Regents Actions In 39 Professional Discipline Cases And 2 Restoration Petitions

The Board of Regents announced disciplinary actions resulting in the revocation of 3 licenses, the surrender of 5 licenses, and 31 other disciplinary actions.  The penalty indicated for each case relates solely to the misconduct set forth in that particular case.  In addition, the Board acted upon 2 restoration petitions.

I.  REVOCATIONS AND SURRENDERS

CHIROPRACTIC

Sean Paul Trujillo; St. Augustine, FL 32092; Lic. No. 009294; Cal. No. 25643; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Health Care Fraud, a felony.

MIDWIFERY

Jennifer Lynn Johnson; Philadelphia, MS 39350; Lic. No. 001186; Cal. No. 26177; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of being dependent on, or a habitual user of, the prescription-required, controlled substance methylphenidate.

NURSING

William Douglas; Licensed Practical Nurse; West Islip, NY 11795; Lic. No. 236107; Cal. No. 25826; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of stealing a Duragesic patch, a controlled substance, from a patient’s supply of Duragesic patches.

Lauren Y. Young; Licensed Practical Nurse; Riverhead, NY 11901; Lic. No. 167407; Cal. No. 26011; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Falsifying Business Records in the 2nd Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY

Mark Stephen Camarata; Certified Public Accountant; Rochester, NY 14624; Lic. No. 054154; Cal. No. 25001; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

James Michael Werner; Certified Public Accountant; Port Washington, NY 11050; Lic. No. 080065; Cal. No. 26238; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of violating the terms of probation imposed by the Board of Regents.

SOCIAL WORK

Boris Mirochnik; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Staten Island, NY 10312; Lic. No. 065562; Cal. No. 25808; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

II. OTHER REGENTS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

ARCHITECTURE

Albert O. Montoya; Bronx, NY 10468; Lic. No. 018684; Cal. No. 26173; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $10,000 fine.

Pastor E. Medina; Carle Place, NY 11514; Lic. No. 026089; Cal. No. 26179; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,500 fine.

CHIROPRACTIC

Heather Teresa Pearman; Pelham, NY 10803; Lic. No. 009569; Cal. No. 26132; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

ENGINEERING AND LAND SURVEYING

James M. Kernan; Professional Engineer; Oriskany, NY 13424-9550; Lic. No.  053626; Cal. No. 25482; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: $5,000 fine, 1 year suspension.

Mark Farruqui; Professional Engineer; Huntington Station, NY 11746; Lic. No. 074113; Cal. No. 25622; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 12 month actual suspension, 12 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, 100 hours public service, $20,000 fine.

NURSING

Denise Griffith-Heyen a/k/a Denise Griffith; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Hauppauge, NY 11788; Lic. Nos. 116891, 292984; Cal. Nos. 25813, 25812; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $750 fine.

Shannon M. Bernhardt a/k/a Shannon Bredesen; Licensed Practical Nurse; Victor, NY 14564; Lic. No. 271781; Cal. No. 26051; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Loretta Joan Martines; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Ronkonkoma, NY 11779; Lic. Nos. 275888, 551999; Cal. Nos. 26058, 26095; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Katherine Smeland-Pebler; Registered Professional Nurse; Ellenville, NY 12428; Lic. No. 492065; Cal. No. 26124; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

William Harry Miller, Jr.; Licensed Practical Nurse; Oneida, NY 13421-1812; Lic. No. 285270; Cal. No. 26136; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for no less than 6 months and until mentally fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Catherine Theresa Shea; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Patchogue, NY 11772; Lic. Nos. 209241, 426008; Cal. Nos. 26147, 26148; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Patricia Lynn Brennan; Licensed Practical Nurse; Schuylerville, NY 12871; Lic. No. 238721; Cal. No. 26165; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Paula J. Spinelli; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Bayside, NY 11361-2535; Lic. Nos. 179418, 396632; Cal. Nos. 26169, 26170; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,500 fine.

Elizabeth M. O’Brien; Registered Professional Nurse; New York, NY 10009; Lic. No. 243886; Cal. No. 26174; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 24 months suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to run concurrent with 24 month period of suspension.

Dusty Gail Pedersen; Registered Professional Nurse; Scotia, NY 12302; Lic. No. 483550; Cal. No. 26189; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

OPHTHALMIC DISPENSING

Stuart Jay Freilich; Merrick, NY 11566; Lic. No. 005715; Cal. No. 26222; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.

PHARMACY

Nisar Rehman; Pharmacist; Garden City Park, NY 11040; Lic. No. 038486; Cal. No. 25453; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $5,000 fine.

Fauzia & Maher, Inc. d/b/a Rex Pharmacy; Pharmacy; South Ozone Park, NY 11420; Reg. No. 016400; Cal. No. 25466; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $5,000 fine.

Kim M. Zitkus; Pharmacist; Huntington Station, NY 11746; Lic. No. 049347; Cal. No. 26126; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.

Mitchell Allen Lavenda; Pharmacist; Sea Cliff, NY 11579; Lic. No. 040191; Cal. No. 26133; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 month actual suspension, 22 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.

Gregory A. Scott; Pharmacist; Hauppauge, NY 11788; Lic. No. 032740; Cal. No. 26172; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 month actual suspension, 21 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation, $1,000 fine.

PSYCHOLOGY

Bella Dorman; Brooklyn, NY 11234; Lic. No. 016309; Cal. No. 25935; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 2 year suspension.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY

Gary David Kiman; Certified Public Accountant; Roslyn, NY 11576-3117; Lic. No. 047175; Cal. No. 26212; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY

Thomas Hendricks; Respiratory Therapist; Selden, NY 11784; Lic. No. 003625; Cal. No. 26130; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 4 month actual suspension, 20 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation.

SOCIAL WORK

Maureen McGovern; Licensed Clinical Social Worker; New York, NY 10013; Lic. No. 023124; Cal. No. 26168; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation, $500 fine.

VETERINARY MEDICINE

Richard Charles Mather II; Veterinarian; Grove City, OH 43123-8972; Lic. No. 011320; Cal. No. 26223; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine payable within 3 months.

III.  RESTORATIONS

The Board of Regents voted on July 16, 2012 to grant the application for restoration of thephysician license of Guido Spangher. Dr. Spangher’s license was originally surrendered May 9, 2001.

The Board of Regents voted on July 16, 2012 to deny the application for restoration of thephysician license of Seshagiri Rao Vavilikolanu. Dr. Vavilikolanu’s license was originally surrendered November 20, 2001.