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April 15, 2011
The Maryland Board of Occupational Therapy Practice (Board)
Spring Grove Hospital Center
55 Wade Avenue – Bland Bryant Building – 4th Floor (Room 409)
Conference Room
Chairperson: Joyce Ford, COTA/L
8:30 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENTNON-BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

Joyce Ford, COTA/L, ChairpersonDonna Ashman, Executive Director

Christine Moghimi, MS, OTR/L, Vice ChairpersonGrant Gerber, Board Counsel, OAG

Iyna Adams, OTR/L, CPAMMarilyn Pinkney, Licensing Coordinator

Kamala Stevenson, MS, OTR/L

Jocelind Julien, Consumer Member

Meenakshi Gupta, Consumer Member

BOARD MEMBER ABSENT

Mr. Kshepakaran, M.Ed., OTR/L

GUEST

Kristen Neville, Legislative & Regulations Coordinator

  1. Ms. Ford called the General Session meeting to order at 9:17 a.m. Ms. Ford read the following

summary:

Except in instances when the Board of Occupational Therapy expressly invites public testimony, questions,

comments, or other forms of public participation, or when public participation is otherwise authorized by law, no member of the

public attending an open session may participate in the session.

2. Ms. Moghimi amended the General Session Agenda, April 15, 2011. Ms. Julien seconded the motion.

The Board voted unanimously in favor.

3. Ms. Stevenson motioned to approve the General Session Minutes, February 18, 2011. Ms. Gupta

seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor.

REPORTS

1. Mr. Gerber announced the appointment of Mr. Josh Aurerbach, Principal Counsel of

the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

  1. Ms. Neville, Legislative & Regulation Coordinator, provided a summary of the 2011 Legislative Session. Ms. Neville summarized the bills that may have a direct or indirect impact on the Board.
  1. Ms. Adams stated that the continuing education review is up to date with no special cases at this time.
  1. Ms. Ashman reported that Ms. Gupta has been reappointed to the Board until July 1, 2015. Ms. Gupta will proceed with the process of taking the oath of office in July 2011 and provide the Board office with documentation. Ms. Ashman will contact governmental appointments regarding the upcoming reappointments of Ms. Stevenson and Mr. Kshepakaran.

4b. Ms. Ashman will discuss with Board office staff the necessity of sending out an e-blast to licensees

regarding the on-line renewal difficulties for those who use Mac Computers. Ms. Ashman provided

an update on the renewal as of April 4th of 532 occupational therapists 91 occupational therapy

assistants.

4c1. The Board had discussion on an email inquiry dated March 3, 2011. As a result of Board discussion,

Ms. Ashman will provide a response to the licensee.

4c2. The Board had discussion on an email inquiry dated March 10, 2011. Ms. Ashman will draft a

response with assistance from Ms. Moghimi and Ms. Stevenson.

4c3. The Board had discussion on an email inquiry dated April 5, 2011. Based on Board discussion,

Ms. Ashman will provide a response to the inquiry.

4c4. The Board had discussion on an email inquiry dated April 6, 2011. Mr. Gerber stated that he would

contact the licensee to discuss the matter.

4d. Ms. Ashman provided a summary from the NBCOT Recertification Task Force Conference she

attended in March 2011.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  1. Ms. Ashman reminded the Board members to contact the Ethics Commission if they have any questions regarding the financial disclosure requirement.

2. Ms. Ashman provided a copy of the State Stats report, which is provided to the Department of Health

each month. The Board had discussion on the content of the report and agreed that it contains public

information which would be appropriate to publish on the Board’s website.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Ms. Stevenson requested ratification of 30 occupational therapy applications and 7 occupational

therapy assistant applications processed in March. In addition, 7 occupational therapy applications and

6 occupational therapy applications were submitted for ratification. Ms. Adams motioned to accept the

applications for licensure. Ms. Stevenson seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously in favor.

February 23 – March 31, 2011

Occupational TherapistsOccupational Therapy Assistants

Ali BinishBrook McKee

Amy CarpenterAshley Divelbiss

Laura EalyKristy VanMeter

Megan RhodaJennifer Dougherty

Caitlin SynovecLeslie Profit

Brandy BushJodi Tunstall

Ileana Sanchez-Vazquez – ReinstatementSteven Lapin

Darsha Desai

Ashley Harvey

Anna Haskell

Jill Kisner

Megan Federle

Elizabeth Allen

Kathryn Ellis

Sarah Ford

Tracy Jaquith

Amy Said

Heather Schondebare

Katrina Stransky

Lea Curcio

Jacqueline Dimon

Jessica Jones

Nicolaus Mather

Kristen Pennington

Christina Hamilton

Amrit Gill

Sarah Sawyer

Mary Woodbury – Reinstatement

Kerri Taylor

Jennifer DiStefano

April 1 – 14, 2011

Molly FieldsendJill McVicker

Kathleen Subasic – ReinstatementLisa Sessionss

Debbie AllenAmanda Smith

Farida SitaGina Stango

Esha PradhanBrenda Meiron

Aassata LumumbaAvonda Paul - Reactivation

Valerie Snare

  1. The Board reviewed drafts of the General Session Agenda and the Workshop Agenda for May 20th.

Ms. Ashman requested that the General Session be held from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Limiting the

meeting to brief updates would provide more time for the Board workshop scheduled to begin after the

General Session.

3. The Board agreed to have the Board Workshop luncheon at the café on the campus premises.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  1. Ms. Ashman announced that Ann Tyminski, Executive Director for the Board of Physical Therapy

Examiners is retiring.

ADJOURNMENT

Pursuant to the Maryland Government Article, Section 10-508(a)(13), Annotated Code of Maryland, Ms. Ford adjourned the General Session meeting at 10:50 a.m.

Submitted by:

Marilyn Pinkney

Marilyn Pinkney

Licensing Coordinator

L:\OT\MARILYN\Agendamin2011\April 2011\General session mintues 4.15.11.doc