Guardian Group

Dr. Julie Armstrong Joins The Guardian Group as Director of Psychiatric Reporting

Renowned Medical-Legal expert and award-winning educator brings decades of experience to expanding QME and IME management firm.
 

CALIFORNIA, September 16, 2024 – The Guardian Group, a leading provider of Qualified Medical Evaluations (QME), Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), and Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) evaluations in California, today announced the appointment of Dr. Julie Armstrong as Director of Psychiatric Reporting.

 

Dr. Armstrong, a nationally and internationally sought-after Evaluator and Expert Witness, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. A Qualified Medical Evaluator since 2003, she has served as a Content Expert for the California Board of Psychology and is an Expert Witness and Evaluator for the California Board of Registered Nursing and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Dr. Armstrong is also credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.

 

In addition to her extensive clinical experience, Dr. Armstrong is an accomplished educator, having held faculty positions in graduate nursing at California State University, in medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and in continuing professional education for Psychologists and Qualified Medical Evaluators.

 

In her new position, Dr. Armstrong will provide leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the Guardian Group’s psychiatric Qualified Medical Evaluators. She will play a key role in delivering The Guardian Group’s mission to support its member doctors in establishing the highest standard in Med-Legal Reporting.

 

Dr. Rene Nevarez, Chief Clinical Officer and Director of Med-Legal Reporting at The Guardian Group, stated, “Dr. Armstrong’s vast expertise in psychological evaluation and her commitment to excellence in medical-legal reporting will bolster our member doctors’ ability to deliver timely, objective, and well-researched expert medical opinions. We are thrilled to have her onboard.”

 

Dr. Armstrong’s career spans over four decades, beginning as a Registered Nurse in 1984 in inpatient psychiatric care. She earned a Master’s degree in Nursing from UCLA, becoming one of California’s pioneering Clinical Nurse Specialists. In 1998, she completed her Doctorate in Psychology from Pepperdine University, specializing in psychoanalysis and psychological assessments. Her research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has made her a recognized authority on the subject. Since 2010, Dr. Armstrong has focused on the medical-legal arena, specializing in providing expert evaluations for QME cases.

 

The Guardian Group continues to lead in QME and IME services throughout California, utilizing cutting-edge AI-enhanced file management technology to streamline the evaluation process. With a reports team consisting exclusively of medically licensed editors and historians, the firm ensures comprehensive, high-quality med-legal reports delivered efficiently. The Guardian Group’s extensive network includes over 400 examination locations and outreach to more than 7,000 workers’ compensation attorneys and claims adjusters.

 

Dr. Armstrong’s leadership is expected to further empower the Guardian Group’s member doctors to be the evaluators of choice for those seeking just and timely resolutions.