FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 8, 2014
STATE BOARD OF MEDICINE TAKES DISCIPLINARY ACTION
WAKEFIELD: At its meeting on August 6, 2014 the state Board of Registration in Medicine took disciplinary action against the medical licenses ofKonstantino Avradopoulos, M.D.,
Gregory L. Lavigne, M.D., William P. Straub, M.D., David J. DiSanto, M.D., and William S. Belfar, M.D.
In a Consent Order, the Board suspended the license of Dr. Konstantino Avradopoulos after he agreed that his care of six patients was below the standard of care. The suspension of Dr. Avradopoulos’ license was immediately stayed upon his entry into a five year probation agreement that requires Dr. Avradopoulos to undergo annual assessments for fitness to practice medicine and to submit, for the Board’s approval, a practice plan that is consistent with recommendations made by his clinical skills assessment and any recommendations warranted by the annual assessments. Dr. Avradopoulos had voluntarily attended and completed a physician assessment and clinical education program. Dr. Avradopoulos graduated from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in 1988. He was first licensed in Massachusetts in 2000. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and last practiced at Harrington Hospital.
In another action, the Board reprimanded Dr. Gregory L. Lavigne after he agreed that he had been disciplined by the New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct for providing substandard psychiatric care of a patient. Dr. Lavigne graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1974 and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry.
He has been licensed in Massachusetts since 1975. Dr. Lavigne’s license has been inactive in Massachusetts since 1993. Dr. Lavigne currently practices in New York.
The Board accepted three resignations. Resignation is a disciplinary action which permanently removes a physician from practice. Dr. William P. Straub resigned his medical license. Dr. Straub is a 1963 graduate of Tufts School of Medicine who identifies his specialties as addiction medicine, family medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Straub has been licensed in Massachusetts since 1967. Dr. David J. DiSanto resigned his medical license. Dr. DiSanto is a 1977 graduate of the University of Texas Medical School, San Antonio. He is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Dr. DiSanto was licensed in Massachusetts from 1982 until his license was summarily suspended on July 9, 2014. He is licensed in Rhode Island. Dr. William S. Belfar resigned his right to renew his license. Dr. Belfar is a 1990 graduate of New York University School of Medicine. He was licensed in Massachusetts from 1993 until his license lapsed in 2012. Dr. Belfar is board-certified in Psychiatry.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine licenses more than 40,000 physicians, osteopaths and acupuncturists. The Board was created in 1894 to protect the public health and safety by setting standards for the practice of medicine and ensuring that doctors who practice in the Commonwealth are appropriately qualified and competent. The Board investigates complaints and determines sanctions. More information is available at
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