Karl Auerbach, M.D., M.B.A.

Dr. Auerbach brings to Exponent a dual background in biomedical engineering and clinical medicine, providing a unique perspective and cross-disciplinary approach to his work. He is board certified in occupational medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and is a trained biomedical engineer. He uses that knowledge in his approach to his medical and consulting activity. He is able to address a wide variety of injuries and exposures in both occupational/industrial settings, automobile or equipment related incidents and in the community.

Dr. Auerbach’s clinical experience includes treating a broad variety of traumatic and chemical occupational injuries and exposures. He has provided hands-on care of occupational and environmental injuries, and had served as director of a hospital-based practice for many years. He has practiced in emergency rooms as an attending physician for over 35 years, caring for a broad spectrum of injuries, including automobile accidents and other traumas. He continues that practice, including work in a university based emergency room. Dr. Auerbach is also residency trained in internal medicine allowing him to address a broad variety of medical issues.

As a medical physician and biomedical engineer, Dr. Auerbach has consulted on issues of injury causation, both traumatic and cumulative. He has consulted on diverse issues including accidents and medical care. Dr. Auerbach frequently provides independent opinions on causality in both the occupational and general care arenas, based on his broad expertise in the medical and biomechanical aspects of injury causation.

Dr. Auerbach’s experience extends to disability evaluation and assessment of fitness to work. He has consulted with a number of companies on matters of injury prevention, ergonomics, and delivery of occupational care. He served as a consultant to the Social Security Administration regarding disability evaluations.

He is a retired Associate Clinical Professor of Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester. He continues an active faculty appointment as Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester. He continues in active practice of both occupational and emergency medicine.

Dr. Auerbach is an active member and fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, having served as Speaker of the House of Delegates, member of the Board of Directors, Secretary–Treasurer, Vice President, and currently President-Elect. He will become President in May 2012. He is a lifetime member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Auerbach K. An approach to problem cases in commercial interstate drivers. Clinics in Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2003; 3:11–26.

Books and Chapters

Auerbach K, Auerbach A. Climate of New York State. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change. Philander SG (ed), Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2008.

Auerbach K. Drug Testing Methodologies. Drug Courts. pp. 215–233. Lessenger JE, Roper GF (eds), Springer–Verlag, New York, 2007.

Auerbach K. Cell phones and cancer. Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society. Colditz G (ed), Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2007.

Auerbach K. Cold and water immersion injuries in agriculture. Handbook of Agricultural Medicine. pp. 459–476. Lessenger JE (ed), Springer–Verlag, New York, 2006.

Presentations

Auerbach K. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Update. Mid South Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association, Biloxi, MS, March 10, 2012.

Auerbach K. Causation in Workers’ Comp. New York Occupational and Environmental Association Annual Meeting, Albany, NY, October 29, 2011.

Auerbach K. Causation in Workers’ Comp. Northwest Association of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Annual Scientific and Clinical Conference, Suncadia Lodge Cle Elum, Washington, September 25, 2011.

Auerbach K. MRO controversies. American Occupational Health Conference, Washington, D.C. March 28, 2011.

Auerbach K. Webinar: Treating your own employees in the emergency department. ACOEM and Illinois Hospital Association, On Line, Sept 22, 2010.

Auerbach K. MRO Controversies. American Occupational Health Conference, Orlando, Florida, May 2010.

Auerbach K. Occupational medicine's approach to orthopedic issues. Presented to the Strong Orthopedic group, Rochester, NY, October 30, 2009.

Auerbach K. Barnard Fire District: Drug testing. Rochester, NY, June 4, 2008, May 29, 2008.

Auerbach K. Transducer use syndrome: An occupational problem of sonographers. Rochester Vascular Medicine Conference, Rochester, NY, May 3, 2008.

Auerbach K. Drug testing. Pralid, Inc. Supervisor Training, Rochester, NY, September 28, 2007.

Auerbach K. Drug testing update. The Greater Rochester New York Association of Occupational Health Nurses GRNYAOHN, Rochester, NY, September 18, 2007.

Auerbach K. Medication and drivers. New York Upstate College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Syracuse, NY, March 10, 2007.

Auerbach K. Course Director, Workers' Comp Video Conference, New York Upstate College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Rochester, NY origination with viewing in several cities in NY and NJ, January 25, 2007.

Auerbach K. Where does depression hurt: The role of anti-depressants in treating musculoskeletal symptoms. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds, January 4, 2007.

Auerbach K. Occupational medicine in disasters. Conference Chair, State of the Art Conference, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, New York, NY, October 20–22, 2006.

Auerbach K. Drug testing. Upstate Roofing Supervisor Training, Rochester, NY, September 13, 2005.

Auerbach K. Practice guidelines. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds, January 6, 2005.

Auerbach K. Systems for occupational medicine and wellness. National Academy of Science: Committee to Assess Worksite Preventive Health Program Needs of NASA Employees. Information, Washington, DC, June 21, 2004.

Auerbach K. I heard it through the grapevine, communications in workers compensation. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds: Workers' Compensation Legal Update, November 6, 2003.

Auerbach K. What is disability and how do we measure it. American Occupational Health Conference, Chicago, IL, April 2002.

Auerbach K. New options for drug screening: How to choose. Rochester, NY, June 6, 2001.

Auerbach K. Social Security and FMLA. New York College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Winter 2001 Meeting, Rochester, NY, January 20, 2001.

Auerbach K. Disability under Social Security. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds, November 2, 2000.

Auerbach K. SODID: A method for reporting. American Occupational Health Conference, Disability Fundamentals: A Framework for Evaluating Disability. Session Director and Speaker, Philadelphia, PA, May 15, 2000.

Auerbach K. FMLA. American Occupational Health Conference, Disability Fundamentals: Disability Beyond the World of Workers Compensation. Session Director and Speaker, Philadelphia, PA, May 15, 2000.

Auerbach K. Social Security disability. American Occupational Health Conference, Disability Fundamentals: Disability Beyond the World of Workers Compensation. Session Director and Speaker, Philadelphia, PA, May 15, 2000.

Auerbach K. Drug testing update. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds, October 2, 1997.

Auerbach K. Road Kill on the Information Highway. University of Rochester Occupational and Environmental Medicine Grand Rounds, October 5, 1995.

Letters

Auerbach K, Barron B. Should color vision screening yield a black or white answer. [Letter] Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001; 43(3):197.

Auerbach K. Impairment vs. disability. [Letter] Journal of the American Medical Association 1988; 259(1):43.

Miscellaneous Publications

Guidotti TL, Barbanel C, Auerbach K. Occupational medicine: The case for reform. [Comment] American Journal of Preventative Medicine 2006; 30(2):186.

• American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (Fellow):
  • Secretary/Treasurer 2008-2010; Vice President 2010-2011; President Elect 2011-2012; will become president May 1, 2012
  • Board of Directors 1991–1992; 2004–2006; 2007–Present
  • House of Delegates: Delegate 1995–2003; Recorder 2004–2005; Speaker-elect 2004–2005; Speaker 2005–2006
  • State Governmental Affairs Committee 2007–2009: Chair
  • Council on Public Policy 2006–present
  • By–laws Committee: Chair 2006–2007; Responsible Officer 2008–2010
  • Policy and Procedure Committee 2004–2007
  • Maintenance of Certification Committee: Member 2005–present
  • Strategic Planning Committee 2006–2011: Chair 2011-2012
  • Informatics Section: Past Chair, Past Treasurer
  • Med Center Occupational Health Section: Member
  • Work Fitness and Disability Section: Member
  • Finance Committee: Chair 2006–2008; Responsible Officer 2008–2010
  • Committee of Fellowship Examiners: Responsible Officer 2008–2010
• New York Occupational and Environmental Medical Association: Education Chair, 2008–2010
• New York Upstate College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine:
  • Secretary, 1988–1989
  • Vice President (re–election, 2007–2008), 2001–2003
  • President–Elect, 1989–1990
  • President 1990–1992
  • Director, 1992–1995
  • Delegate 1995–2003
• American Medical Association, 1982–present
• Medical Society of Monroe County (Occupational Medicine Committee), 1982–present
• Medical Society of the State of New York, 1982–present
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 1964–present
• Past Medical Advisor for Disaster Services, Rochester Region American Red Cross