New York State Education Department

Office of the Professions


Summaries of Regents Actions on Professional Misconduct and Discipline
February 7, 1996

Terms under which this information is provided.

Chiropractic - Dentistry - Engineering and Land Surveying - Nursing - Pharmacy - Physical Therapy - Podiatry - Public Accountancy - Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Chiropractic

Michael David Rand, Rego Park, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 002685; Cal. No. 15840
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $4,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of submitting numerous insurance claim forms for chiropractic services for a patient when no services were rendered.

Harris Cohen, Middle Island, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 022362; Cal. No. 15849
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having a conviction for mail fraud, a Federal crime.

Dentistry

Leo Bernard Szyferblatt, Goshen, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 036950; Cal. No. 13490
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation, $15,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges that he informed a patient that he had provided a permanent bridge when he had provided a temporary bridge, submitted a fraudulent insurance claim, made a false report, and failed to respond within the time limit to a State Education Department request for a patient record.

Larry Stuart Waldman, Middletown, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 028508; Cal. No. 14081
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of a charge of wilfully verbally abusing a patient.

Mark I. Kaufman, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 038487; Cal. No. 14925
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failure to detect, diagnose, and inform a patient of a periodontal condition.

William J. Savran, Jamaica Estates, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 029032; Cal. No. 15706
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 24 month suspension, execution of last 20 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having a conviction for mail fraud, a Federal crime.

Arthur Zuckerman, New York, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 022123; Cal. No. 15850
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $3,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of failing to confirm that the information submitted to insurance companies was accurate.

Aaron Weiss, Far Rockaway, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 021349; Cal. No. 15899
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest a charge that he indicated to a patient that there was no need for periodontal treatment when he had not thoroughly examined the patient.

Professional Engineering and Land Surveying

Howard Russell Schlieder, Ithaca, NY
Profession: Land Surveyor; Lic. No. 043780; Cal. No. 15803
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to charges of failing to properly search county records for a land survey and affixing his name and seal to a map he did not prepare without making a written evaluation of said work.

Nursing

Debbie J. Van Norstrand, Sound Beach, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 417294; Cal. No. 11872
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of having little knowledge or concern for the status of patients under her care on more than one occasion, and failing to maintain accurate records.

Deborah A. Casale, Miller Place, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 313593; Cal. No. 12734
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, required to successfully complete a certain course, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of a charge of verbally abusing a patient and verbally and physically abusing another patient.

Annie Jean Murdoch a/k/a Jean M. Ewing a/k/a Jean Ewing, Churchville, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 216409; Cal. No. 15721
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having a conviction for the crime of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony.

John M. Brenton, New York, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 306268; Cal. No. 14332
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Indefinite suspension for no less than 18 months and until successfully participates in a course of therapy and treatment, probation 2 years to commence upon termination of suspension.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of falsifying a record, writing prescriptions, unscheduled visiting of a patient at home, failing to leave a patient's home when requested, and giving medications to a patient that had been prescribed to another patient.

Karen M. Baran a/k/a Karen Marie Stevens, Auburn, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 195008; Cal. No. 14749
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, 25 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted that she is unable to successfully defend against the charge of falsely indicating that a glucose test had been performed on a patient.

Virginia E. Swift a/k/a Virginia E. Lippe, Baton Rouge, LA
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 226208, 451435; Cal. Nos. 14918, 14919
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of incorrectly transcribing a physician's order, committing a medication administration error, inaccurately charting the medication administration, failing to notify the patient's physician of the error, and failing to complete an incident report related to the medication error.

Colleen Marie Mahoney, Hamburg, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 221659, 445677; Cal. Nos. 15266, 15267
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of falsifying hospital records to cover up a medication administration error.

Laurel Ann West, Ogdensburg, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 401325; Cal. No. 15330;
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996 (see also December 1997)
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation one year.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having been found guilty by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances.

Angela Jeannean Runions, Syracuse, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 441206; Cal. No. 15418
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice in New York State, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of making four medication errors/omissions and did not contest a charge that she took a sample drug from a physician's office without authorization.

Alison Abrosh a/k/a Alison L. Abrosh, Far Rockaway, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 157583, 348564; Cal. Nos. 15475, 15476
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine, 50 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of fraudulently obtaining the non-controlled drug Levothyroxine on five occasions.

Beatrice Ukuta, Bronx, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 246596; Cal. No. 15626
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of committing two medication administration errors.

Jane W. Morgan, Hamburg, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 064920; Cal. No. 15763
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Suspension until successfully participates in a course of therapy and treatment, upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence if and when return to practice of nursing in New York State.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having been found by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances.

Robert S. Jones, Sherburne, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 276107; Cal. No. 15776
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Partial suspension in area of medication administration until successfully completes course in medication administration, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to charge of committing numerous medication administration errors.

Kathleen A. Holler a/k/a Kathleen A. Tiedeman a/k/a Kathleen A. Mayer a/k/a Kathleen A. Beitz, No. Tonawanda, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 175037, 404494; Cal. Nos. 15793, 15794
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charges of having a conviction for the crime of Forgery in the Third Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor; having been found by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances; and submitting a false application for employment.

John Robert Schaffer, Tupper Lake, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 200419, 446762; Cal. Nos. 15809, 15810
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of patient abandonment.

Barbara Dolland Landa, Avon Park, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 163568; Cal. No. 15841
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Suspension until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of over-medicating a patient in her care.

Michele Therese Anderson, Augusta, GA
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 235881; Cal. No. 15886
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, upon service of suspension, probation 3 years to commence if and when she returns to practice of nursing in New York State.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of stealing a patient's credit card.

Pharmacy


Kenneth C. Brown, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 029443; Cal. No. 14419
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996 (see also September 2000)
Action: Probation 1 year, $600 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of failing to employ an auxiliary system to document prescriptions when the computerized prescription system was not functioning, offering for sale or holding for sale outdated drugs, failing to properly identify generic products dispensed, maintaining a cluttered prescription counter and dirty shelving and drug stock, holding for sale drugs that were misbranded, and failing to prominently display the full name of the registrant on an exterior sign.

Corona Drugs, Inc., 353 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 018024; Cal. No. 14420
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Retail Pharmacy was found guilty of charges that it failed to surrender the certificate of registration when vacating the premises and failed to make appropriate arrangements for disposal of prescription drugs, was open for one-half hour without supervision by a licensed pharmacist, failed to employ an auxiliary system to document prescriptions when the main system was not functioning, offered for sale or held for sale outdated drugs, failed to properly identify generic products dispensed, maintained a cluttered prescription counter and dirty shelving and drug stock, held for sale drugs that were misbranded, and failed to prominently display the full name of the registrant on an exterior sign.

Riaz Hussain a/k/a Riaz B. Hussain, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 030195; Cal. No. 15320
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of last 18 months of suspension stayed, probation for last 18 months, 100 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of the charge of having a conviction for the crime of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony.

Harry Krawitz, Williamsville, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 019552; Cal. No. 15574
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having been found by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances.

Sana U. Khan, Bethpage, NY
Profession: Pharmacist Lic. No. 031746; Cal. No. 15591
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having been found by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances.

Sana Saieda Enterprises, Ltd. d/b/a Port Chemists, 69 Main Street, Port Washington, NY 11050
Profession: Pharmacy; Reg. No. 019034; Cal. No. 15592
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Retail Pharmacy admitted guilt to a charge that it failed to detect and prevent the diversion of Demerol.

Michelle Monturo, Commack, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 040505; Cal. No. 15636
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having been found by the Commissioner of Health to be in violation of Article 33 of the Public Health Law pertaining to controlled substances.

Elizabeth A. Lavigne, Dalton, PA
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 036577; Cal. No. 15802
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of dispensing the wrong non-controlled substance.

Susan H. Torns, Commack, NY
Profession: Pharmacist Lic. No. 030826; Cal. No. 15861
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $750 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of incorrectly labeling vials, dispensing the wrong strength of a drug and failing to identify generic drugs.

James J. Gallagher, Marcy, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 023478; Cal. No. 15700
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having a conviction for the crime of Sodomy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E Felony.

Physical Therapy

Vance Levin, Middletown, NY
Profession: Physical Therapist Assistant; Cert. No. 000939; Cal. No. 15584;
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of the charge of having a conviction for the crime of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class E Felony.

Marcia Hewett a/k/a Marcia Francisco, Jackson Heights, NY
Profession: Physical Therapist Assistant; Lic. No. 001265; Cal. No. 15870
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to the charge of having a conviction for the crime of Making a Punishable False Written Statement, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Podiatry

James M. Richardson, Paterson, NJ
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 003975; Cal. No. 14693
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996 (see also December 1999)
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $3,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of ordering tests and treatments not warranted by the condition of the patient and having a conviction for the crime of Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Public Accountancy


Denis Lustig a/k/a Denis Leslie Lustig a/k/a Dennis Lustig, Marlboro, NJ
Profession: Certified Public Accountancy; Lic. (Cert.) No. 030251; Cal. No. 15376
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: Revocation, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of the charge of having a conviction for the Federal crime of Racketeering.

Gerald Joseph Costabile,Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 031969; Cal. No. 15666
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 3 year suspension, probation 5 years, 100 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to the charge of having a conviction for the Federal Crime of Mail Fraud.

Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

Patricia A. Nowak, Campbell Hall, NY
Profession: Speech Language Pathologist; Lic. No. 003476; Cal. No. 15672
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to the charge of having a conviction for the crime of Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified Misdemeanor.

Gerald N. Greenstein, Jamestown, NY
Profession: Audiologist; Lic. No. 000268; Cal. No. 15737
Regents Action Date: February 7, 1996
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation for last 21 months, $4,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted guilt to a charge of having a conviction for the crimes of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, and twenty-eight counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E Felony.

For further information: dplsdsu@mail.nysed.gov

Last Updated: October 24, 2000
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