Jeff Biddle

Jeff Biddle has been a faculty member in the department of Economics of Michigan State University since receiving his Ph.D. in Economics from Duke University in 1985. A specialist in labor economics, he has for several years taught undergraduate courses on the economic aspects of government programs for workers', including workers' compensation. His published research in the area of workers' compensation includes historical studies of the origins of the U.S. workers' compensation program, the claim filing behavior of people with work-related injuries, and the labor market consequences of work-related injuries.

Libby Child

Libby Child is currently consulting, writing and lecturing in the field of disability management, and teaching in the workers' compensation field. She is a Senior Consultant in Disability Matters at Varnum Consulting in Grand Rapids, MI. Ms. Child handled workers' compensation claims and managed Integrated Disability Management for Steelcase Inc. for approximately 25 years. She is also a member of a number of state boards and commissions related to workers' compensation and a leader in the Michigan Self-Insurers Assoc. Child was inducted into the Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame in May, 1999.

Ann Clayton

Ann Clayton serves as a senior consultant to the Workers' Compensation Research Institute's CompScope Research Program in addition to working with state workers' compensation agencies and employers to help them apply automated workers' compensation information. Before becoming a consultant, Ms. Clayton worked as the Deputy Director of the WCRI, joining them in 1996 after serving as the director of Florida's workers' compensation system for five years.

Bruce W. Hayden

Bruce Hayden has an extensive background in insurance including senior management roles in specialty workers' compensation companies. He is the Workers' Compensation Leader for Employers Reinsurance Corporation in Overland Park, Kansas, where he is responsible for their direct workers' comp business. His responsibilities include both first dollar insured accounts as well as excess workers' compensation for self-insurers. 

Edward M. Welch

Edward Welch, Professor Emeritus, is the former director of the Workers' Compensation Center for the School of Labor & Industrial Relations at Michigan State University. From 1991 to 1999 he was editor of the newsletter, On Workers' Compensation. He was director of the Michigan Bureau of Workers' Disability Compensation from 1985 through 1990. Prior to that, he was a claimants attorney in Muskegon and Battle Creek, Michigan.

MEDICAL CONSULTANTS

John J. Bernick, MD, PhD

Dr. Bernick is the medical director of Michigan Occupational Health Associates, a clinical occupational medicine practice, and an assistant professor at Wayne State University. He received his BS and MS in microbiology at Wayne State University. Prior to receiving his MD from Wayne State University, he attended the University of Michigan where he completed a PhD in Environmental Health Sciences.

M. Melissa Moon, DO

Dr. Moon graduated from Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1987 and from the University of Michigan residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in 1991. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Moon works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in general adult rehabilitation, IMEs, and musculoskeletal medicine.

Mark J. Upfal, MD

Dr. Upfal is corporate medical director of the Detroit Medical Center Occupational Health Service and an associate professor at Wayne State University. After receiving his BS in Zoology and MPH in Environmental and Industrial Health from the University of Michigan, and prior to receiving his MD from the University of Colorado, he was an industrial hygienist for Hewlett-Packard Company in Loveland, Colorado.