The Medical Opinion Marketplace

Katie S. Schroeder, MD, is a physician specializing in Gastroenterology, with a foundation in Internal Medicine. She provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for digestive and liver conditions, with a particular clinical focus on inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Schroeder emphasizes coordinated, patient-centered care for both acute flares and long-term disease management as part of a multidisciplinary GI team. Dr. Schroeder earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine. She completed an Internal Medicine residency at Loyola University and advanced fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Louis University. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Schroeder has contributed to peer-reviewed gastroenterology publications, including topics related to inflammatory bowel disease. She is affiliated with Mercy Hospital St. Louis and is committed to helping patients understand their condition and treatment options, supporting informed decisions and continuity of care.

William Newman, M.D., is a psychiatrist with a subspecialty focus in forensic psychiatry. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and serves in departmental leadership as Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. Dr. Newman also directs the university’s Forensic Psychiatry Training Program, reflecting a strong commitment to physician education and the development of future leaders in mental health care. Clinically, Dr. Newman’s practice interests include forensic psychiatry as well as inpatient and triage psychiatry, with an emphasis on thoughtful assessment and evidence-based treatment planning. His work bridges clinical care and the legal system, supporting complex evaluations and consultation where psychiatric expertise is essential. Dr. Newman earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and is licensed to practice in Missouri. He has also contributed to the field through professional society leadership, including service as President of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Through his academic, clinical, and leadership roles, Dr. Newman is dedicated to advancing high-quality psychiatric care and education.

Philippe J. Mercier, MD, PhD, is a neurological surgery physician and Professor in the Department of Surgery at Saint Louis University, where he also serves as interim Director of the Division of Neurological Surgery/Neurosurgery. He provides comprehensive neurosurgical care with clinical expertise spanning epilepsy surgery, brain and spinal tumors, trauma, and complex spine conditions, including minimally invasive approaches. Dr. Mercier also has specialized experience in pediatric neurosurgery, treating conditions such as hydrocephalus and spasticity, and he performs advanced techniques including image-guided stereotactic procedures and endoscopic cranial surgery. Dr. Mercier completed medical training at the University of Saskatchewan after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, followed by neurosurgery residency training at the University of Calgary. He pursued fellowship training at the University of Tennessee with an emphasis in pediatric neurosurgery. In addition to his clinical training, he earned a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Saskatchewan. His research interests include brain tumor biology in both pediatric and adult patients, immune responses to brain tumors, and advances in the treatment of severe head injury. He is active in professional societies including AANS, CNS, and the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery.

John Eisenbeis, M.D., is an otolaryngology physician specializing in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, with a clinical focus in laryngology and voice disorders, including care for professional voice users. He evaluates and treats complex voice conditions such as spasmodic dysphonia, and he also has additional interests in sinus and nasal surgery, pediatric otolaryngology, cystic fibrosis–related ENT care, and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Eisenbeis earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery followed by residency training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Eisenbeis serves as a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is affiliated with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis. His professional service includes years of medical and surgical mission work in Honduras providing otolaryngology care to people in need.

Anthony A. Mikulec, MD, is an otolaryngology physician with subspecialty expertise in otology and neurotology, focusing on disorders of the ear, hearing, and balance. He evaluates and treats a wide range of conditions, including hearing loss and vestibular disorders, and offers advanced surgical and nonsurgical options tailored to each patient’s needs. His procedural interests include cochlear implantation, stapes surgery for otosclerosis, and osseointegrated hearing implants, and he also provides comprehensive assessment for hearing aids. Dr. Mikulec is board certified in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and holds additional board certification in Neurotology. He completed his medical education at Stanford University, followed by otolaryngology residency training at Stanford University Hospital, and pursued fellowship training at Massachusetts Eye and Ear with a focus on skull base surgery. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Mikulec serves as a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Otology and Neurotology, at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is Chief of Otologic and Neurotologic Surgery and Director of Faculty at the Bander Center for Medical Business Ethics. His research interests include cochlear implantation outcomes and inner ear drug delivery, and he has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles. He is affiliated with Mercy Hospital St. Louis and speaks Spanish.

Ashley H. Ali, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in orthopedic sports medicine, providing operative and non-operative care for patients of all ages. Her clinical interests include injuries and conditions of the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee, as well as fractures and pediatric growth plate injuries. Dr. Ali treats a wide range of joint, tendon, and ligament problems with an emphasis on helping patients return safely to work, daily activities, and athletics. She offers advanced techniques such as minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, reconstructive procedures, tendon repair, cartilage restoration, and cartilage or meniscus transplantation. Her procedural expertise also includes total shoulder replacement and reverse total shoulder replacement, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, and quadriceps autograft ACL reconstruction when appropriate. Dr. Ali completed her medical education at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, followed by orthopaedic surgery residency training at the University of South Florida and fellowship training in orthopaedic sports medicine at the University of South Carolina. She is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She is a member of AAOS, AANA, AOSSM, and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, and has contributed to research in orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Bradley V. Davitt, MD, is an ophthalmologist with subspecialty expertise in pediatric ophthalmology. He provides comprehensive eye care for children, with clinical interests that include childhood strabismus, amblyopia, and retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Davitt is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Dr. Davitt completed medical school at the University of Illinois at Rockford, followed by an internship at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. He then completed an ophthalmology residency at the Anheuser-Busch Eye Institute and advanced fellowship training at the University of Minnesota Hospital & Clinic. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Davitt serves as a Professor of Ophthalmology and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. His research interests include evaluating glasses versus observation for moderate hyperopia in young children and developing registry-based approaches to understand outcomes after pediatric cataract surgery. He has also contributed to peer-reviewed research on outcomes in retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Davitt is affiliated with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis, and has served in professional leadership as Past President of the St. Louis Ophthalmology Society.

Nicole J. Werner, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist who provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation and consultation for adults with a range of neurological and medical conditions. Board certified in Clinical Neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology, Dr. Werner brings extensive experience working with diverse patient populations and tailoring recommendations to support everyday functioning, safety, and quality of life. Her clinical interests include dementia and other cognitive disorders, concussion, traumatic brain injury, and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Werner’s approach integrates careful history-taking with evidence-based assessment to clarify diagnosis, characterize cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and guide treatment planning for patients, families, and referring clinicians. In addition to private practice at Nicole Werner Consulting, LLC in St. Louis, Dr. Werner has held academic and clinical appointments within a major academic medical center’s Department of Neurology, contributing to interdisciplinary care and education. She completed advanced training through a postdoctoral fellowship at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) / Baylor College of Medicine and a psychology internship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Werner earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University and her BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She is affiliated with the American Psychological Association and the Missouri Psychological Association. Services are provided in English.

Robert W. Thompson, MD, is a physician specializing in vascular care, with clinical expertise spanning vascular surgery and related interventional approaches. He is board certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery through the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Thompson cares for adolescents through older adults and is committed to delivering thoughtful, evidence-based treatment tailored to each patient’s condition and goals. Dr. Thompson earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed internship and residency training in General Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he built a strong foundation in complex surgical care. He then pursued advanced fellowship training in Vascular Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), further developing expertise in the diagnosis and management of vascular disease. In his practice, Dr. Thompson focuses on comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment planning for patients with vascular conditions. He emphasizes clear communication, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuity of care to help patients and families understand options and make informed decisions throughout the course of treatment.

Andrew J. Jones, MD, is an internal medicine physician and rheumatologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Jones provides comprehensive care across general rheumatology, with particular clinical focus on vasculitis and related inflammatory conditions. Dr. Jones completed medical school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He then pursued an internal medicine residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine, followed by fellowship training in rheumatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. In addition to his clinical work, he maintains an academic and research interest in vasculitis and immune-mediated disease. His scholarly contributions include work in immunology-related areas such as regulatory T cells, dendritic cells, and mechanisms of autoimmunity. Dr. Jones is affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the VA Medical Center – St. Louis (John Cochran Division), supporting care across a range of inpatient and outpatient settings.