Report of Regents Professional Practice Committee to The Board of Regents

Regents Committee on Professional Practice

Regent Norwood, Chair, Vice Chancellor Chin, Regent Cea, Regent Collins, Regent Reyes, Regent Wills, Regent Catania, Regent Hale, Regent Pratts, and Regent Mannion.

The Professional Practice Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 11, 2025. All members were present except for Regent Catherine Collins, who was excused. Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., Regent Susan W. Mittler,  Regent Aramina Vega Ferrer, Regent Shino Tanikawa, Regent Seema Rivera, and Regent Brian Krist also attended the meeting, but did not vote on any action.

ACTION ITEMS

Professional Discipline Cases [PPC EXS (A) 1 – 3]

The 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 4 cases.  In addition, your Committee recommends, upon the recommendation of the Committee on the Professions, that 25 consent order applications, and that 2 surrender applications, be granted.

These recommendations are made following the review of 31 cases involving seven licensed practical nurses, five registered professional nurses, four certified public accountants, three dentists, two veterinarians, one dental service professional corporation, one licensed master social worker who is also a licensed clinical social worker, one massage therapist, one occupational therapist, one physical therapist, one physical therapist assistant, one psychologist, and one public accountancy professional service limited liability company, and one veterinary technologist.

Restorations [PPC EXS (A) 4 – 5]

The Committee recommends that the application of Rools Deslouches for the restoration of his licenses to practice as a licensed practical and registered professional nurse, and his certificate to practice as a nurse practitioner (adult health) in New York State be denied, with Regent Frances G. Wills, Regent Adrian I. Hale, and Regent Hasoni L. Pratts opposed.

The Committee recommends that the application of Palakkumar Patel for the restoration of his license to practice as a physician assistant in New York State be denied, with Regent Adrian I. Hale and Regent Hasoni L. Pratts opposed.

Proposed Amendment of Sections 66.5 and 66.6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Use of Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents and Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Optometrists Certified to Prescribe and Use Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents [PPC (A) 1] - Department staff presented for emergency action a proposed amendment of sections 66.5 and 66.6 of the Commissioner’s regulations to conform them to Chapter 516 of the Laws of 2024, which effective November 22, 2024, amended the Education Law to add nasal sprays to the list of topical therapeutic pharmaceutical agents that optometrists are authorized to use for the treatment of dry eye disease.

The Committee recommends that sections 66.5 and 66.6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be added, as submitted, effective March 11, 2025, as an emergency action, upon a finding that such action is necessary for the preservation of the public health and general welfare in order to timely implement the provisions of section 1 of Chapter 516 of the Laws of 2024, which became effective November 22, 2024.

The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

The 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 March 11, 2025, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendment of Section 17.6 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to the Regulation of Surrender Orders in Disciplinary Proceedings in the Professions [PPC (D) 1] – Department staff presented a proposed amendment to section 17.6 of the Regents Rules to eliminate this requirement, which will further the protection of the public by enabling the surrender order process for disciplinary matters involving licensed pharmacists and registered pharmacy establishments to be completed more expeditiously.

Deputy Commissioner David Hamilton reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.