Monica Argumedo, M.D.

Monica Argumedo, M.D. has conducted forensic assessments and served as an expert witness for over a decade. She has testified as an Expert Witness in over 40 cases and conducted forensic assessment in many more that settled without need for a trial. She conducts Independent Medical Examinations, review of records, rendering her medico-legal opinions by report and testimony. In addition to forensic evaluations, she has conducted hundreds of evaluations as a psychiatrist. Concurrently, Dr. Argumedo has an active clinical practice in an acute care mental health hospital at Rush Oak Park Hospital; patients who may require hospitalization are first assessed by her. She diagnoses patients, determines if admission is appropriate and treats patients during their hospitalization. Age, disability, and family dynamics are routine factors that require her expertise.

Standard of care is an area of expertise and interest. Currently, Dr. Argumedo assists in establishing protocol for admitting medically hospitalized patients for mental health evaluations to be used by doctors who are not psychiatrists. Her medico-legal training is an asset in circumstances where a decision may have a legal consequence, including in a clinical setting such as hospitalization where competency is often a concern.

Dr. Argumedo is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Rush Medical School and Rush University Medical Center, one of the largest medical schools and teaching hospitals in Chicago. She teaches psychiatry residents in topics related to psychiatry and the law, and psychiatry in medicine. She also interviews prospective medical students through her role on the Medical Admissions Committee.

Services

Consulting with attorneys and testifying about psychiatric conditions, behavior and emotional distress damages. Independent Medical Examination (IME, a clinical evaluation), reviewing legal and medical records including hospital and physician notes and reports, issuing forensic findings and opinions by report and testimony.

Litigation Support Services

Dr. Argumedo has testified in open court in over 40 cases. She is an experienced expert witness and litigation consultant.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

First Responder, Job Performance, Depression, Pain and Suffering, Harassment, Hostile Workplace, Pre-employment Evaluation, Security-sensitive, PTSD Trauma, Medical School Admissions, Treatment Protocol Psychiatry, IME, FFD, Cultural Factors.

Profile

Monica M. Argumedo, MD, is a Board-Certified Forensic and Clinical Psychiatrist (ABPN). Dr. Argumedo has testified about her forensic opinions in more than 40 cases in open court. She has been a Psychiatrist in practice for more than 15 years, Dr. Argumedo teaches at Rush University Medical School/Rush University Medical Center as Assistant Professor in Psychiatry. She teaches psychiatry residents in topics related to psychiatry and the law, and psychiatry in medicine. She also interviews prospective medical students through her role on the Medical Admissions Committee.

Dr. Argumedo conducts Independent Medical Evaluations, review of records, report and testimony. In addition to civil and criminal work, she is retained by Employers in cases where mental health/psychiatric concerns about an employee require an objective and unbiased Fitness for Duty Evaluation and report. She consults in employment matters, discrimination and harassment claims and civil litigation and serves as a disclosed expert witness. Her work addresses fitness for duty (FFD) in a litigated environment, Wrongful Termination, and Psychiatric Disability. Additional experience includes FFD of peace officers and first responders.

Areas Served

All States

Monica Argumedo, M.D. in the Social Networks

LinkedIn

Professional Experience

Board-Certified Forensic Psychiatrist since 2009, working with employers and EAP departments evaluating employee fitness for duty, police officers and for school districts. Her work with Cook County Courts includes competency and NGRI evaluations. In litigation, she has testified more than 3 dozen cases including personal injury, civil and criminal matters.

2018 – Current
Rush University Medical Center / Rush Oak Park Hospital,
Chicago, IL / Oak Park, IL
Consult-Liaison Psychiatry for Rush Oak Park Hospital

Rush Medical College
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry
Member, Medical Admissions Committee

Patient Care, hospitalized patients with behavioral health disorders at Rush Oak Park Hospital, Also, a weekly outpatient clinic treating patients who suffer from behavioral health conditions.

Educator to patients, family members, physician colleagues, and hospital staff, medical students, and residents regarding behavioral health conditions in a medical setting, and psychiatry and the law.

Medical and psychiatric oversight; consulting doctor to colleague physicians at Rush Oak Park Hospital.

2018 – 2019
Thrive Counseling Center Oak Park, IL Psychiatrist 2011-2018
AMITA Health/ Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and St. Alexius Medical Center, Acute Care Hospitals, Hoffman Estates, IL

Psychiatrist

Director, Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry Service, 2012-2016

Director, Access Department, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Patient entry point psychiatric assessment, 2012-2016

Patient care, hospitalized patients with behavioral health disorders at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and St. Alexius Medical Center

Educator to patients, family members, physician colleagues, and hospital staff regarding behavioral health conditions in a medical setting

Supervise and collaborate with Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Medical and psychiatric oversight; consulting doctor to colleague physicians at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital.

Forensic assessments and reports regarding civil legal matters, testamentary capacity, fitness for duty, return to work and Firearm Owner Identification reinstatement.

2016 – Present
eQHealth Solutions, Inc., Lombard, IL

Physician peer-to-peer reviews of psychiatric services provided throughout Illinois.

2009 – 2011
Forensic Clinical Services
Cook County Criminal Courts / Office of the Chief Judge, Chicago, IL

Forensic Psychiatrist

Forensic evaluation and reports of findings, rendered professional opinions in the areas of competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, conditional release, and understanding of Miranda rights for Cook County Criminal Courts.

Qualified to testify as an expert witness in over 40 cases.

Licenses

Illinois Medical Licensure: 036123835

Affiliations

American Psychiatric Association
American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Qualifications

Board-Certified in General Adult Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, June 2010. Certificate 6111
Board-Certified in Forensic Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, June 2011. Certificate 1817
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Rush Medical College at Rush University
Admission Committee Member, Rush Medical College at Rush University
Bilingual in English and Spanish

Awards & Honors

String of Pearls Award, for excellence in teaching medical students in Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine Class of 2009, Washington, DC

Seminars & Training

Presentations Given by Dr. Argumedo:
Sept. 2018 “Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder and Treatment,” Invited Speaker, Rush Oak Park Hospital Classes and Events
Sept. 2017 “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder” Invited Speaker Power & Cronin, LTD, 2017 Annual Medical-Legal Seminar
2013-2015 Member, Graduate Medical Education Committee, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
Sept. 2015 “Update in the Management of Alcohol Withdrawal,” Continuing Medical Education Presentation, Internal Medicine Department, Alexian Brothers Medical Center
May 2012 “Decision-Making Capacity” Continuing Medical Education Presentation, Internal Medicine Department, Alexian Brothers Medical Center

Publications

Mack AH, Barros M. Forensic Psychiatry. In: Galanter M and Kleber H, eds: American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment, 4th Edition. American Psychiatric Press, Inc: Washington, DC, 2008.

Education

Forensic Psychiatry Fellow, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (2008-2009)
Chief Resident, Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC (2007-2008)
Resident in Psychiatry, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC (2004-2008)
Doctor of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign (2004)
Bachelor of Arts English/Pre-Medical Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1996)