New York State Education Department

Office of the Professions

Summaries of Regents Actions on Professional Misconduct and Discipline

January 12, 2004

Terms under which this information is provided.



Chiropractic - Dentistry - Nursing - Pharmacy - Podiatry - Psychology - Public Accountancy - Social Work



Chiropractic

Gary N. Olson, Commack, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 009393; Cal. No. 21153
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $750 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol.

Michael Christopher Shaffer, Philmont, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 003671; Cal. No. 21190
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of unlawfully delegating the duties of a chiropractor to an unlicensed person.

Dentistry

Edwin Andrews, Rogers, AZ
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 023886; Cal. No. 21268
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been found guilty by the duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of another state of over-prescribing controlled substances for non-dental reasons.

John A. Behrmann, Clifton Park, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 022679; Cal. No. 20427
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension for no less than 1 year and until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of extracting teeth that were intended to be used as abutments for a lower partial and failing to follow the referred treatment plan.

Michael Eugene Novy, New York, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 048016; Cal. No. 21086
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to maintain, for at least six years, a record for a patient that accurately reflected the evaluation and treatment for said patient.

Robert Tallering, Highland, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 034582; Cal. No. 21149
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $7,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of willfully filing a false report.

Robert J. Tallering, D.D.S., P.C., 433 Route 9W, P.O. Box 1534, Highland, NY
Profession: Dentist; Cal. No. 21154
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Respondent did not contest the charge of willfully filing a false report.

Scott Turkewitz, Clifton Forge, VA
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 043290; Cal. No. 21162
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Virginia Board of Dentistry.

Nursing

Lynne E. Clough, Schenectady, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 161531; Cal. No. 20718
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found to be guilty of having been convicted of Forgery in the Second Degree, a class D felony.

Robin A. Curtis, Rochester, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 315104; Cal. No. 20942
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 1 year to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of working while physically impaired due to a brain tumor resulting in requesting aide to provide treatment; inadequate documentation; and recording a home visit that was not done.

Sophia Abraham David, Glen Oaks, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 244729; Cal. No. 21183
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 22 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of inserting a gastrostomy tube in a nursing home resident in the absence of a physician's order and documenting false information in the medical record of said resident.

Leslie A. Dudek, Rochester, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 254916; Cal. No. 20352
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: 24 month suspension, execution of last 23 months of suspension stayed, probation 23 months to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee was found to be guilty of having been convicted of Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor.

Frank Joseph Gilberti, Sauquoit, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 401390; Cal. No. 21073
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004 (see also December 1998)
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 16 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failing to lay a patient flat during removal of a CVP line.

Yvette Jasnith Henry, Bronx, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 434710; Cal. No. 21127
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to follow a physician's order to change a wound dressing on a patient and documenting in the patient's record that said dressing was changed.

Sharon McCaffrey, Seaford, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 265781; Cal. No. 21095
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of making several transcription errors, inappropriately restraining a patient, and pinching a patient's nose to force him to swallow medication.

Samuel Monroe, Virginia Beach, VA
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 057766, 237046; Cal. Nos. 21071, 21072
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004 (see also July 1994)
Action: Application to surrender licenses granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud and Making a False Statement.

Marilyn Cheree Peters-Burton, Mobile, AL
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 267967; Cal. No. 21111
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year to commence upon return to practice, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of erroneously administering seven medications to the wrong patient.

Anita J. Popluhar, Kirkville, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 205570; Cal. No. 20545
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until terminated as set forth in consent order application, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of medication administration and documentation errors.

Kimm C. Riesel, Mohawk, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 237211; Cal. No. 21177
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Falsifying Business Records in the 2nd Degree.

Kathleen V. Summers, Marcy, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 256414; Cal. No. 20875
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of last 9 months of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of filing a false report.

Ellen Elizabeth Torrey-Blair, Bronx, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 082811, 463268; Cal. Nos. 21125, 21126
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to follow a physician's order to change a wound dressing on a patient and documenting in the patient's record that said dressing was changed.

Audra Lynne VanDusen a/k/a Audra Lynne Ennett, Rome, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 261487; Cal. No. 20855
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $750 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of inaccurate record keeping.

Therese Williams, Fairbanks, AK
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 471432; Cal. No. 21265
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been found guilty by the duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of another state of repeatedly obtaining controlled substances by fraud.

Pharmacy

Clunie Bernard, Bedford, NY; Yonkers, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 038410; Cal. No. 20643
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found to be guilty of having been convicted of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree.

Bruce E. Martin, Liverpool, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 034831; Cal. No. 21131
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of misbranding a prescription.

Jeffrey Stein, Middle Island, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 029690; Cal. No. 21267
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Suspension, but in no event for less than 1 year and until terminated as set forth in consent order application - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Aggravated Harassment in the 2nd Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

David Michael Wickers, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 036634; Cal. No. 20670
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Suspension until terminated as set forth in Regents Review Committee report - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee was found to be guilty of having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, a felony.

Podiatry

Suzanne Haritatos-Semko, Richmond, IN
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 003652; Cal. No. 21222
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been found guilty by the Indiana Board of Podiatry of professional misconduct.

Daniel D. Semko, Richmond, IN
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 003517; Cal. No. 21221
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been found guilty by the Indiana Board of Podiatry of professional misconduct.

Psychology

Melvin I. Fishman, Great Neck, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 001448; Cal. No. 21182
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004 (see also July 1999)
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of negligent handling of the transference and counter transference between the licensee and patient.

Public Accountancy

Harry Stern a/k/a Harry L. Stern, Suffern, NY
Profession: Certified Public Accountant; Lic. No. 037375; Cal. No. 20588
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found to be guilty of having been convicted of Bank Fraud, a felony.

Social Work

Todd Patrick Kennedy, Rochester, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No. 058568; Cal. No. 21112
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution for the last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 3 years, $2,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of forging the signatures of psychiatrists to completed patient treatment plans.

Katherine F. Robert, Vestal, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No. 060298; Cal. No. 20978
Regents Action Date: January 12, 2004
Action: Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of last 6 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charges of failing to maintain patient records and moral unfitness in the practice of social work.

For further information: dplsdsu@mail.nysed.gov
Last Update: June 9, 2004
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