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OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.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 “Health Care Provider Lookup” under the “Find it Fast” 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 February 2023 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Allie Montez, also known as Alejandra Montez, of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. Montez allegedly provided massage therapy to patients at a business she owns, without having a massage credential.

In February 2023 the Massage Therapy Program charged Skylar James Paul Matulich (MA60665508) with unprofessional and sexual misconduct. During a massage, Matulich allegedly touched a patient’s genitals in a sexual manner.

Clallam County

In February 2023 the Home Care Aide Program charged home care aide Britni L. Gordon (HM60633596) with unprofessional conduct. In December 2021, Gordon was convicted of driving under the influence. In August 2021, Gordon allegedly made purchases on a patient’s behalf without providing receipts, and then withdrew cash for her personal use. During this period, Gordon allegedly submitted fraudulent time sheets using forged patient signatures.

Cowlitz County

In February 2023 the Chiropractic Commission charged chiropractor Anik J. St. Martin (CH00033965) with unprofessional conduct. Martin owns a clinic where, in 2021 and 2022, staff allegedly failed to comply with COVID-19 masking requirements.

King County

In February 2023 the Massage Therapist Program charged Meifang Chen (MA60536653) with unprofessional conduct. In May 2018, in an agreed order, Chen’s license was suspended until she could submit a successful licensing exam score. In June 2022, Chen allegedly worked for a massage therapy business and performed massage on a client.

In February 2023 the Medical Assistant Program and Samantha Lynn McNeff (CM60645833) agreed to an order placing McNeff’s certified medical assistant license on probation for at least one year. She must also pay a $250 fine, complete additional continuing education, and have her employer submit quarterly performance evaluations. McNeff inappropriately accessed a patient’s personal medical information.

In February 2023 the Dental Commission charged dentist Shawn Martin Keller (DE00009100) with unprofessional conduct. Between 2018 and 2020, Keller allegedly performed substandard dental care for multiple patients and failed to provide adequate patient records when requested by investigators.

In February 2023 the Substance Use Disorder Professional Program, the Agency Affiliated Counselor Program and the Medical Assistant Program charged substance use disorder professional trainee, agency affiliated counselor and licensed medical assistant Victoria Mae Brase (CG61198947, CO61201298, CM60429714) with unprofessional conduct. Beginning in May 2022, Brase allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient.

Lewis County

In February 2023 the Dental Commission charged dentist John Pham (DE00008608) with unprofessional conduct. In May 2021, an investigator is alleged to have found that Pham performed unsupervised surgical extractions in violation of an order Pham entered in March 2020.

Pierce County

In February 2023 the Pharmacy Commission denied the pharmacy assistant license application of Michael Plaskett Jr. (VB61257506). Plaskett did not disclose on his license application that he had a 2009 conviction for failing to register as a sex offender.

In January 2023 the Chiropractic Commission and chiropractor Craig Patrick Lapenski (CH00003689) agreed to an order that places his license on probation for at least one year, permits the Commission to conduct unannounced inspections, requires Lapenski to pass the jurisprudence exam, and pay a $4,000 fine, among other actions. Lapenski owns a clinic that did not follow COVID-19 protocols such as employees masking and screening patients.

Skagit County

In February 2023 the Mental Health Program charged mental health counselor Amanda Light (LH00004924) with unprofessional conduct. Light allegedly created a relationship outside of a professional one with a patient that interfered with the provider-patient relationship. Charges state that Light entered into a landlord-tenant relationship with the patient and accepted $10,000 from the patient to install a hot tub where she allegedly conducted therapy sessions. Light also allegedly maintained a “trade for services” relationship, during which the patient performed manual labor, cooking and cleaning in lieu of insurance co-pays, among other violations.

Spokane County

In February 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program charged registered nursing assistant Reilly Alexa Claridge (NA61056216) with unprofessional conduct. While working as a home care aide trainee, she allegedly committed a traffic violation with a client’s car and the client paid the ticket. Charges state that she also borrowed money and household items, specifically baking molds, and did not return them.

In February 2023 the secretary of health charged mental health counselor Darren Vernon Rose (MC61183063) with unprofessional conduct. In August 2022, Rose allegedly used information he learned from a patient during a counseling session to then view the patient’s online pay-to-view sexual content, without the patient’s knowledge.

In February 2023 the secretary of health granted with conditions an agency affiliated counselor license to Leah Michelle King (CH61281619). King agreed to the conditions, which include probation for two years and quarterly performance evaluation reports.

In February 2023 the Nursing Commission charged registered nurse Paul Arthur Nichczynski (RN60049010) with unprofessional conduct. Nichczynski withdrew himself from a substance use monitoring program he was contracted to participate in.

Thurston County

In February 2023 the Board of Naturopathy charged naturopathic physician Michelle Lynn Kent (NT60912971) with unprofessional conduct. Kent allegedly appeared drunk to several patients and later allegedly failed a urine test during a period when she cared for patients.

Walla Walla County

In February 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program charged nursing assistant Antonin Rodrigo Rosales (NC10026031) with unprofessional conduct. Rosales allegedly had a romantic and sexual relationship with and accepted gifts from a patient.