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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2024
For More Information Contact:

JP O'Hare

(518) 474-1201

Press@nysed.gov

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Regents Actions in 55 Professional Discipline Cases and 1 Restoration Petition

The Board of Regents announced disciplinary actions resulting in the revocation of 5 licenses, surrender of 15 licenses, and 35 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.

I. REVOCATIONS & SURRENDERS

Dentistry

Mark Harris Zahler; Dentist; Brooklyn, NY 12230; Lic. No. 040295; Cal. No. 31149; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of performing unnecessary and excessive treatment on a patient.

Michael Phillip Gelbart; Dentist; Boca Raton, FL 33486-6423; Lic. No. 034702; Cal. No. 34055; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to pay a $2,500 fine, failing to complete continuing education in recordkeeping/risk management and implant prosthetic treatment, and failing to answer and submit quarterly questionnaires as requested by the Department, as required by the terms of probation imposed by the Board of Regents in Order No. 33286.

Nursing

Elizabeth Rose a/k/a Elizabeth Barratt; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Brooklyn, NY 11207; Lic. Nos. 217267, 449279; Cal. Nos. 30888, 30889; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation

Rolando Portal a/k/a Rolando J. Portal; Registered Professional Nurse; Palm Coast, FL 32137-3004; Lic. No. 669339; Cal. No. 32671; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Sung Sil Kim; Registered Professional Nurse; Bethpage, NY 11714; Lic. No. 457732; Cal. No. 32930; Found guilty of violation of probation; Penalty: Revocation.

Candice B. Bonilla; Registered Professional Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14220-2217, Buffalo, NY 14220-2753; Lic. No. 635520; Cal. No. 32945; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Revocation.

Melinda Margaret Rorick-Sylvia a/k/a Melinda Margaret Rorick; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Louisville, KY 40299-2783; Lic. Nos.194834, 404722; Cal. Nos. 33632, 33633; Application to surrender licenses granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of administering narcotic medication to patients earlier than prescribed and failing to account for narcotic medication removed from Pyxis in the State of Kentucky.

ÌýTimothy William Martin; Licensed Practical Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14220; Lic. No. 315093; Cal. No. 33857; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of having been convicted of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class E felony.

Michelle Sarah Rivera; Registered Professional Nurse; Post Falls, ID 83854-0261; Lic. No. 570150; Cal. No. 34098; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of, in the State of Idaho, being convicted of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Peace Officer, a felony, which if committed in the State of New York would constitute Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Catherine Mary Hefko; Registered Professional Nurse; Dallas, TX 75248-3144; Lic. No. 387294; Cal. No. 34102; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of, in the State of Texas, documenting completion of home visits for four patients when in fact the visits did not occur.

Adrienne Rita Gough a/k/a Adrienne Gough Rotondo; Registered Professional Nurse; Lincoln Park, NJ 07035-1642; Lic. No. 379895; Cal. No. 34103; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of, in the State of New Jersey, willfully submitting false documentation of completion of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) training.

Public Accountancy

William Marc Aisenberg; Certified Public Accountant; Carrollton, TX 75011; Lic. No. 055218; Cal. No. 33965; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of willfully failing to timely complete mandatory continuing education credits.

Shoshana Blickstein; Certified Public Accountant; Santa Fe, NM 87505; Lic. No. 051563; Cal. No. 34047; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of willfully failing to timely complete mandatory continuing education credits as required for the profession of public accountancy.

Jeffrey David Roote; Certified Public Accountant; Pittsford, NY 14534; Lic. No. 085572; Cal. No. 34061; Application to surrender license granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of willfully failing to timely complete mandatory continuing education credits.

Social Work

Andrew Garrison Price; Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Vestal, NY 13850; Lic. Nos. 074139, 077411; Cal. Nos. 33959, 33960; Application to surrender licenses granted. Summary: Licensee did not contest the charge of boundary violations and dual relationships with clients.

Kathy Neily; Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Newcastle, ME 04553; Lic. Nos. 049732, 071770; Cal. Nos. 33961, 33962; Application to surrender licenses granted. Summary: Licensee admitted to the charge of failing to submit quarterly practice monitor reports, and failing to complete continuing education consisting of twelve hours of in-person coursework in ethics/boundaries in social work, as required by the terms of probation imposed by the Board of Regents in Order Nos. 32606 and 32607.

II. OTHER REGENTS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Clinical Laboratory Technology Practice

Sheikh Javed Rehmat; Clinical Laboratory Technologist; Little Neck, NY 11362-2113; Lic. No. 006956; Cal. No. 31084; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.

Dentistry

Soleiman Rabanipour; Dentist; New York, NY 10037; Lic. No. 042959; Cal. No. 33974; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and reprimand, 2 years probation, $1,500 fine.

Massage Therapy

Julia-Renee Garcia Wankasky; Niagara Falls, NY 14305; Lic. No. 023023; Cal. No. 33992; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 6 months actual suspension, 18 months stayed suspension, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Nursing

Jennifer Lynn Kolmel a/k/a Jennifer L. Kolmel a/k/a Jennifer Kolmel; Registered Professional Nurse; Far Rockaway, NY 11691-4706; Lic. No. 630429; Cal. No. 29150; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Indefinite actual suspension until substance abuse free and fit to practice, upon return to practice, 2 years probation.

Danielle Edwards; Registered Professional Nurse; East Rochester, NY 14445; Lic. No. 576321; Cal. No. 29840; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 months actual suspension, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Mariann Sue Youngberg; Registered Professional Nurse; New York, NY 10032; Lic. No. 543027; Cal. No. 31835; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until alcohol abuse free and fit to practice, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Jean A. Pfohl; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse; Cheektowaga, NY 14225; Lic. Nos. 149411, 489883; Cal. Nos. 32045, 32046; Found guilty of professional misconduct; Penalty: Indefinite actual suspension until substance abuse free and fit to practice, upon return to practice, 2 years probation.

Kelly Anne Weaver; Licensed Practical Nurse; Valatie, NY 12184; Lic. No. 294493; Cal. No. 33432; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Jennifer Colaianni; Registered Professional Nurse; Rock Tavern, NY 12575; Lic. No. 711898; Cal. No. 33535; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.

Shatoya A. Lee; Licensed Practical Nurse; Islip, NY 11751; Lic. No. 302652; Cal. No. 33675; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Thia Lee Popkin; Licensed Practical Nurse, Registered Professional Nurse, Nurse Practitioner (Adult Health); Corning, NY 14830; Lic. Nos. 296363, 718800, Cert. No. 310590; Cal. Nos. 33774, 33773, 33772; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.Ìý

Lisa Mary Ogle; Licensed Practical Nurse; Rochester, NY 14606; Lic. No. 318541; Cal. No. 33779; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Sarah Paige Blaisdell; Registered Professional Nurse; Buffalo, NY 14216; Lic. No. 716667; Cal. No. 33809; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Kristen McKasty a/k/a Kristen Noel McKasty; Registered Professional Nurse; Nurse Practitioner (Family Health); Bohemia, NY 11716; Lic. No. 722727, Cert. No. 348066; Cal. Nos. 33851, 33850; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

Jane Massingill; Registered Professional Nurse; Port Washington, NY 11050; Lic. No. 658078; Cal. No. 33870; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Indefinite actual suspension until fit to practice, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Lenore Wychunis Bates; Licensed Practical Nurse; Valatie, NY 12184; Lic. No. 242817; Cal. No. 33925; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation.

Kristine Lynn Neuschel; Licensed Practical Nurse; Richfield Springs, NY 13439; Lic. No. 344691; Cal. No. 34043; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

Casandra Evonne James; Licensed Practical Nurse; Rochester, NY 14619; Lic. No. 337948; Cal. No. 34048; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation.

Occupational Therapy

David Michael Gouveia; Occupational Therapist; Long Beach, NY 11561; Lic. No. 011216; Cal. No. 33518; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation.

Pharmacy

Sheikh Javed Rehmat; Pharmacist; Little Neck, NY 11362-2113; Lic. No. 031934; Cal. No. 31063; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $1,000 fine.

Thomas Philip Major; Pharmacist; Baldwinsville, NY 13027; Lic. No. 059198; Cal. No. 33669; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 11 months stayed suspension, upon return to practice, 1 year probation, $500 fine.

David Ethan Porter; Pharmacist; Poughkeepsie, NY 12603; Lic. No. 060721; Cal. No. 33928; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 1 month actual suspension, 23 months stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,000 fine.

Physical Therapy

Mikaela Mary Ross; Physical Therapist; Albany, NY 12203-2133; Lic. No. 033834; Cal. No. 34001; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 months actual suspension, 22 months stayed suspension, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $1,500 fine.

Shourin Roy; Physical Therapist; New York, NY 10027; Lic. No. 015385; Cal. No. 34020; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and reprimand, 1 year probation, $1,000 fine.

Public Accountancy

Eugene Falciano; Certified Public Accountant; Long Beach, NY 11561; Lic. No. 058952; Cal. No. 33820; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Partial actual suspension for no less than 1 month in the area of auditing and until licensee completes coursework in state auditing, upon return to practice, 2 years probation, $5,000 fine.

Mark P. Vulaj; Certified Public Accountant; Laurel, NY 11948; Lic. No. 069009; Cal. No. 33950; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $2,000 fine.

Shaun Greenwald; Certified Public Accountant; Lawrence, NY 11559; Lic. No. 116952; Cal. No. 34026; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 3 years actual suspension, 4 years probation, $10,000 fine.

Padilla & Company LLP; (Public Accountancy); Jamaica, NY 11432; Cal. No. 34036; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $10,000 fine.

Respiratory Therapy

Ariel Nicole Pomerance; Respiratory Therapist; Alexander, NY 14005; Lic. No. 009379; Cal. No. 32985; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: 2 years stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $500 fine.

Said Makanjuola Salawu; Respiratory Therapy Technician, Respiratory Therapist; Syracuse, NY 13210; Lic. Nos. 004791, 009484; Cal. Nos. 33777, 33776; Application for consent order granted; Penalty agreed upon: Censure and reprimand, 2 years probation, $250 fine.

III. RESTORATION

The Board of Regents voted on May 7, 2024 to deny the application for restoration of the physician license of Nishant Nadpara, Florida, NY 10921.Ìý Dr. Nadpara’s license was surrendered May 8, 2015.