New York State Education Department

Office of the Professions


Summaries of Regents Actions on Professional Misconduct and Discipline
April 28, 1995

Terms under which this information is provided.

Chiropractic - Dentistry - Engineering and Land Surveying - Massage Therapy - Nursing - Optometry - Pharmacy - Podiatry - Psychology - Public Accountancy - Social Work - Veterinary Medicine

Chiropractic


Andrew S. Lacerenza, Lindenhurst, NY.
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 002379; Cal. No. 10743
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of having made deliberate misrepresentations to insurance companies in order to obtain payments, and having willfully made or filed a false report with the insurance companies.

Amy Anmei P. Wong, East Meadow, NY.
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 004827; Cal. No. 14515
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of ordering excessive treatment not warranted by the condition of patients.

Guy John Villano, New York, NY.
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 006003; Cal. No. 15268
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of willfully making a false report.

Dentistry

Kenneth Levene, Armonk, NY.
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 029539; Cal. No. 12023
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges involving unlicensed persons performing dental work that included the placing of braces on the patient's teeth.

Richard A. Haimes, West Islip, NY.
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 031996; Cal. No. 15041
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995 (see also July 1994)
Action: $2,500 fine, probation 1 year under various terms to commence and become effective on July 27, 1997.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to maintain records of controlled substances, failing to promptly notify the New York State Department of Health that a proceeding brought against him by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration alleging controlled substance violations was settled; and failing to enter in his dental records the issuance of a total of twenty-two official New York State prescriptions for two patients.

Edgar Barton, Bethpage, NY.
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 020571; Cal. No. 15258
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of performing unauthorized dental work.

Bernard William O'Hara, Mooers, NY.
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 022463; Cal. No. 15253
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of being convicted of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony.

Engineering and Land Surveying

Robert C. Burgher, Phoenicia, NY.
Profession: Land Surveyor; Lic. No. 036689; Cal. No. 13538
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of failing to complete a survey and failing to properly supervise an employee.

Massage Therapy

Albert Francis Leung, Teaneck, NJ.
Profession: Massage Therapist; Lic. No. 001882; Cal. No. 15199
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of receiving a fee to place advertisements for locations where he knew unlicensed individuals would practice massage.

Nursing

Charles O'Neal, Wyandanch, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 291296; Cal. No. 10667
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 3 year suspension, execution of last 24 months of suspension stayed, probation for last 24 months.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of having placed a patient in a tub of running water, failing to insure that the temperature of the water was safe, and having placed the patient in such a manner that the patient's head was in close proximity to the metal spigot, the patient thereafter being diagnosed with first and second degree burns which caused his death.

Rosemary P. Powers Greco, Valley Stream, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 237207; Cal. No. 12614
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Suspension until successfully completes a course of treatment - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of practicing the profession while her ability to practice was impaired by alcohol and drugs, involving respondent practicing the profession under the influence of wine and Valium while on duty.

Lynne E. Torres, Schenectady, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 161531; Cal. No. 14487
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995 (see also December 1995)
Action: 4 year suspension, execution of last 2 years of suspension stayed, probation for last 2 years.
Summary: Licensee was found to have been convicted of Petit Larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Hester M. Claudio, St. James, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 400563; Cal. No. 12519
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to call a physician and failing to properly chart a patient's condition.

Jennifer Elizabeth McKoy, Brooklyn, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 203598, 420740; Cal. Nos. 14504, 14505
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of numerous medication administration errors.

Cheri Ann Hammer, Orchard Park, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 447829; Cal. No. 14727
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to document the neurological assessment of a patient and failing to document the administration of medications to patients on four occasions.

Janet Marie Passariella, Depew, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 109490; Cal. No. 14898
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of willfully making a false report.

Jacquine Catherine Roberts, Goshen, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 309747; Cal. No. 15048
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Partial suspension in certain area until successfully completes certain course, probation 2 years under various terms to commence if and when return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to record the administration of medication to patients.

Larry G. Lee, San Francisco, CA.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 412497; Cal. No. 15066
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year under various terms to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of recording that he had performed assessments when he had not.

Elaina Frances Turner, Watkins Glen, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 219603; Cal. No. 15144
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995 (see also February 2003)
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of Driving While Intoxicated.

Crystal L. Olmstead, Felts Mills, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 225618; Cal. No. 15150
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to report a fallen patient and to document the incident.

Raymond Charles Crouse, Peru, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 184497, 389239; Cal. Nos. 15152, 15151
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995 (see also July 2001)
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of committing medication errors.

Heather Lee Gibson, Peru, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 454670; Cal. No. 15157
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of committing six medication administration errors.

Vicky Thompson Smith, Homer, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 380020; Cal. No. 15163
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, 50 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of examining the medical records of a former patient of the hospital where respondent was employed, and revealing to third parties, the results of the examination of the records, without the patient's consent.

Patricia Barton Lawfer, Plattsburgh, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 236225; Cal. No. 15164
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of medication errors.

John H. Whalen, Oswego, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 164293; Cal. No. 15279
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year under various terms to commence if and when return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to administer medication to four patients in accordance with the physician's orders.

Felicia A. Rottino, Miller Place, NY.
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 115563, 365999; Cal. Nos. 15293, 15294
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of indicating on a physician's order sheet for a patient that she had received a verbal order from a physician to change medication, when she had not received the order; and, indicating on a physician's order sheet for a patient that she had received a telephone order for medication for a patient, when the order was for a different patient.

Penny P. McCarty, Elmira, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 330589; Cal. No. 15337
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 3 years, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of diverting Demerol from a patient's I.V. line for her own use.

Ronald L. Weiler, Denver, CO.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 267816; Cal. No. 14881
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of violating probation.

Audrey M. Harrison, Watervliet, NY.
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 275631; Cal. No. 15296
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of wilfully making false reports and failing to maintain accurate patient records relating to controlled substances.

Optometry

Harry Berenholtz, Flushing, NY.
Profession: Optometrist; Lic. No. 001125; Cal. No. 15282
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Indefinite suspension of not less than 3 months and until fit to practice - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of intentionally rubbing a patient's breasts during the course of an optometric examination.

Pharmacy

Prescription Headquarters Forest Hills, Inc., 106-24 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY.
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 017255; Cal. No. 13049
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: $2,000 fine, probation 2 years.
Summary: Retail Pharmacy was found guilty of charges of holding for sale misbranded drugs and not maintaining repacking records.
Prescription Headquarters, Inc., 40-06 Main Street, Flushing, NY.
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 015534; Cal. No. 13050
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: $2,000 fine, probation 2 years.
Summary: Retail Pharmacy was found guilty of charges of having dispensing pharmacists routinely failing to sign printouts of all prescriptions filled and refilled each day, dispensing prescriptions routinely not packed in child-resistant containers, holding for sale misbranded drugs, and not maintaining repacking records.

Benjamin Israeli, Woodmere, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 028492; Cal. No. 13051
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,500 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of holding for sale misbranded drugs, not maintaining repacking records, and failing routinely to sign printouts of all the prescriptions filled and refilled each day.

Michael J. Bedosky, Whitestone, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 022416; Cal. No. 13053
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of having dispensing pharmacists routinely failing to sign printouts of all prescriptions filled and refilled each day, dispensing prescriptions routinely not packed in child-resistant containers, holding for sale misbranded drugs, and not maintaining repacking records, and negligence on more than one occasion to the extent of respondent and employee pharmacists, as respondent knew or should have know, routinely failing to endorse on the face of their prescriptions their signatures.

William G. Innerst, Homer, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 024892; Cal. No. 13215
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,750 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of violating various pharmacy violations.

Zahydat Madojutola Dawodu a/k/a Tola Dawodu, Somerville, MA.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 037748; Cal. No. 14075
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 24 month suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months under various terms, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of dispensing the wrong chemotherapy drug to a hospital patient on two consecutive days.

Eugene Clinton Holman, Jr., Hollis, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 019067; Cal. No. 14730
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, 50 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to provide adequate supervision of a registered establishment where he was employed as supervising pharmacist which was open for business even though it was not under the immediate supervision and management of a licensed pharmacist at that time.

Robert E. Hall, Canandaigua, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 025307; Cal. No. 14816
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: $2,000 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of dispensing a different strength of a non-controlled drug than that which was prescribed; dispensing the wrong non-controlled drug; and mislabelling the container in which said drug was dispensed.

Robert A. Jordan, West Amherst, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 029216; Cal. No. 15044
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine, 100 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of dispensing for other than a legitimate medical purpose a quantity of a substance containing Phenformin.

Pramodkumar M. Tanna, Jericho, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 031075; Cal. No. 15171
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of refilling a prescription for a controlled substance three times, each time earlier than seven days prior to the date he previously dispensed supply, which would have been exhausted if used in conformity with the directions for use.

Nicholas Avenue Pharmacy, Inc. d/b/a Bello Pharmacy, 179 St. Nicholas Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 021646; Cal. No. 15172
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Retail Pharmacy admitted to charges of refilling a prescription for a controlled substance three times, each time earlier than seven days prior to the date he previously dispensed supply, which would have been exhausted if used in conformity with the directions for use.

Mohammad R. Qureshi, Plandome Manor, NY.
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 031923; Cal. No. 15188
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995 (see also June 1997 and July 16, 1999)
Action: Revocation, execution of revocation stayed, probation 2 years, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of assisting in the reporting of a false purchase price of a home to the Internal Revenue Service.

Podiatry

Robert S. Bronstein, Amherst, NY.
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 003671; Cal. No. 15220
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of last 20 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years under various terms, 100 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of assisting in the reporting of a false instrument for filling.

Psychology

Monique Adrienne Belton, Huntington, NY.
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 007915; Cal. No. 12887
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Censure and Reprimand.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of treating a patient with whom she had previously engaged in conduct of a sexual nature.

Samuel M. Seltzer, Lockport, NY.
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 001663; Cal. No. 15363
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of improperly touching and making abusive and/or lewd remarks to women being examined with regard to their eligibility for Social Security Benefits.

Public Accountancy

Joseph R. Emmett, Dix Hills, NY.
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 033256; Cal. No. 15190
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: 24 month suspension, execution of last 15 months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months under various terms, $5,000 fine, 50 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of willfully failing to file an individual income tax return.

William Yaner, Flushing, NY.
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. (Cert.) No. 012807; Cal. No. 14379
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Application to surrender license (certificate) granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of performing accounting services during the period of suspension, including the signing and filing of extension application with the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of a client.

Social Work

Daniel N. Mottola, Bay Shore, NY.
Profession: Social Worker; Lic. No. 042251; Cal. No. 15046
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: Suspension for not less than 6 months and until fit to practice; upon termination of suspension, probation 3 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of encouraging a client to appear in a pornographic movie.

Veterinary Medicine

Scott Simon, New York, NY.
Profession: Veterinary; Lic. No. 004690; Cal. No. 15292
Regents Action Date: April 28, 1995
Action: $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to indicate to the owner of a cat the severity of the cat's condition.

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Last Updated: March 21, 2003
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