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OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has taken disciplinary actions or withdrawn charges against the following health care providers in our state.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 October 2023 the Board of Nursing (formerly the Nursing Commission) ended the terms and conditions on the registered nurse license of Francisco Javier Merino (RN61070327).

King County

In October 2023 the Unlicensed Practice Program notified Staten C. Medsker (CH00002796) of its intent to issue a cease-and-desist order. In November the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission revoked Medsker’s license to practice as a chiropractor. Charges state that between December 2022 and January 2023, Medsker provided chiropractic treatment of a patient and represented himself as a sports chiropractor without a current license.

In October 2023 the secretary of health terminated the probation on the massage therapist license of Baichao Liu (MA60418600).

In October 2023 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission and Steven M. Kim (DE00007445) entered an agreed order on his dentist license. Kim must pay a $5,000 fine and reimburse the commission for $2,335.12 in expenses. Kim must submit to unannounced infection control inspections twice a year for two years. He must contract with an outside vendor to manage infection control in his office with monthly visits for two years. He must also complete 30 hours of continuing education in the areas of infection control and in emergency management. In November 2021, as part of an earlier order, Kim agreed to unannounced infection control inspections, which he failed.

In August 2023 the secretary of health granted Shauna Barbara Jane Rogers-Durham (CO61422512, NC61396457) licenses to practice as a certified nursing assistant and substance use disorder professional trainee with conditions on the licenses. Rogers-Durham must contact a monitoring program and, if required, enroll in the monitoring program. In April 2021, Rogers-Durham entered a deferred prosecution agreement on charges of physical control of a vehicle while under the influence, a gross misdemeanor. In December 2019, she was convicted of first-degree negligent driving, a misdemeanor.

In October 2023 the secretary of health granted Rachel Cecelia Engh (CG61421344, MC61465662) licenses to practice as a mental health counselor associate and as an agency affiliated counselor with conditions on the licenses. The licenses will be on probation for two years, during which time an approved professional must supervise Engh’s practice and submit quarterly performance evaluation reports. In April 2021, Engh was convicted of driving while having a measurable blood alcohol level in California. In March 2022 the Board of Behavioral Sciences, Department of Consumer Affairs, State of California revoked Engh’s license to practice as a marriage and family therapist.

In November 2023 the Massage Therapy Program charged massage therapist Meijun Guo (MA60374295) with unprofessional conduct. Guo allegedly failed to maintain client treatment records and worked under their license despite reporting to a DOH investigator she had not worked in massage since October 2021.

In November 2023 the X-Ray Technician Program and Medical Assistant Program charged registered x-ray technician and certified medical assistant Sheylyn Taree Karkhanin (CM60376683, XT60146872) with unprofessional conduct. Between January and October 2019, while working at a correctional facility, Karkhanin allegedly had sexual relationships with patients, provided drugs to patients, and accessed and shared patient medical information without consent. These allegations are findings from a Department of Corrections Prison Rape Elimination Act investigation initiated in October 2019.

Pierce County

In November 2023 the Medical Assistant Program charged certified medical assistant Veronica Irene Wrinkle (CM61048209) with unprofessional conduct. In August 2021, Wrinkle allegedly practiced below the standard of care by misplacing an injection given to a patient.

In October 2023 the secretary of health granted Duane E. Serrano (CG61454234) a license to practice as an agency affiliated counselor with conditions on the license. The license will be on probation until at least December 29, 2023, during which time an approved professional must supervise Serrano’s practice and submit quarterly performance evaluation reports. In June 2001, Serrano was convicted of first-degree driving while license suspended, a gross misdemeanor. In 2007, 2008, and 2010, Serrano was convicted of violating a protection order, all gross misdemeanors. In June 2012, Serrano was convicted of third-degree and fourth-degree assault, a class C felony, and a gross misdemeanor, respectively. In July 2018, Serrano was convicted of driving under the influence, a gross misdemeanor. In February 2021, Serrano was convicted of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, a class C felony.

Skagit County

In November 2023 the Massage Therapist Program reinstated the massage therapist license of Shannon Jean McCain (MA60921442) with conditions on the license. The license is on probation for three years, during which time McCain cannot own, operate, or work as a supervisor at a massage school. During the period of probation, an approved professional must supervise McCain’s practice and submit quarterly performance evaluation reports. McCain must allow an investigator to audit patient records, on an unannounced basis, for three years. Between January 2018 and November 2021, McCain taught and supervised students without an active license and failed to maintain proper records.

Snohomish County

In September 2023 the Nursing Assistant Program amended the charges of unprofessional conduct against registered nursing assistant Jackson Simosi Nyarangi (NA60552782). The amended charges include that in July 2023 Nyarangi was placed on the Department of Social and Health Services long-term care abuse and neglect registry for allegedly neglecting a vulnerable adult.

Spokane County

In November 2023 the Medical Assistant Program charged certified medical assistant Annabel Morando (CM60362194) with unprofessional conduct. Charges state that Morando engaged in sexual misconduct with a patient, and other incarcerated inmates.

Thurston County

In November 2023 the Board of Nursing (formerly the Nursing Commission) charged licensed practical nurse Norma Mendoza Allarde (LP00039075) with unprofessional conduct. Between January and February 2022, Allarde allegedly documented completion of physician-ordered wound care for a patient but did not provide the care as documented.

Out of State

Georgia: In November 2023 the Board of Nursing (formerly the Nursing Commission) charged registered nurse Wendy Cotney Farr (RN61079840) with unprofessional conduct. In October 2022, Farr allegedly failed to comply with a monitoring contract by missing substance use tests, testing positive for alcohol, and withdrawing from a monitoring program before the monitoring contract was complete.