Report of Regents Professional Practice Committee to The Board of Regents
Regents Committee on Professional Practice
Regent Norwood, Co-Chair, Regent Cottrell, Co-Chair, 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 September 10, 2024. All members were present except for Regent Wade S. Norwood, Regent James E. Cottrell, and Regent Catherine Collins, who were excused. Regent Roger P. Catania participated by video conference. Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., also attended the meeting and voted as an ex-officio member. Vice Chancellor Judith Chin, Regent Roger Tilles, Regent Aramina Vega Ferrer, and Regent Shino Tanikawa, also attended the meeting, but did not vote on any action.
ACTION ITEMS
Professional Discipline Cases [PCC 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 40 consent order applications and 15 surrender applications be granted.
These recommendations are made following the review of 59 cases involving sixteen registered professional nurses, thirteen certified public accountants, eight licensed practical nurses, three licensed master social workers, two massage therapists, two pharmacists, two veterinarians, one dentistry professional service corporation, one landscape architect, one licensed master social worker who is also a licensed clinical social worker, one licensed mental health counselor, one licensed practical nurse who is also a registered professional nurse, one licensed practical nurse who is also a registered professional nurse who is also a nurse practitioner in Psychiatry, one midwife, one professional engineer, and one public accountancy limited liability partnership.
Restoration [PPC EXS (A) 4]
The Committee recommends that the application of Harshad C. Bhatt for the restoration of his licenses to practice as a Physician in New York State be denied.
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 September 10, 2024, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.
MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION
Professional Practice Overview – Department staff provided an overview of the important role of the Office of the Professions (OP) team and 33 State Boards to implement laws, and the Board of Regents’ policies and regulations promulgated to protect patients/consumers receiving services from 56 professions established under the Education Law. New York’s unique system of professional oversight and public protection was discussed, including requirements for licensure and registration, as well as the laws, rules and regulations that have been designed to help ensure that competent and qualified individuals become licensed professionals.
Overview of the Design Professions of Engineering, Geology, Land Surveying, and Interior Design [PPC D (1)] – Department staff provided an overview of the design professions of engineering, geology, land surveying, and interior design including, among other things, a discussion of their respective licensure requirements, scopes of practice, advisory boards, licensee pipeline, access and outreach, and stakeholder education and awareness.
Deputy Commissioner David Hamilton reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.