Searching for Summaries
Summary information of disciplinary actions taken against licensees, professional practice business entities, and pharmacy establishments by the Board of Regents in New York State since January 1, 1994, can be searched below by year, month, and profession. You may also search for an individual’s, entity’s or establishment’s status, and any applicable enforcement actions, with our Online Verification Search. Applicable disciplinary information will be listed under the Enforcement Actions tab within the search results.
In New York State, professional misconduct in all the professions (except that by physicians, physician assistants and specialist assistants, which is investigated and prosecuted by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) of the Department of Health) is investigated and prosecuted by the New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions. The Board of Regents, which also has responsibility for licensure in all the professions, is responsible for the final disposition of all disciplinary matters except those handled by OPMC.
Information on pre-1994 Regents Actions is available by phone: 518-474-3817, ext. 330; fax: 518-473-0578; e-mail: dplsdsu@nysed.gov, or by writing to the Office of the Professions.
By reviewing this material, the user accepts the terms, conditions and limitations under which this information is supplied.
September 1996
Nursing
SUSAN M NEIKENS; MASTIC BEACH, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 371252; Cal. No. 16250
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $750.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to discover an incorrect intravenous solution and failing to discover a change in physician's orders for a patient.
TAMERA L PICKARD (A/K/A COONEY TAMERA LEE, PLATT TAMERA LEE); HOLLAND PATENT, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 199693; Cal. No. 15427
Action: 2 month suspension with leave to apply for early termination of suspension upon submission of satisfactory proof of having successfully completed certain course and of being certified in certain area upon service or early termination of suspension, probation 2 years to commence if and when licensee returns to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to properly respond to an emergency situation.
MELANIE K RIGGS; NESCONSET, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 120299; Cal. No. 14591 14592
Action: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of submitting a resume and a pre-employment application form stating that she had obtained a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a recognized university when she knew that she had never obtained such a degree.
MARY D ROBINSON; SYRACUSE, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 133195; Cal. No. 15929
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, 50 hours of public service, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of a conviction of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.
STEVEN SALADON; BELLPORT, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 361368; Cal. No. 15223
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of committing three dialysis treatment administration errors.
EDMONIA SAUNDERS;
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. B12825; Cal. No. 15274
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years to commence if and when licensee returns to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of making errors with regard to the administration of intravenous fluids.
ELLEN LOUISE SHAW (A/K/A KESSELMAN SHAW ELLEN, KESSELMAN ELLEN LOUISE, HIRSCH ELLEN SOONTUP); REGO PARK, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 164822; Cal. No. 16258
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of submitting an intentionally false report to her nursing employer indicating that a patient visit had been made when she knew it had not been made.
MELANIE KAY SMITH (A/K/A RIGGS MELANIE KAY); NESCONSET, NY
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 345879; Cal. No. 14591 14592
Action: Revocation.
Summary: Licensee was found guilty of charges of submitting a resume and a pre-employment application form stating that she had obtained a bachelor of science in nursing degree from a recognized university when she knew that she had never obtained such a degree.
CANDICE MARY TUCKER; FRANKFORT, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 226106; Cal. No. 16109
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $250 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of making medication administration and charting errors.
SUSAN FABER VANMAARSEVEEN; LIVERPOOL, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 203128; Cal. No. 15237
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of reporting that a patient complained of having physical contact of a sexual nature with another patient, when in fact, the patient complained of having physical contact of a sexual nature with an employee of the facility.
BRONWYN WHITBECK; PENN YAN, NY
Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse; Lic. No. 195158; Cal. No. 15568
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of three convictions for Issuing a Bad Check, and failing to report the convictions on two licensure renewal forms.
JACQUELINE WOLFE (A/K/A BRACCIA JACQUELINE); EVANSTON, IL
Profession: Registered Professional Nurse; Lic. No. 399739; Cal. No. 14402
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year to commence if and when licensee returns to practice.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of administering an excessive dose of potassium phosphate.
Occupational Therapy
MARY DELORES ROBINSON; SYRACUSE, NY
Profession: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Lic. No. 002116; Cal. No. 15930
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, 50 hours of public service, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to a conviction of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument.
Optometry
BURTON SILVER; WATERTOWN, NY
Profession: Optometrist; Lic. No. 002330; Cal. No. 16147
Action: Suspension for not less than 4 months and until fit to practice - upon termination of suspension, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of grabbing the breast of a female employee and rubbing himself against the buttocks of two other female employees.
Pharmacy
JAMES K BACHER; SMITHTOWN, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 027661; Cal. No. 16139
Action: Censure and Reprimand, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges that he committed various violations of pharmacy regulations, such as failing to reduce oral orders to writing and failing to enter prescriber's address and DEA number.
LAWRENCE BROXMEYER; BAYSIDE, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 027388; Cal. No. 15877
Action: 2 year Suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 21 months, $2, 500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to a conviction of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.
THOMAS C FEDERICO; SMITHTOWN, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 021921; Cal. No. 16142
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges that he was under investigation for committing acts constituting crimes Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C Felony Criminal Possession of a Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D Felony Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E Felony and Public Health Law misdemeanor violations.
MITCHELL H GOODMAN; MASSAPEQUA, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 029185; Cal. No. 16140
Action: $2,500 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of falsely indicating in a Curriculum Vitae submitted to various institutions for purpose of seeking employment that a Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees were conferred upon him.
JUDY W HERTZ (A/K/A WON JUDY); EAST NORTHPORT, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 035889; Cal. No. 16151
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges that she committed various violations of pharmacy regulations relating to dispensing drugs.
STANLEY LEPELSTAT; BOCA RATON, FL
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 019744; Cal. No. 15940
Action: 24 month suspension, execution of last 18 months of suspension stayed, probation 24 months.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of a conviction of Filing False Statements with the Securities Exchange Commission and Attempting to Evade Federal income taxes.
RICHARD MIOLA; NORTH BELLMORE, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 033824; Cal. No. 16113
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of last 21 months of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $10,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of billing for the brand name drug when the generic was dispensed, altering a patient signature log, and billing for medications that were never actually dispensed.
LYNN ROBBINS; LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY
Profession: Pharmacist; Lic. No. 033525; Cal. No. 15912
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 years, $1,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of committing dispensing errors, labeling errors and pharmacy inspection violations that included holding for sale misbranded non-controlled substances, failing to have complete repacking records for non-controlled substances, failure of dispensing pharmacists to sign daily logs, failing to identify generic products dispensed pursuant to prescriptions for non-controlled substances, and failing to conspicuously display the official price poster.
Podiatry
ARTHUR D FREIBERG; NEW YORK, NY
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 002743; Cal. No. 14436
Action: $3,000 fine, probation 2 years.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of submitting fraudulent and/or incorrect insurance claims, failing to keep accurate patient records, relying on inadequate x-rays to make a diagnosis, violating a term of probation imposed by the Board of Regents, and circulating a misleading advertisement.
ARTHUR S KAUFOLD; BROOKLYN, NY
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 002956; Cal. No. 15400
Action: 2 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 2 year, $1,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of prescribing orthopedic shoes to numerous patients before conducting appropriate tests.
ALAN IRWIN SHULMAN; NEW YORK, NY
Profession: Podiatrist; Lic. No. 003839; Cal. No. 15030
Action: $1,000 fine, probation 1 year.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of performing surgery on the right foot and left foot of a patient on successive days, failing to properly examine a patient pre-operatively or have adequate x-rays, performing inappropriate procedures and failing to correct patient's condition, failing to have adequate post-operative x-rays, failing to recognize and treat the complications of the surgery, and failing to maintain accurate records.
Psychology
DAVID KURZMAN; NANUET, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 007328; Cal. No. 16169
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of patting the buttocks of the mother of two young clients.
ERIC R LUTKER; COMMACK, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 005055; Cal. No. 16152
Action: Censure and Reprimand, probation 1 year, $5,000 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of exercising undue influence on a patient by promoting a divorce mediation service.
BERNARD MACKLER; SCARSDALE, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 003064; Cal. No. 10680
Action: 1 year suspension, execution of suspension stayed, probation 1 year, $7,500 fine.
Summary: Licensee admitted to charges of failing to maintain records that accurately reflect the evaluation and treatment of four patients.
THOMAS J O MORROW; FOREST HILLS, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 008436; Cal. No. 16290
Action: Application to surrender license granted.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of revealing personally identifiable facts obtained in a professional capacity without the prior consent of the patient, and charges of moral unfitness in the practice of the profession.
DONALD T WILLIAMS; NEW YORK, NY
Profession: Psychologist; Lic. No. 005220; Cal. No. 15037
Action: Censure and Reprimand, Probation 1 year, $500 fine.
Summary: Licensee did not contest charges of hugging and kissing a former patient.