Four Bucks Professionals Disciplined in October

The Department of State took disciplinary actions against 68 licensed or commissioned professionals and organizations during October, including four in Bucks County. Another Bucks County professional was disciplined the previous month.

The bureau’s 29 boards and commissions license and oversee more than 900,000 active professionals and businesses, including a range of occupations in health and business-related fields.

Violations of the law or state regulations may result in disciplinary actions of civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of a license.

Sanctions in Bucks County included:

• Board of Accountancy: Alexander A. Cicchitti, license no. C030458L, of Warminster, was ordered to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $600 and, within six months of the effective date of the order, complete three hours of continuing professional education in tax subjects because he failed to complete at least eight credit hours of continuing education in tax subjects during the January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 renewal period and also failed to provide documentation in response to a notice of audit of the Board.
• Board of Accountancy: Paren H. Dixit, license no. CA042342, of Yardley, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $300 and, within six months of the effective date of the order, complete eight hours in accounting and auditing subjects of continuing professional education because he did not complete the requisite 16 credit hours of continuing professional education in accounting and auditing subjects during the biennial reporting period and also obtained his license by false representation.
• Board of Osteopathic Medicine: Christopher Julio Vassalluzzo, license no. OS007242L of New Hope, was immediately suspended, pending a hearing, on the grounds that his continued practice in the Commonwealth may be an immediate and clear danger to public health and safety.
• Board of Psychology: Jonathan Andrew Roberds, license no. PS016345 of Chalfont, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $2,500, complete 30 hours of remedial education in ethics issues and boundary issues, and had a public reprimand placed on his permanent board record because he provided psychological services outside the boundaries of his competence and engaged in a dual relationship and/or a relationship, which might impair his professional judgment or increase the risk of exploitation.
• PA Board of Nursing: Susan Schneider Nestory, license no. RN261746L of Doylestown, license was indefinitely suspended for no less than three years, stayed in favor of no less than three years of probation, subject to terms and conditions, because she is unable to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, addiction to drugs or alcohol, or mental incompetence. (Disciplined in September)

Anyone who suspects unlicensed activity by an individual or facility, or who has been a victim of unethical treatment, can file a complaint either online or through the bureau’s hotline at 1-800-822-2113.