Board of Regents announces decisions on professional discipline cases

The Board of Regents has disclosed the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings involving 31 professional discipline cases and two restoration petitions. The actions included the voluntary surrender of two licenses and various penalties for 27 other cases, along with two reconsiderations.

In occupational therapy, Michelle Katherine Malon from Farmingdale, NY surrendered her license after not contesting charges related to incomplete patient assessments and documentation. In public accountancy, Edward Joseph DiMaria from Lake George, NY also surrendered his license following convictions for conspiracy and making false statements.

Other disciplinary measures affected professionals in fields such as dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, physical therapy, psychology, public accountancy, social work, and veterinary medicine. These actions resulted in stayed suspensions, probation periods, fines ranging from $250 to $15,000, and requirements for community service or censure.

Notable among these were actions against dentists Manal Fawzy Baskharoun Gerges and Alika Laurel Crew who received varied suspensions alongside financial penalties. Similarly impacted was Maurice Berkower in public accountancy with a fine of $7,500 alongside a stayed suspension.

Two reconsideration applications were granted. Jamie L. Campbell’s indefinite suspension was modified to no less than one year until fit to practice again. Christian Harold Murdoch's order was adjusted to include a three-month actual suspension followed by probation.

Regarding restoration petitions denied on March 11th: Rools Deslouches' request for reinstating nursing licenses was rejected; his credentials had been surrendered since June 2015. Likewise denied was Palakkumar Patel's application concerning his physician assistant license which he had relinquished in January 2018.