Summaries of Regents Actions
On Professional Misconduct and Discipline*
July 1998
Certified Social Work - Chiropractic - Dentistry - Dietetics and Nutrition - Nursing - Pharmacy - Professional Engineering
Certified Social Work
Anthony Esposito, Long Island City, NY
Profession: Certified Social Worker; Lic. No.
014117; Cal. No. 16912
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of making
inappropriate inquiries regarding a resident's sexual behavior
and telling off-colored jokes to co-workers.
Chiropractic
Stuart L. Forgash, New York, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 001529; Cal.
Nos. 16769, 12692
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, $2,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of subjecting
patient to offensive physical contact during the course of treatment.
Joseph Stephen Gulyas, Clifton Park, NY
Profession: Chiropractor; Lic. No. 005264; Cal.
No. 17094
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years, $2,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of
improperly billing and failing to maintain accurate patient records.
Dentistry
Gamal I. Hashem, Hackensack, NJ
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 041209; Cal. No.
16948
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: 3 year suspension, execution of last 2 years of suspension
stayed, probation 3 years.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty to two counts
of violating the Penal Law by subjecting patients to sexual contact
without patients' consent while they were undergoing treatment,
both class B Misdemeanors.
Leslie G. Cheifetz, New York, NY
Profession: Dentist and Dental Anesthesia; Lic.
No. 033065, Cert. No. 000142; Cal. Nos. 17067, 17066
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: 3 year suspension, execution of last 2 years of suspension
stayed, probation 3 years.
Summary: Licensee/Certificate Holder was found
guilty of having been convicted of the crime Grand Larceny in
the Third Degree, a class D felony.
Adrian Peter Wizes, Hagaman, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 044121; Cal. No.
17176
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998 (see also December
2004)
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of three crimes: Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified Misdemeanor;
Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, a class A Misdemeanor
and Issuing a Bad Check, a class B Misdemeanor.
Chhaya Arun Sangave, Rochester, NY
Profession: Dentist; Lic. No. 039638; Cal. No.
17216
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21
months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for submitting false Medicaid
claims.
Dietetics and Nutrition
Beata Gizella Priore, Glen Head, NY
Profession: Certified Dietitian and Certified
Nutritionist; Cert. No. 003783; Cal. No. 17201
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years, 100 hours of public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth
Degree.
Nursing
Jo-Ann Budd, Pt. Richey, FL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 368270; Cal. No. 15589
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of having
been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified
Misdemeanor; failure to administer medications, erroneously recording
that medication was administered; administering medications without
a physician's order; and failing to complete records, all on
more than one occasion.
Bruce J. Randall, Beaver Dams, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 315363; Cal. No. 16996
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of the crime Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in
the Seventh Degree.
Catherine A. Hughes a/k/a Catherine A. Misik, Verbank, NY, Lagrangeville, NY and West Palm Beach, FL
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No.
211598; Cal. No. 16390
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998 (see also April
2001)
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, $1,000
fine.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of knowingly
altering her registration certificate to fraudulently indicate
that she was registered with the State Education Department as
a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Joy L. Southard, Moravia, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No.
205712; Cal. No. 15579
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having made numerous
medication administration errors from October, 1992 through January,
1994.
William T. Newman, Schenectady, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 381173; Cal. No. 16333
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998 (see also July
2001)
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of the crime of Driving While Intoxicated; of having inappropriately
administering Insulin on three occasions, and did not contest
the charges of failing to disclose a Driving While Intoxicated
conviction on his application for licensure, and failing to disclose
two Driving While Intoxicated convictions on an employment application.
Adam Richard Harr, New York, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 450123; Cal. No. 16579
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 1 month suspension, following execution
of said one month suspension probation 11 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to entering into
and permitting a social relationship to exist with a patient.
Colleen Lynn Mahoney, Olean, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered
Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 152042, 435311; Cal. Nos. 16963,
16962
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of
failing to start the reinfusion of salvaged blood at the correct
time and failing to document the time of the initiation of the
reinfusion of salvaged blood.
Ardell M. McGrane, North Granville, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No.
240505; Cal. No. 17043
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 1 year to commence if and when return to practice,
$250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of medication
administration errors and failing to respond to a written communication
sent by the New York State Education Department.
Herbert James Hoos, New Port Richey, FL
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered
Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 170481, 373594; Cal. Nos. 17068,
17090
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of administering
medications to patients without a physician's order.
Cheryl Yvonne Dessaure, Forest Park, GA
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 460134; Cal. No. 17086
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 1 year, $750 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of phoning
in a prescription to a pharmacy using a physician's name when
the physician had not authorized the prescription.
Nancy Johnson Laquay, Elbridge, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse
Practitioner; Lic. No. 126641; Cert. No. 330576; Cal. Nos. 17133,
17134
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 5 year suspension with leave to apply for
early termination, after serving at least 6 months of said suspension,
as set forth in consent order application - upon service or termination
of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge
of failing to properly and thoroughly assess a patient who was
in pain, and who had been ordered by a physician to receive a
pelvic examination.
Joe Tersago, Woodside, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered
Professional Nurse; Lic. Nos. 230002, 458453; Cal. Nos. 17155,
17036
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 12 month suspension - upon service of suspension,
probation 2 years to commence upon return to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of committing an act constituting a Federal crime by knowingly
and willfully making a false, fictitious and fraudulent statement
and representation on an application for compensation.
Donna M. Viento, Pound Ridge, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 232398; Cal. No. 17165
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
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 charge of failing
to inform an infant patient's doctor of a drastic change in vital
signs.
Danietta Jo Tronetti, Arkport, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No.
219554; Cal. No. 17177
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
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 having been convicted
of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E Felony.
Caroline J. McLennon, St. Albans, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 450772; Cal. No. 17204
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year,
$1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of submitting
a false health assessment examination form to an employer, taking
a physician's identification stamp from a hospital where she
was employed, and permitting a nurse to affix it to a form submitted
to her employer.
Arlene J. Firth, Babylon, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered
Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 194060, 407501; Cal. No. 17263,
17264
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 year suspension, execution of last 23
months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge
of failing to administer three doses of a controlled substance
to a patient, and subsequently removing said drugs from the hospital,
discarding them and making false entries on the controlled substance
sign-out sheet and the patient's medication administration record
to make it appear as if she had administered the doses in question.
Cherrie Agnes McQuilkin, Brooklyn, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No.
169663; Cal. No. 17266
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge
of willfully making a false report.
Alberta Schiller Toth, Huntington, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 183167; Cal. No. 17294
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
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 charge of failing
to correctly document a medication error and a physician's order
relating to said error.
Regina M. Kircher, Owego, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 309211; Cal. No. 17297
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year,
$500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of failing
to administer medications in accordance with the physician's
order.
Jill Earl, Norwood, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 463489; Cal. No. 17314
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
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 committing medication administration errors.
J. David Boyd, Elizaville, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic.
No. 401722; Cal. No. 17339
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998 (see also April
2003)
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 3 month suspension and until terminated
as set forth in consent order application - upon termination
of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of falsely
documenting vital signs for four patients.
Pharmacy
Steven Leonard Shapiro, Cedarhurst, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 027156; Cal.
No. 16889
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of the crime Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in
the Seventh Degree.
Irwin G. Luftig, Pomona, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 028943; Cal.
No. 16992
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 24 month suspension, execution of last 18
months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months, 100 hours of
public service.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of Federal crime of purchasing drug samples.
Jeffrey S. Alexander, Tenafly, NJ
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 025406; Cal.
No. 17100
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension
stayed, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of fraudulent
billing of Medicaid and chemical dependence.
Steven H. Berman, Merrick, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 026466; Cal.
No. 17121
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charge of
offering for sale misbranded drugs.
Philmar Pharmacy, Inc., 1111 Old Country Road, Plainview, NY 11803
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 008646; Cal.
No. 17122
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: $250 fine.
Summary: Respondent did not contest charge of
offering for sale misbranded drugs.
Professional Engineering
Roger W. Wehr, Eldred, NY
Profession: Professional Engineer; Lic. No.
058496; Cal. No. 17220
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Found guilty of professional misconduct;
Penalty: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of violating
a Federal law of Mail Fraud, a felony.
Darin V. Liska, Plattsburgh, NY
Profession: Professional Engineer; Lic. No.
046733; Cal. No. 16671
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: Partial suspension in certain area until
terminated as set forth in consent order application, probation
2 years.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charge of performing
site and soil evaluations on two separate parcels of land and
incorrectly certifying the seasonal high water tables.
Roy Asbjorn Fredriksen, Mahopac, NY
Profession: Professional Engineer; Lic. No.
050505; Cal. No. 17023
Regents Action Date: July 17, 1998
Action: Application for consent order granted;
Penalty agreed upon: 2 month suspension, upon service of suspension,
probation 2 years, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to having been convicted
of the crime Petit Larceny, a class A misdemeanor.
* Terms under which this information is provided.
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