Meeting of the Board of Regents | June 2007

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve the appointment of Walter Ramos as Acting Executive Secretary to the State Board for Medicine, Athletic Trainers Committee, Medical Physics Committee, State Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, and State Board for Veterinary Medicine?  Mr. Ramos has over seven years of experience managing cases involving health and veterinary matters as Assistant Counsel, assigned to the Office of Professions, Office of Professional Discipline.  Previously, he served as a veterinary assistant/technician and as a registered nurse during his service as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, where he served in the operating room and managed the in-service education for health staff in that setting.

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State statute.                  

Proposed Handling

This recommendation will come before the full Board of Regents at its Executive Session for discussion during the June Regents meeting.  It will then come before the full Board for final action on June 26, 2007.

Procedural History

Article 132, section 6553 of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary for the State Boards.  With Thomas Monahan’s retirement, it is necessary to appoint an Acting Executive Secretary while the search for a permanent replacement is underway in order to continue the important work of the State Board for Medicine, Athletic Trainers Committee, Medical Physics Committee, State Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, and State Board for Veterinary Medicine.

Background Information

The appointment of Walter Ramos as Acting Executive Secretary will provide expertise and leadership during the interim as we seek approval to fill the position and conduct a search for a permanent Executive Secretary for the State Board for Medicine, Athletic Trainers Committee, Medical Physics Committee, State Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, and State Board for Veterinary Medicine.  Mr. Ramos brings extensive knowledge, distinguished experience, and a commitment to the important work of the Office of the Professions.  Since 1999, Mr. Ramos has served as Assistant Counsel in the Office of Professional Discipline, providing legal guidance to investigators and professional board members engaged in the evaluation of professional misconduct allegations, drafting legal documents, and appearing before administrative hearing officers and the Regents Review Committee. 

              Mr. Ramos was a member of the first graduating class of the NYSED Leadership Academy, and this appointment would be in keeping with the Regents expressed support for the graduates of that Academy.  Prior to his service in the Office of the Professions, Mr. Ramos served as an Assistant District Attorney for the NY County District Attorney, and later established his own general practice law firm.  A licensed Registered Nurse, Mr. Ramos also has extensive experience in the health care field.  In addition to working as a R.N. for Visiting Nurse Service of Buffalo, and as an Operating Room nurse for the Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City, Mr. Ramos served for five years as a Veterinary Assistant/Technician for two New York City Veterinarians, experience that will particularly serve the Department in overseeing the State Board for Veterinary Medicine.  Mr. Ramos will build on the Regents record of success in overseeing the vital work of that State Board, as well as the other State Boards administered by that board office.

It is recommended that the Regents approve the appointment of Walter Ramos as Acting Executive Secretary to the State Board for Medicine, Athletic Trainers Committee, Medical Physics Committee, State Board for Dietetics and Nutrition, and State Board for Veterinary Medicine.

Timetable for Implementation

If the Regents approve the recommendation, the appointment will be effective immediately.