Regents Actions In 69 Professional Discipline Cases

The Board of Regents announced disciplinary actions resulting in the revocation of 3 licenses, surrender of 18 licenses and 2 certificates, and 46 other disciplinary actions. The penalty indicated for each case relates solely to the misconduct set forth in that particular case.

I. REVOCATIONS AND SURRENDERS

Massage Therapy

David Graham Ireland; Massage Therapist; Buffalo, NY 14223; Lic. No. 018042; Cal. No. 30566; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Attempted Forcible Touching.

Nursing 

Denise Kathleen Lippold a/k/a Denise K. Lippold; Registered Professional Nurse; Hamburg, NY 14075; Lic. No. 568186; Cal. No. 29638; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

James Edward Clapper; Licensed Practical Nurse; Bainbridge, NY 13733; Lic. No. 303460; Cal. No. 29719; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Brandon Michael Coburn; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Family Health); Lewisburg, PA 17837; Lic. Nos. 280991, 571255, Cert. No. 305118; Cal. Nos. 31047, 31048, 31049; Application to surrender licenses and certificate granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.

Vivian Lee Chapek a/k/a Vivian Lee Henke; Registered Professional Nurse; Concord, OH 44077; Lic. No. 609914; Cal. No. 31073; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been habitually drunk or being dependent on, or a habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having similar effects in Ohio.

Gigi Andree Spangler a/k/a Gigi Andree Honer a/k/a Gigi Andree Pollo; Registered Professional Nurse; Citrus Heights, CA 95621; Lic. No. 538123; Cal. No. 31122; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Reckless Driving, in the State of California, a misdemeanor, which in New York would constitute Reckless Driving, a misdemeanor.

Heather L. Zynda a/k/a Heather L. Cleversley a/k/a Heather Lynn Moppert; Licensed Practical Nurse; Collins, NY 14034; Lic. No. 232949; Cal. No. 31124; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having practiced the profession of nursing while her license was suspended.

Zulin Paretas; Registered Professional Nurse; El Paso, TX 79912-7064; Lic. No. 417070; Cal. No. 31155; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of practicing the profession of nursing while the ability to practice was impaired by physical disability in the State of Texas.

Jennifer M. Frost; Licensed Practical Nurse; Cortland, NY 13045; Lic. No. 304393; Cal. No. 31158; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of stealing oxycodone.

Natasha Spring Freije; Registered Professional Nurse; Noblesville, IN 46060; Lic. No. 628420; Cal. No. 31163; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of Indiana Conviction.

Michael Terrence Fitzgerald; Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Family Health); Richmond, KY 40475-8739; Lic. No. 517327, Cert. No. 333159; Cal. Nos. 31165, 31166; Application to surrender license and to surrender certificate granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to maintain accurate patient records in the State of Kentucky.

Barbara Smoot; Licensed Practical Nurse; Albany, NY 12206; Lic. No. 095640; Cal. No. 31174; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of patient abuse.

Joan Cathleen Leonard; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Mays Landing, NJ 08330; Lic. Nos. 259569, 582423; Cal. Nos. 31191, 31192; Application to surrender licenses granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to disclose previous criminal convictions on her initial application for licensed practical nursing and registered professional nursing licensure in the State of New York.

Gbolabo O. Adetunji; Licensed Practical Nurse; Holly Springs, NC 27540; Lic. No. 302173; Cal. No. 31237; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of neglecting a patient under and in need of immediate professional care, without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of such care in North Carolina.

Kathleen Kelley Becker a/k/a Kathleen Anne Kelley; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Carson City, NV 89706; Lic. Nos. 089173, 242958; Cal. Nos. 31239, 31240; Application to surrender licenses granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of having been convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Above the Legal Limit, a misdemeanor in the State of Nevada, and placing a pillow over a patient’s face and slapping said patient in the face.

Todd Cameron Justice; Registered Professional Nurse; Parker, CO 80138; Lic. No. 701982; Cal. No. 31243; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of, in the State of Florida, removing the controlled substance Ativan, morphine sulfate, Versed, hydromorphone and Valium from a hospital’s medication dispensing system on more than 20 occasions, for at least 14 patients, some of whom did not have physician’s orders for the medication, and failing to document the administration or waste of said controlled substances and failing to disclose on his New York registration renewal application that he was disciplined by the States of Florida, Washington, Colorado, Georgia and California.

Pharmacy

Ira J. Gross; Pharmacist; Stormville, NY 12582-4000, Bay Shore, NY 11706-8105; Lic. No. 032504; Cal. No. 29437; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Dustin Blaze Brandon a/k/a Dustin B. Brandon; Pharmacist; South Hempstead, NY 11550; Lic. No. 058175; Cal. No. 31236; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Assault in the 1st Degree, a class D felony, Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree, a class D felony and Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or Alcohol, an unclassified misdemeanor.

II. OTHER REGENTS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Architecture

Arctone Architect, P.C.; Smithtown, NY 11787-1705; Cal. No. 30726; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: $3,500 fine.

Olusoji Reuben Ojeyemi; Architect: Smithtown, NY 11787-1705; Lic. No. 023388; Cal. No. 30727; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $3,500 fine.

Massage Therapy

Diego R. Velazco; Massage Therapist; Bayside, NY 11364-1136; Lic. No. 025168; Cal. No. 30929; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 months actual suspension, 18 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Mental Health Practitioners

Stephen Slade Tien a/k/a Steven Slade Tien; Psychoanalyst; Ithaca, NY 14850-2129; Lic. No. 000693; Cal. No. 30454; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 3 years suspension, execution of suspension stayed, 3 years probation.

Midwifery

Eileen Stewart a/k/a Eileen S. Ort; Buffalo, NY 14222; Lic. No. 000367; Cal. No. 29734; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 30 months actual suspension and until successful completion of specified course of retraining, 3 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Buffalo Midwifery Services, PLLC; Buffalo, NY 14222; Cal. No. 30538; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year probation, $2,500 fine.

Nursing

Jennifer Lynn Winn; Licensed Practical Nurse; Canastota, NY 13032; Lic. No. 307552; Cal. No. 29444; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 2 years suspension, execution of suspension stayed, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Amanda Rose Solem-Deinzer; Registered Professional Nurse; Collins, NY 14034-9708; Lic. No. 670077; Cal. No. 29457; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Madison Alease Napier; Registered Professional Nurse; Lancaster, NY 14086; Lic. No. 635686; Cal. No. 29686; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for 1 month and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Nicoel L. Rinehart a/k/a Nicoel L. Cassidy; Licensed Practical Nurse; Castile, NY 14427; Lic. No. 320798; Cal. No. 30208; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for no less than 3 months and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

Kevin David Renaud; Registered Professional Nurse; Franklin, MA 02038-1257; Lic. No. 582801; Cal. No. 30252; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $500 fine.

Andrew Daniel Whiting; Registered Professional Nurse; Memphis, NY 13112; Lic. No. 538779; Cal. No. 30305; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Leah Pilossoph; Registered Professional Nurse; Brooklyn, NY 11231; Lic. No. 618522; Cal. No. 30704; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.

Janet Phillips; Registered Professional Nurse; Rochester, NY 14620; Lic. No. 666929; Cal. No. 30746; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Tammy M. Palumbo a/k/a Tammy Palumbo-Hairston; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Apache Junction, AZ 85119; Lic. Nos. 155900, 355999; Cal. Nos. 30759, 30760; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspensions for not less than 3 months and until fit to practice, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $500 fine.

Deborah A. Dauphinee; Registered Professional Nurse; Rochester, NY 14616; Lic. No. 490878; Cal. No. 30822; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence upon return to practice.

Trina L. Grimmer; Registered Professional Nurse; Byron, NY 14422; Lic. No. 591748; Cal. No. 30828; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

Darline Delmond; Licensed Practical Nurse; Philadelphia, PA 19116; Lic. No. 305298; Cal. No. 30846; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 months actual suspension, 18 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $500 fine.

Leah M. Biggins; Licensed Practical Nurse; Rochester, NY 14617; Lic. No. 276230; Cal. No. 30851; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension for not less than 2 months and until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Teona D. Martin; Licensed Practical Nurse; Geneva, NY 14456; Lic. No. 282960; Cal. No. 30867; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $250 fine.

Katharine E. McGough; Registered Professional Nurse; Geneva, NY 14456; Lic. No. 695664; Cal. No. 30873; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Sharon Elizabeth Gambrell; Registered Professional Nurse; Lehigh Acres, FL 33971; Lic. No. 620767; Cal. No. 30886; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 months actual suspension, 21 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $500 fine.

Craig Otto Horstmann; Registered Professional Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14222; Lic. No. 623540; Cal. No. 30890; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

Christopher Young; Registered Professional Nurse; Brooklyn, NY 11224; Lic. No. 641824; Cal. No. 30898; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice, $500 fine.

Ericka Lee Brath; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Williamsville, NY 14221; Lic. Nos. 196622, 482990; Cal. Nos. 30907, 30908; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Valerie Ann Symon; Registered Professional Nurse; Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; Lic. No. 688699; Cal. No. 30911; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Bonnie Hoffman; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Gilbertsville, NY 13776; Lic. Nos. 194086, 448032; Cal. Nos. 30919, 30913; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 months actual suspensions, 21 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Edward Michael Grudus; Registered Professional Nurse; Columbus, OH 43215; Lic. No. 422357; Cal. No. 30923; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York.

Ellen Mae Schneider; Registered Professional Nurse; Eros, LA 71238; Lic. No. 540097; Cal. No. 30940; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York.

Donna L. Ashline; Licensed Practical Nurse; Plattsburgh, NY 12901; Lic. No. 283395; Cal. No. 30955; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Julianne Alsante; Registered Professional Nurse; Greenwich, NY 12834; Lic. No. 370111; Cal. No. 30961; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Gary Richard Kline; Registered Professional Nurse; Montour Falls, NY 14865; Lic. No. 359895; Cal. No. 30979; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Jewdith Cullar; Licensed Practical Nurse; Bronx, NY 10469-2921; Lic. No. 299319; Cal. No. 30991; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Zachary Lawrence Benjamin a/k/a Zachary L. Benjamin; Registered Professional Nurse; Fort Wayne, IN 46805-3034; Lic. No. 659269; Cal. No. 31059; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York.

Amanda Nicole Shook; Licensed Practical Nurse; Hudson, NY 12534; Lic. No. 319146; Cal. No. 31075; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 months actual suspension, 21 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

Psychology

Stephen Slade Tien a/k/a Steven Slade Tien; Psychologist; Ithaca, NY 14850-2129; Lic. No. 009632; Cal. No. 30453; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 3 years suspension, execution of suspension stayed, 3 years probation.

Public Accountancy

Douglas Patrick Barton; Certified Public Accountant; Brownstown, PA 17508-0681; Lic. No. 097005; Cal. No. 31238; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year actual suspension, 1 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $3,000 fine.

Respiratory Therapy

Victoria Rose Toomajian; Respiratory Therapist; Clifton Park, NY 12065; Lic. No. 009682; Cal. No. 30847; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Social Work

Lisa Marie Sokolowski; Licensed Master Social Worker; Cicero, NY 13039-8316; Lic. No. 083919; Cal. No. 30722; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 months actual suspension, 22 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.

Bethany Diane Burke; Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Livonia, NY 14487; Lic. Nos. 073965, 078141; Cal. Nos. 30789, 30790; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Veterinary Medicine

Gerald J. Balonek; Veterinarian; Rochester, NY 14622; Lic. No. 003657; Cal. No. 30950; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.

Alison Joy Abramson; Veterinarian; Scarsdale, NY 10583; Lic. No. 009372; Cal. No. 31072; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation.