State Disciplines Local Professionals

The Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs has taken disciplinary actions against 137 licensed or commissioned professionals and organizations in May including eight individuals in Bucks County.

According to a release, the bureau’s 29 boards and commissions license and oversee more than 780,000 active professionals and businesses, including a range of occu tions 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 for May included:

• Board of Accountancy: Marc Silverstein, licensed, of Holland, was assessed a $10,000 civil penalty for practicing public accounting without a current license.
• Board of Barber Examiners: Anthony V. Abate, t/d/b/a Tony Abate’s Barber Shop, licensed, of Fairless Hills, was assessed a civil penalty of $250 for failing to renew his barber license.
• Board of Cosmetology: Coette Heard, licensed, of Bensalem, had her license suspended for non-payment of a previously imposed civil penalty.
• Board of Medicine: Hitesh K. Patel, licensed, of Newtown, was assessed a $5,000 civil penalty and issued a formal reprimand based on disciplinary action taken against his license by the proper licensing authority of New Jersey and failing to report this disciplinary action to the board within 60 days.
• Board of Pharmacy: Mark E. Zulewski, licensed, of Bensalem, had his license suspended based on his felony conviction under the Drug Act.
• Robert D. Thompson, licensed, of Fairless Hills, had his license indefinitely suspended and was assessed a $1,000 civil penalty based on disciplinary action imposed by the proper licensing authority of another state and his failure to report it to the board within 90 days of final disposition.
• Board of Psychology: Annmarie P. Lynch, unlicensed, of Bensalem, was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $3,500 and cease and desist from engaging in the practice of psychology and holding herself out to the public as a psychologist because she held herself out to the public as a licensed psychologist by using a title or description of services incorporating the words "psychological," "psychologist" or "psychology" without being properly licensed.
• Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors: Jane Carol Collaso, licensed, of Yardley, had her license temporarily suspended because she presents an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety.

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 (800) 822-2113.