law and Justice Unit, appearing frequently for breaking news on-air for Good Morning America, 20/20, World News Tonight, Nightline, and Prime Time Live. Advised producers and senior executives on socially responsible presentation of sensitive news stories. Consulted to producers behind the scenes on developing forensic science stories on sources of evidence and avenues to explore that were not yet being considered by other news coverage. His 2007 appearance on Good Morning America, in which he criticized the media for disseminating the Virginia Tech mass killer’s videotaped missive as a “social catastrophe” that would inspire others to copycat for the notoriety, led directly to ABC News pulling the murderers materials and photographs from its television and online stories and his appearance on the Oprah Winfrey program debating Brian Williams on the controversy of NBC's coverage of the event. Dr. Welner’s description on 20/20 of how grooming “gets into the DNA” of a sexual abuse victim was later cited by an Ohio judge as influencing his 2010 sentencing of Daniel Kovarbasich, who killed a longtime abuser. The Kovarbasich case, and Dr. Welner’s analysis, was subsequently featured by Oprah Winfrey on her program about how victims are groomed. Dr. Welner was the first outspoken skeptic of John Mark Karr’s claim of responsibility for the JonBenet Ramsey killing, and one of the earliest critics of 2006 rape claims involving Duke lacrosse team members.

Doctor Of Medicine (M.D.), Psychiatry

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Biology, Chemistry, Medicine