The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners (the "Board") has taken the following actions in February and March 2008. This information is a summary prepared by the Board Administrative Office staff. Copies of the Orders can be found at www.njmedicalboard.gov under the right-hand pull down menu, "Board Activities," "Monthly Summaries." Requests for certified, true copies should be made in writing directed to William V. Roeder, Executive Director, P.O. Box 183, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.

BERGER, Jospeh, D.O.
License #MB017169
Giglotti Family Medicine
14 Estaugh Ave.
Berlin, NJ 08009-1414
Phila Coll Of Osteo, 1958
Reciprocity

CONSENT ORDER GRANTING PERMANENT SURRENDER OF LICENSE, TO BE DEEMED A PERMANENT RETIREMENT filed February 14, 2008. This matter was originally opened to the Board upon the filing of a Final Order on July 26, 2006, to which the Board adopted in its entirety, the Initial Decision of the Administrative Law Judge dated May 9, 2006, that embodied a settlement reached between the Attorney General and Dr. Berger. Pursuant to this Final Order, Dr. Berger's license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey was suspended for four years, with said suspension "suspended". In addition, the Final Order imposed various requirements that Dr. Berger has satisfied and he is now seeking leave to permanently retire from the practice of medicine and surgery in New Jersey effective February 29, 2008. The Board ordered and Dr. Berger agreed to the surrender of his license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey effective February 29, 2008, to be deemed a permanent retirement. Dr. Berger agreed that in the event he seeks reinstatement of his medical license at any time subsequent to entry of his Order, he must appear before a Committee of the Board to discuss his qualifications for relicensure. Dr. Berger is to notify the Drug Enforcement Administration of the entry of this Order within five days of February 29, 2008 and provide proof of such notification to the Board. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 29, 2008.

BLACKSTONE, Jacquelyn, D.O.
License #MB055091
412 Washington St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-4800
Univ New England, Osteo Med, 1987
National Boards

CONSENT ORDER filed February 19, 2008. This matter was opened to the Board upon receipt of information that on or about July 7, 2006, Dr. Blackstone entered into a Consent Agreement and Board Order with the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure. More, specifically, the Maine Consent Agreement reprimanded Dr. Blackstone for treating a family member contrary to the regulations; for having treated a patient for pain without adhering to the regulations; prescribing potentially addictive medications without proper work-up or coordination with other providers treating the patient for the same conditions; and for prescribing a pain medication to a family member which was intended for her own use. In addition to a reprimand, the Maine Board imposed a 2 year probationary license, a penalty of $3,000, and required Dr. Blackstone to attend at least 10 hours of education relating to ethics and professional boundaries and 5 hour of continuing medical education regarding the treatment of patients with concurrent disorders. Thereafter, the New York Board entered into a Consent Order September 19, 2007, finding Dr. Blackstone had engaged in 2 specifications of professional misconduct based upon the facts giving rise to the disciplinary action taken by the Maine Board. The New Jersey Board and Dr. Blackstone wishing to resolve this matter without recourse to formal proceedings and Dr. Blackstone waiving her right to a hearing in this matter, agreed to her license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey be reprimanded. Dr. Blackstone license will be placed on two years of probation commencing with the initiation of the probationary license set forth in the Maine Consent Agreement, but which probationary period shall not terminate until she has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that she holds an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine in Maine and New York. Dr. Blackstone agreed that if the Board upon receipt of reliable information and in its sole discretion, determines during the probationary period that she has failed to comply with any provision of this Consent Order, or is in violation of any of the Board's statutes and/or regulations, then her New Jersey license will be automatically and immediately suspended. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 19, 2008.

CASTILLO, Hector, M.D.
License #MA041481
1000 Madison Avenue
Paterson, NJ 07501-3655
Rutgers Med Sch, 1981
FLEX Endorsement

Interim Consent Order filed March 18, 2008. This matter was originally opened to the Board upon receipt of information that Dr. Castillo had permitted another physician whom he called in consultation for surgical cases to operate on patients without the patients' knowledge and consent. Dr. Castillo appeared and testified before a Committee of the Board on November 9, 1997, and a detailed review of his patient records and his responses under oath raised serious concerns about his internal medicine practice, his ophthalmology practice and his record keeping. The Board determined Dr. Castillo should undergo a focus practice evaluation. On May 26, 2000, the Board filed an Interim Consent Order whereby Dr. Castillo agreed to submit to a six month period of proctoring of his ophthalmolgy practice; he insured that the proctor would provide monthly written reports to the Board; and he was to successfully complete a sixty credit continuing medical education (CME) review course in internal medicine and in ophthalmolgy within six months following the entry of the May 26, 2000 Order. Dr. Castillo appeared before a Committee of the Board on November 7, 2001, and acknowledged that he had not fulfilled all of the terms of the Interim Consent Order. In a Consent Order filed May 23, 2002, the Board reprimanded Dr. Castillo for failure to comply with the May 2000 Interim Consent Order. The Board required Dr. Castillo to submit to a minimum six month period of proctoring of his ophthalmology practice; he was to ensure that the proctor provide detailed monthly written reports to the Board; successfully complete ten CME credits in ophthalmolgy and an ethics course; and he was to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $5,000, and costs in the amount of $30.00. Dr. Castillo failed to have his proctor submit detailed monthly reports as required under the Consent Order, and the Board called for Dr. Castillo to appear before a Committee of the Board regarding his noncompliance with the terms of the Consent Order including proctoring and re-education. Prior to Dr. Castillo appearance, he documented to the Board that he completed sixty-one hours of internal CME course work; he submitted continuing medical information for September 2002 and June 2003 indicating that he had completed the ten CME credits in ophthalmolgy and had successfully completed an ethics course; and that he has paid all penalty and costs in full. The Board found Dr. Castillo failed to comply with certain recommendations of the CPEP evaluation, including but not limited to, the necessity for a neuropsychiatric evaluation, and the completion of all steps stemming from this evaluation. The Board ordered and Dr. Castillo agreed to comply with all previous Orders of the Board; to follow the recommendation proposed by the CPEP evaluation to undergo a neuropsychiatric evaluation within two months of the entry of this Order; successfully complete a Board approved medical record keeping course and an EKG course; he is to submit to a period of proctoring and ensure that the proctor provides monthly written reports to the Board; and he is to identify a Board approved non-surgical monitor who will review patient records of ten non-surgical patients on a monthly basis. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 18, 2008.

COOKE, John R., M.D.
License #MA070958
317 George St., Ste. 105
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Columbia University, 1976
USMLE

ORDER GRANTING UNRESTRICTED LICENSE filed January 28, 2008. The Board is satisfied that Dr. Cooke has complied with the prior Consent Order, participated appropriately in urine testing, attended AA meetings, had face to face follow up with the PAP and individual therapy, and appears to have been in stable recovery for over six years. The Board determined that the within Order is adequately protective of the public health, safety and welfare Ordered Dr. Cooke an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 28, 2008.

ELLIS, Kent, M.D.
License #MA046337
1005 N. Washington Ave.
Greenbrook, NJ 08812-2619
Georgetown Univ, Sch of Med, 1980
FLEX Endorsement

ORDER GRANTING UNRESTRICTED LICENSURE filed March 3, 2008. This matter was first opened to the Board upon receipt of information that Dr. Ellis applied for an unrestricted medical license following an Order Of Restricted Licensure filed September 12, 2001. In October 2007, Dr. Ellis appeared before the Preliminary Evaluation Committee of the Board and petitioned for unrestricted licensure with the full support of the Physician's Assistance Program("PAP"). The Board is now satisfied that Dr. Ellis has fully complied with the prior Consent Order, participated appropriately in urine testing, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, had face-to-face follow up with the PAP and group aftercare, and appears to have been in stable recovery for over six years. The Board ordered Dr. Ellis an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 3, 2008.

LIESER, Joan K., M.D.
License #MA051953
105 Morris Avenue, Ste. 300
Springfield, NJ 07081
UMDNJ Med Sch, 1987
National Boards

FINAL ORDER OF REPRIMAND filed March 19, 2008. This Order resulted from an investigation into a patient complaint regarding Dr. Lieser's conduct, including requiring advance cash payment in full for an in-office surgical procedure despite being a contracted provider with the patient's insurance carrier, misrepresenting the provider status to the patient, issuing a claim form which failed to acknowledge the payment in full, issuing a second bill to the carrier for a larger fee than had been quoted to the patient, and failure to timely repay the patient despite receipt of carrier reimbursement. The matter also involved the doctor's repeated failure to respond to Board inquiries regarding her care and billing of the female patient. The doctor, having had advice of counsel, acknowledged various forms of improper conduct, all as more fully set forth in the Order, and she agreed to accept the resolution proposed. The Board Order of Reprimand requires the doctor to successfully complete an approved course in billing and coding, a professional ethics course, and a certified Advanced Life Support course. The doctor is to immediately cease and desist from utilizing in any advertisement, office informational document, patient contract agreement, or chart record purporting to represent her medical practice, the letterhead or other name references of any office or corporate entity of which she is not an owner, shareholder or current salaried employee. She is to assure immediate deletion from her patient contract and consent documents all items purporting to limit or waive any legal protections or recourse otherwise available to patients or others. Hereafter, when performing any surgical procedures in the officer, she must assure compliance with all applicable provisions of N.J.A.C. 13:35-4A, specifically availability of emergency equipment. In light of the lack of such equipment, failure to assure performance of an adequate pre-anesthesia evaluation, and failure to supervise the hired CRNA, the doctor shall not perform a specified procedure in the office setting until further Order of the Board. In addition; she is to assure that her charts contain documentation of examination appropriate to the purpose of the medical examination; she is to assure that a tracking procedure is immediately established for her office, whereby any prescribed laboratory tests are noted, with followup to ascertain whether ordered tests have been timely performed and to assure that patients are truthfully informed of the results. The doctor shall assure that when submitting a bill for patient services to a third party payor, the fee and payments received are truthfully disclosed. Dr. Lieser is to pay investigative costs in the amount of $469.00 and penalty in the amount of $5,000.00. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 19, 2008.

SHIFFMAN, Michael, A.T.
License #MT000642
13 Iroquois Trail
Branchburg, NJ 08876-5451
Ithaca College, 1990

CONSENT ORDER filed March 4, 2008. This matter was opened to the Board upon receipt of an application for reinstatement of Mr. Shiffman's license to practice athletic training in New Jersey. Mr. Shiffman's license expired on January 31, 2007. The Board's records reflected that the renewal application was sent to Mr. Shiffman official address on record, and that it was returned by the post office, Mr. Shiffman had changed his address. Mr. Shiffman's file did not contain a written notice of address change. Mr. Shiffman practiced athletic training as an athletic trainer for February 1, 2007 through June 12, 2007, with an expired license. The Board ordered and Mr. Shiffman agreed to be reprimanded for engaging in the unlicensed practice of athletic training. Mr Shiffman, must pay a penalty in the amount of $250.00. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 4, 2008.

SINGHVI, Kailash, C. M.D.
License #MA038059
36 Melby Lane
Roslyn, NY 11576
Univ Of Rajasthan, 1977
Examination

CONSENT ORDER OF REINSTATEMENT OF LICENSE WITH CLARIFICATION OF LIMITATIONS filed March 31, 2008. This matter was recently opened to the New Jersey Board upon Dr. Singhvi's application to clarify the limitation of his practice described in the May 31, 2007 Consent Order. Dr. Singhvi now seeks to clarify the scope of his practice as being Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. Finding the clarification appropriate, the limitations as otherwise set forth in the May 31, 2007 Order, Singhvi's scope of practice is hereby clarified and shall be confined to the practice of gastroenterology and internal medicine. The May 31, 2007 Order is superseded by this Consent Order upon its filing with the Board. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 31, 2008.

VALENTIN, Dominic, A.T.
License # MT000674
Perth Amboy Public Schools
178 Barracks St.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
North Eastern Univ, 1995

CONSENT ORDER filed March 7, 2008. This matter was opened to the Board upon receipt of an application for reinstatement of the license of Dominic Valentin to practice athletic training in New Jersey. Mr. Valentin's license expired on January 31, 2007, and he practiced athletic training while serving as an athletic trainer from March 20, 2007 through October 17, 2007, with an expired license. Mr. Valentin's license has now been reinstated. The Board ordered and Mr. Valentin agreed to be reprimand for engaging in the unlicensed practice of athletic training and Mr. Valentin must pay a penalty in the amount of $500.00. EFFECTIVE DATE: March 7, 2008.

VUYYURU, Lokesh B., M.D.
License #MA054880
420 Stockholm Street, A2
Brooklyn, New York 11237
UMDNJ-School of Osteo Med, 1995
National Boards

INTERIM CONSENT ORDER filed February 19, 2008. This matter was opened to the New Jersey Board upon receipt of information that on or about May 19, 2006, the Virginia Board entered an Order revoking the license of Dr. Vuyyuru to practice medicine for engaging in professional misconduct. The decision of the Virginia Board is currently on appeal in the State of Virginia. Based upon the Order of the Virginia Board, the New Jersey Board entered a Final Order of Discipline on June 22, 2007, revoking Dr. Vuyyuru's medical license, which Dr. Vuyyuru appealed. The New Jersey Board ordered and Dr. Vuyyuru agreed not to seek reinstatement of his license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey except as indicated herein and therefore refrain from any active practice of medicine and surgery in New Jersey. Dr. Vuyyuru must immediately withdraw the pending appeal filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division; the Final Order of Discipline entered by the Board on June 22, 2007, shall be, and hereby is, rescinded and Dr. Vuyyuru's license to practice medicine and surgery will be placed in its prior status, namely, a lapsed license status automatically suspended by operation of law, when he failed to submit his Biennial Renewal Notice in 1991; he is to within thirty days of entry of a Final Decision or Order in connection with each level of the Virginia appeal, advise the New Jersey Board in writing of the outcome of the Virginia appeal proceeding and provide a copy of the Final Decision or Order; in the event he is successful in his appeal of the Order in Virginia, he can then make application to the New Jersey Board to vacate this Interim Consent Order; and in the event he is unsuccessful in his appeal of the Order of the Virginia Board, he will have thirty days after entry of any Final Decision or Order in the Virginia appeal to request in writing a mitigation hearing to be held before the New Jersey Board or a Committee of the Board, and be limited solely to his sworn testimony and any rebuttal testimony presented in connection with the Board's Provisional Order Of Discipline entered on August 17, 2006. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 19, 2008.

 

THE NEW JERSEY STATE