Plaintiff and defense attorneys across the country rely on IMS Legal Strategies’ Certified Life Care Planners to support their traumatic injury cases. As colleagues on this expert team, Denise Atwood, RN, JD, CPHRM, CLCP, and Jennifer Wall, MSPAS, PA-C, CLCP, CGCM, provide the medical and financial clarity needed to promote optimal outcomes. Their clinical expertise, combined with a natural ability to build trust and collaborate with attorneys and healthcare providers, makes them valuable partners throughout the litigation process.
Denise’s background in pediatric and adult nursing helps her uncover critical details that offer valuable insights to both plaintiff and defense counsel. As a practicing, board-certified physician assistant, Jennifer applies current standards of critical care to every report she prepares. Together, they exemplify IMS’s integrated approach to advisory services, helping legal teams build stronger strategies and navigate high-stakes disputes with confidence.
Continue reading to learn what drives Denise and Jennifer to make a difference.
Denise Atwood, Life Care Planning Expert
Q: How did you get into this industry and find IMS?
A: In the early 2000s, I began doing chart reviews for a life care planner, which introduced me to the field. Years later, I attended an online webinar by the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP) with a presentation by Amy MacKenzie, PhD, RN, CLCP, CCM. I reached out to her via LinkedIn, and after we connected, I applied for a certified life care planning position at MacKenzie Life Care Planning—which has since joined IMS.
Q: What do you like most about your department and role?
A: I appreciate the supportive nature of our expert Life Care Planning & Rebuttals team. It is a collaborative environment where I feel comfortable sharing lessons learned and areas for improvement. The feedback I receive is constructive and non-threatening, which fosters professional growth.
Q: What special strengths and unique skills do you offer clients and colleagues?
A: With more than three decades of experience in both pediatric and adult nursing, I bring a comprehensive clinical perspective to my work as a life care planner. I use this background to thoroughly summarize the evaluee’s medical history and treatment, and I collaborate closely with medical providers to assess future care needs.
Q: Would you like to share any stories, memories, or accomplishments?
A: To date, all but two matters I have worked on were resolved before trial, without the need for deposition or testimony. This outcome saves our clients both time and money, and I consider it a testament to the strength and clarity of our life care plans.
Q: What has been your favorite case to work on so far?
A: I especially enjoy cases where I have the opportunity to interview the injured individual. These conversations often reveal important details not previously shared with their attorneys—such as prior accidents, use of mobility devices, reluctance toward further surgery, or the presence of certified therapy or support animals. Building trust during these interviews creates a more complete and accurate life care plan.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors?
A: IMS offers a broad range of services and solutions for many types of dispute resolution. When it comes to personal injury cases, seamless collaboration among our medical expert witnesses, life care planners, vocational experts, and economists gives clients a holistic view of medical and financial needs. Should the case proceed to trial, we can also provide expert testimony and assist in connecting clients with strategy, design, and presentation support.
Q: Do you have any predictions or comments on industry trends?
A: I believe the responsible use of artificial intelligence will be essential to enhancing our work product and life care plans. Leveraging AI can help reduce billable hours for tasks such as deposition summaries, helping clients to gain efficiency in a rapidly evolving market.
Jennifer Wall, Life Care Planning Expert
Q: How did you get into this industry and find IMS?
A: I was fortunate to know a close friend who founded her own life care planning firm. Though hesitant to leave my role as a physician assistant (now called a physician associate) in an adrenaline-fueled hospital environment, the impact of COVID-19 and caring for my own young child led me to complete my CLCP certification—and I have been grateful ever since. Now, I balance occasional hospital shifts with full-time life care planning, staying clinically sharp while bringing a practical, empathetic lens to each life care plan.
From my first virtual meeting with the MacKenzie Life Care Planning team, and more so when we met in person, I knew I had found the right place. I am thrilled that we can now serve clients even further as part of IMS.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department and/or role?
A: As a life care planner, I value the diversity of cases I review and the chance to educate attorneys and plaintiffs while grounding each recommendation in research. I also enjoy connecting with new attorneys and learning from their perspectives, all within IMS’s supportive and collaborative environment.
Often the first expert to fully assess a case, I have seen how meaningful it is to plaintiffs when I understand their medical history and relate to their injury through my experience as a healthcare provider. That connection builds trust and reinforces the impact of thoughtful, experience-based planning.
Q: What special strengths and unique skills do you offer clients and colleagues?
A: As a board-certified physician assistant with 25 years of experience across specialties like emergency medicine, neurosurgery, pediatric and adult reconstruction, and traumatic burn care, I bring a broad clinical foundation to life care planning. I continue to practice in critical care and stay current with standards of care, which is essential for developing credible, evidence-based plans.
My clinical background also enables me to conduct in-person plaintiff examinations and interviews while collaborating remotely with physicians. This hybrid model ensures thorough evaluations and efficient coordination, offering both medical depth and a personal connection with the provider.
Q: Would you like to share any stories, memories, or accomplishments?
A: Having worked extensively with pediatric trauma patients, I consider it an honor to meet young plaintiffs in person to review their injuries. One of the most meaningful moments in my work is when a parent tells me, “That’s the first time my child has allowed someone other than us or their doctors to touch their scars.” Moments like this underscore the importance of empathy, experience, and trust when working with children and families navigating the aftermath of traumatic injury.
Q: What has been your favorite case to work on so far?
A: Some of the most meaningful cases are when I connect personally with plaintiffs or their families—educating them about the injury and sharing resources they may not have known were available. These moments reinforce the impact of compassionate, informed guidance on the recovery journey.
I find it equally rewarding to uncover key medical details that shift the trajectory of a case. I have been fortunate to work with highly reputable defense attorneys on cases involving catastrophically injured plaintiffs. In several instances, they have trusted my clinical judgment to advocate for essential care items overlooked by the opposing life care planner—ensuring the plaintiff’s needs are still met, even in adversarial settings.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: The strength of IMS’s life care planning service line lies in our team’s diverse expertise. Collaborating with colleagues who specialize in physical therapy, vocational rehabilitation, speech therapy, and nursing broadens my own clinical perspective while enhancing the quality and relevance of each life care plan. Our peer review process and rigorous proofing protocols ensure every plan is accurate, defensible, and tailored to help attorneys achieve the best possible case outcome.
Q: Do you have any predictions or comments on industry trends?
A: AI will inevitably impact every industry, including ours. While this technology promises to boost productivity, it is essential that we approach these claims with a healthy dose of skepticism—particularly when it comes to the accuracy and credibility of the work we produce. In life care planning, precision and trust are non-negotiable. Any tool that compromises those standards, no matter how efficient, must be critically evaluated before being integrated into our processes.
Learn More
We are grateful to Denise and Jennifer for bringing clinical expertise and a collaborative, caring nature to every case. Their work reflects IMS’s commitment to “operate as one” and consistently deliver excellence.
Explore the links below to meet our full team and learn more about IMS’s culture and career opportunities.
