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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2016
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

www.nysed.gov

 

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Regents Actions In 49 Professional Discipline Cases and 2 Restoration Petitions

May 16 - 17, 2016

The Board of Regents announced disciplinary actions resulting in the revocation of 1 license, surrender of 11 licenses, and 33 other disciplinary actions. The penalty indicated for each case relates solely to the misconduct set forth in that particular case. In addition, the Board acted upon 1 restoration petition.

Revocation and Surrenders

Chiropractic

Jason Carl Tirado; West New York, NJ 07093; Lic. No. 007442; Cal. No. 28092; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Bank Fraud, a felony.

Dentistry

Edward Joel Piesman; Dentist; Lake Worth, FL 33467-2642; Lic. No. 029791; Cal. No. 28649; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of failing to maintain accurate patient records.

Nursing

Darlene Susan Pudney; Licensed Practical Nurse; Cortland, NY 13045; Lic. No. 075328; Cal. No. 28684; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of having been convicted of Issuing a Bad Check, Driving While Intoxicated and Petit Larceny.

Brenda G. Jeffries-Silmon; Licensed Practical Nurse; Cheektowaga, NY 14215; Lic. No. 275562; Cal. No. 28763; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS by Preparing False Tax Returns.

Kristine Karen Terwilliger; Registered Professional Nurse; Jamesburg, NJ 08831; Lic. No. 587319; Cal. No. 28818; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of administering controlled medication without a physician’s order, failing to document the administration of controlled medications and failing to document the wasting of controlled medication.

Tracy Lee Powell; Registered Professional Nurse; Livermore, CA 94551; Lic. No. 616702; Cal. No. 28851; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of falsely representing on her New York State application for licensure as a registered professional nurse that she had never pled guilty or no contest to a crime (felony or misdemeanor) in any court when she had previously been convicted of the crime of Driving With a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.20% or more, a misdemeanor, in the State of California.

Pharmacy

William C. Davis; Pharmacist; Lake Ariel, PA 18436; Lic. No. 029835; Cal. No. 28813; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree, a class C felony.  

Kenneth C. Brown; Pharmacist; Brooklyn, NY 11225; Lic. No. 029443; Cal. No. 28827; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 2nd Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Podiatry

Vadim Nekritin; Brooklyn, NY 11234; Lic. No. 006017; Cal. No. 28192; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Public Accountancy

Edward B. Grodsky; Certified Public Accountant; Oceanside, NY 11572; Lic. No. 051455; Cal. No. 28718; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Conspiracy To Commit Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud, and Failure to File an Income Tax Return, felonies.

Thomas Hansen; Certified Public Accountant; Cornelius, NC 28031; Lic. No. 085042; Cal. No. 28853; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having violated North Carolina laws prohibiting conduct that discredits the accounting profession and knowingly violating any state or federal tax law in handling his personal business affairs in that he failed to remit business taxes owed by his business to the Internal Revenue Service for tax years between 2007 and 2010.

Veterinary Medicine

Hooman Anthony Pooya; Veterinarian; New Market, MD 21774; Lic. No. 009887; Cal. No. 28850; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to maintain adequate record of visits, diagnoses and prescribed treatments for animal patients.

Other Regents Disciplinary Actions

Dentistry

Kenneth Markel; Dentist; North Salem, NY 10560; Lic. No. 035345; Cal. No. 27577; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $1,750 fine.

Adam Jay Helfand; Dentist; Rockaway, NJ 07866-1646; Lic. No. 053815; Cal. No. 28795; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $1,000 fine payable within 6 months.

Engineering and Land Surveying

David James Klimas; Professional Engineer; Palos Hills, IL 60465; Lic. No. 087991; Cal. No. 28797; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $4,000 fine payable within 90 days.

Midwifery

Linda Mae Belsten; Northport, NY 11768; Lic. No. 000674; Cal. No. 28317; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice.

Nursing

Melissa Ann Magyar; Licensed Practical Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14217; Lic. No. 247556; Cal. No. 27433; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 month actual suspension, 22 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine payable within 6 months.

Michelle Dianne Mermigas a/k/a Michelle D. Mermigas a/k/a Michelle Mermigas; Licensed Practical Nurse; Holtsville, NY 11742; Lic. No. 301781; Cal. No. 27955; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Suspension for a minimum of 2 years and indefinite actual suspension thereafter until alcohol and substance abuse-free and until fit to practice, probation 3 years to commence subsequent to termination of suspension and upon actual return to practice.

Lisaanne Staniorski; Licensed Practical Nurse; Greenville, NY 12083-4624; Lic. No. 315256; Cal. No. 28097; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation.

Michelle Ann Sorrentino; Licensed Practical Nurse; Hornell, NY 14843; Lic. No. 214681; Cal. No. 28107; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Linda Mae Belsten; Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Family Health); Northport, NY 11768; Lic. No. 433658, Cert. No. 333045; Cal. Nos. 28315, 28316; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspensions until successful participation in course of therapy and treatment and until fit to practice, upon termination of suspensions, 2 years probation to commence if and when return to practice.

Elisha L. Novak a/k/a Elisha Lynn Mattison a/k/a Elisha L. Mattison; Licensed Practical Nurse; Hudson Falls, NY 12839; Lic. No. 285575; Cal. No. 28463; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Vera Imperiale a/k/a Vera Fadel Mahdy a/k/a Vera A. Viranda; Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Psychiatry); Albany, NY 12205; Lic. No. 355871, Cert. No. 400634; Cal. Nos. 28487, 28488; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censures and Reprimands, $1,000 fine payable within 2 months, pursue certain course of education within 2 months.

Dawn Marie Weaver; Licensed Practical Nurse; Savannah, NY 12146; Lic. No. 299213; Cal. No. 28493; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Claire Michele Lockwood; Licensed Practical Nurse; Shortsville, NY 14548-9501; Lic. No. 308629; Cal. No. 28521; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice, upon termination of suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice, $500 fine payable within 3 months.

Valerie E. Petrie; Registered Professional Nurse; Cooperstown, NY 13326; Lic. No. 646017; Cal. No. 28543; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and Reprimand, 1 year probation, $250 fine.

Jodi Heller Friedberg; Registered Professional Nurse; Commack, NY 11725-5617; Lic. No. 669284; Cal. No. 28564; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation.

Genia M. Best; Registered Professional Nurse; Corfu, NY 14036-9761; Lic. No. 558046; Cal. No. 28571; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Melissa L. Riccio; Licensed Practical Nurse; Kingston, NY 12401; Lic. No. 292562; Cal. No. 28578; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Colette Ann Williams; Licensed Practical Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14204; Lic. No. 297976; Cal. No. 28625; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 month actual suspension, 18 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice.

Denise C. Caler; Registered Professional Nurse; Macedon, NY 14502; Lic. No. 310545; Cal. No. 28633; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Eva MacDowall; Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Psychiatry); Coram, NY 11727-1927; Lic. No. 507731, Cert. No. 400946; Cal. Nos. 28638, 28639; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.

Billie Jo Burrell Ross; Licensed Practical Nurse; Troy, NY 12182; Lic. No. 285898; Cal. No. 28642; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Optometry

Rita Ellent; Rego Park, NY 11374; Lic. No. 005856; Cal. No. 27138; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Censure and Reprimand, $2,000 fine to be paid within 3 months, pursue course within 1 year of service of Order.

Vernon A. Peryea, Jr. a/k/a Vernon Allen Peryea; Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567; Lic. No. 006321; Cal. No. 28563; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,500 fine.

Pharmacy

David Jay Blanchard; Pharmacist; Richfield Springs, NY 13493; Lic. No. 040953; Cal. No. 28093; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Brian A. Berninger; Pharmacist; Pasadena, CA 91107; Lic. No. 033956; Cal. No. 28793; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $500 fine payable within 90 days.

Christine Ann Huber a/k/a Christine A. Hernandez; Pharmacist; Sunderland, MA 01375; Lic. No. 045535; Cal. No. 28796; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $1,500 fine payable within 6 months.

Ralph Francis Mastriano; Pharmacist; Canton, MA 02021-1654; Lic. No. 036658; Cal. No. 28799; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 month actual suspension, 18 month stayed suspension, 2 years probation to commence upon return to practice in the State of New York, $2,500 fine payable within 90 days.

Podiatry

Jerome Benjamin Leff; New York, NY 10038; Lic. No. 003415; Cal. No. 26331; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial actual suspension in certain areas for no less than 5 years and until successful completion of course of retraining in said certain areas, 2 years probation to commence upon service of Order, $10,000 fine.

Maiden Lane Podiatry, P.C.; One Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038; Cal. No. 26358; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: $7,500 fine, 1 year probation.

Public Accountancy

Mark A. Roth; Certified Public Accountant; Livingston, NJ 07039; Lic. No. 033589; Cal. No. 26181; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 month actual suspension, 18 month stayed suspension, 24 months probation.

Restorations

The Board of Regents voted on May 17, 2016 to deny the application for restoration of the physician license of Olivera Bedic, Bayside, NY. Dr. Bedic’s license was originally surrendered June 28, 2004.

 

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