Report of Regents Professional Practice Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Professional Practice Committee held its scheduled meeting on April 29, 2014.  All Committee members were present except for Regent Geraldine D. Chapey, who was excused. Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch, Regent James C. Dawson, Regent Kathleen M. Cashin, and Regent Josephine Victoria Finn were also present, but did not vote on any case or action.

ACTION ITEMS

Professional Discipline Cases

Your Committee recommends that the reports of the Regents Review Committees, including rulings, findings of fact, determinations as to guilt, and recommendations, by unanimous or majority vote, contained in those reports which have been distributed to you, be accepted in 5 cases. In addition, your Committee recommends, upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Professions, that 53 consent order applications and 17 surrender applications be granted.  [PPC EXS (A) 1-3]

In the case of Colleen Conley, Registered Professional Nurse, Calendar No. 26469, we recommend that the report of the Regents Review Committee be clarified as follows: the title of the profession of “certified social worker” shown on line 5 of page 6 of the Regents Review Committee report be deemed deleted and, in lieu thereof, be deemed to read "licensed clinical social worker."

In the case of Linda C. Phelan, Registered Professional Nurse, Calendar No. 27088, Regent Wade S. Norwood abstained.

These recommendations are made following the review of 75 cases involving eighteen registered professional nurses, fifteen licensed practical nurses, five dentists, five licensed practical nurses who are also registered professional nurses, five pharmacists, three certified public accountants, two chiropractors, two licensed clinical social workers, two licensed master social workers, two massage therapists, one architect, one clinical laboratory technologist, one licensed master social worker who is also a licensed clinical social worker, one occupational therapy assistant who is also an occupational therapist, one optometrist, one professional engineer, one registered professional nurse who is also a nurse practitioner in adult health, and one veterinarian.

Restorations

Your Committee recommends the following:

That the execution of the surrender of George A. Barzac’s license to practice as a registered professional nurse be stayed; that he be placed on probation for two years under the terms of probation annexed as Exhibit A to the Report of the Committee on the Professions; and that, upon successful completion of the period of probation, his license be fully restored.  [PPC EXS (A) 4]

That the execution of the surrender of Helen M. Fogarty’s psychologist license be stayed; that she be placed on probation for a period of two years under the terms and conditions annexed to the Report of the Committee on the Professions as Exhibit A; and that, upon successful completion of probation, her license be fully restored.  [PPC EXS (A) 5]

That the execution of the revocation of Dr. Silvestre-Mejía’s license to practice as a dentist in the State of New York be stayed, that he be placed on probation for one year under the Terms of Probation of the Board of Regents, and that, upon successful completion of probation, his license be fully restored.  [PPC EXS (A) 6]

That the application of Steve V. Yunatanov for the restoration of his license to practice as a dentist in the State of New York be denied.  [PPC EXS (A) 7]

Approvals

Regulations Relating to LMSW/LCSW Mandatory CE Requirements – Your Committee recommends the following:

VOTED: That a new section 74.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to mandatory continuing education requirements for licensed master social workers and licensed clinical social workers be added, as submitted, effective May 14, 2014.  [PPC (A) 1]

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Your Professional Practice Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on April 29, 2014, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Your Committee discussed one topic of interest:

• Update on the Profession of Engineering – As part of a series of presentations to the Committee, an update will be provided on the profession of engineering.  [PPC (D) 1]