State disciplines health care providers

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.

The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions, and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., dentists, nurses, counselors). Information about disciplinary action taken against medical doctors and physician assistants can be found on the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) website. Questions about WMC disciplinary actions can be sent to media@wmc.wa.gov.

Information about health care providers is on the agency website. Click on “Look up a health care provider license” in the “How Do I?” section of the Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov). The site includes information about a health care provider’s license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are encouraged to call and report their complaint.

Benton County

In March 2022 the Pharmacy Commission placed the license of pharmacist Mustafa G. Elziny (PH60168979) on probation for at least three years. According to the agreed order, Elziny must never work alone in a pharmacy, and another pharmacy staff member must take inventory and perform quarterly medication reconciliations. Elziny must also submit a report on pharmacy ethics and pass a pharmacy exam within nine months. Elziny failed to submit a loss form after a narcotics tablet burglary. He also forged a transfer document to account for additional missing narcotics tablets.

Clark County

In March 2022 the secretary of health reinstated the certified nursing assistant license of Onaje Tate (NC10051774).

Douglas County

In March 2022 the secretary of health denied the emergency medical technician application of Aaron Gregory Kornish (ES61182575) after Kornish did not agree to the conditions on his license required for accreditation. He was convicted of soliciting possession of a controlled substance and theft in 2014 and 2017.

King County

In March 2022 the Substance Use Disorder Professional Program charged substance use disorder professional trainee Steven Lee Campbell (CO60733606) with unprofessional conduct. Campbell didn’t enter a substance use program, which was required as part of a 2021 agreement.

In February 2022 the secretary of health reinstated the registered nursing license of Isatou Ceesay (NA00164833).

In March 2022 the secretary of health granted with conditions a surgical technologist credential to Katlin Marie Kellow (ST61094353). Kellow must continue with the substance use monitoring program she previously agreed to enroll in.

Kitsap County

In February 2022 the Psychology Board ended conditions on the license of psychologist David Bruce Hawkins (PY00001284). Hawkins remains permanently restricted from conducting testing and assessments, including parenting and forensic evaluations.

Snohomish County

In March 2022 the Psychology Board reinstated with conditions the psychologist license of Michael L. Olson (PY00001263). Olson’s license will be on probation for three years, a therapist will submit quarterly evaluation reports on him, and investigators will perform patient audits for recordkeeping and patient charting rules.

Spokane County

In February 2022 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Tonya Marie Maki (NA60243131) with unprofessional conduct. Maki allegedly began using methamphetamines daily for four months.

In February 2022 the secretary of health granted with conditions an agency affiliated counselor license to Lovina Dorothy Kay Rainey (CG61235089). Rainey agreed to three years’ probation and professional supervision of her license. She was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in a U.S. District Court in 2018.

Snohomish County

In February 2022 the Nursing Commission denied the registered nurse application of Frances Nikoi-Chishimba (RN61141019) because she failed to show that she had graduated from a commission or state board licensed nursing education program.

Thurston County

In March 2022 the Nursing Commission charged licensed practical nurse Gabriel Gathingu Ndungu (LP60435619) with unprofessional conduct. Ndungu allegedly procured a registered nurse degree without acquiring the necessary education and allegedly misrepresented facts in his application and during the investigation into his case.

Whitman County

In February 2022 the Pharmacy Commission denied the pharmacy assistant application of Michael Phillip Means (VB61155973) after he declined to agree to conditions on the credential. Means surrendered his pharmacy technician license in New Mexico after the Board found he acquired a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, or forgery.

Yakima County

In February 2022 the secretary of health ended probation on the massage therapist license of Sabrina Dawn Caraway (MA61021325).

Out of State

California: In February 2022 the Nursing Commission denied the licensed practical nurse application of Alejandro Antonio Gonzales (LP61201933). Gonzales failed to obtain a required substance use evaluation.

Oregon: In February 2022 the Nursing Commission reinstated the license of registered nurse Melissa Josephine Beachler (RN60604083), provided that she enrolls and participates in a substance use monitoring program if the program offers Beachler a monitoring contract.

Oregon: In March 2022 the Nursing Commission granted with conditions the registered nurse license of Laurel Anne Allen (RN61244452). Allen must comply with a 2021 Oregon State Board of Nursing stipulation that includes probation with conditions. The Oregon State Board of Nursing put Allen’s license on probation with conditions due to diversion of medication and substance use.

Oregon: In March 2022 the secretary of health denied the massage therapist application of Minfang Wang (MA61078234). The Oregon Board of Massage Therapists found Wang practiced massage without a license and did not follow the standard of care for draping and massage, touching the private areas of a male client who was an undercover agent. The Board also found she made false statements to the Board in her application.

Oregon: In March 2022 the Pharmacy Commission reinstated the pharmacist license of Lynne Renee Workman (PH60234429).

Arizona: In February 2022 the Pharmacy Commission and pharmacist Augustine F. Aworuwa (PH60876321) entered an agreement to resolve charges against him of unprofessional conduct. Aworuwa entered a consent agreement with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy that places him on probation for two years and prevents him from being in charge or an owner of a pharmacy during the probation period. He failed to notify the Washington disciplinary authority of the action. The Washington agreement requires him to abide by the consent agreement with the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy.