Probation Committee
This committee monitors the compliance of licensees who have been disciplined and placed under conditions or license probation in Final Orders. The committee reviews required reports of compliance and requires personal appearances from probationers as part of ongoing monitoring, until such time as the conditions of probation are fulfilled. The committee presents recommendations to the full Board regarding further action when a licensee is determined to be out of compliance, or to restore full licensure when all conditions have been satisfactorily completed.
Staff Contact: Tammy Davis
Chair Luz Pages, M.D.
Member(s) Nicholas Romanello, Consumer Member – Vice Chair
Wael Barsoum, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.
Rules/Legislative Committee
This committee develops recommendations for amendment of Board rules or creation of new rules, to clarify standards or to impose requirements to strengthen patient protection and quality of care. This committee also makes recommendations to the full board regarding bills filed with the legislature.
Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland
Chair Sarvam TerKonda, M.D.
Member(s) Maria Garcia, Consumer Member – Vice Chair
Kevin Cairns, M.D.
Jorge Lopez, M.D.
Luz Pages, M.D.
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer Member
Zachariah Zachariah, M.D.
Council on Physician Assistants
The Council on Physician Assistants makes recommendations to the department on the licensure of physician assistants. It develops rules regulating the use of physician assistants by physicians and makes recommendations to the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine regarding all matters relating to physician assistants. It addresses concerns and problems of practicing physician assistants in order to improve safety in the clinical practice of a licensed physician assistant.
Staff Contact: Wendy Alls
Chair Dayne Alonso, PA
Member(s) John Byrnes, PA - Vice Chair
Ravi Chandra, MD
Katie Callaway, PA
Michelle Mendez, DO
Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine’s Joint Committee on Medical Marijuana
This committee was tasked with developing a consent form so the law could be implemented and qualified physicians could begin complying with the requirements for issuing a physician certification to a qualified patient. The Committee would be working on specific provisions of SB8-A passed during the 2017 Special Legislative Session and related to the medical use of marijuana.
Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland
Chair Sandra Schwemmer, D.O.
Member(s) Andre Perez, Consumer Member – Vice Chair
Jorge Gadea, D.O.
William Kirsh, D.O.
Jorge Lopez, M.D.
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer Member
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee
This committee reviews the Board’s rules relating to standard of care for office surgery to determine necessary and appropriate revisions to strengthen patient safety and minimize the risk factors that contribute to adverse patient incidents. This committee addresses issues related to quality of care and standards of practice and formulates policy recommendations for the full Board’s consideration and studies quality of care issues as they arise.
Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland
Chair Kevin Cairns, M.D.
Member(s) Wael Barsoum, M.D. – Vice Chair
Ravi Chandra, M.D.
Jorge Lopez, M.D.
Sarvam TerKonda, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Physician Certification Pattern Review Panel
Section 381.986, Florida Statutes requires the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to jointly create a physician certification pattern review panel that shall review all physician certifications submitted to the medical marijuana use registry. The panel shall track and report the number of physician certifications and the qualifying medical conditions, dosage, supply amount, and form of marijuana certified. The panel shall report the data both by individual qualified physician and in the aggregate, by county, and statewide. The physician certification pattern review panel shall, beginning January 1, 2018, submit an annual report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland
Chair Sandra Schwemmer, D.O.
Member(s) Andre Perez, Consumer Member – Vice Chair
Jorge Gadea, D.O.
William Kirsh, D.O.
Jorge Lopez, M.D.
Nicholas Romanello, Consumer Member
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Credentials Committee
This committee interviews license applicants whose prior history, including malpractice cases, raises questions of concern regarding the ability to practice with skill and safety, or questions about an applicant’s performance in medical school or prior practice in other jurisdictions. The committee reports to the full board with recommendations on approval or denial of applications.
Staff Contact: Wendy Alls
Chair Scot Ackerman, M.D.
Member(s) Eleonor Pimentel, M.D. – Vice Chair
Ravi Chandra, M.D.
Andre Perez, Consumer Member
Michael Wasylik, MD
Anesthesiologist Assistant Joint Committee
This committee interviews license applicants whose prior history, including malpractice cases, raises questions of concern regarding the ability to practice with skill and safety, or questions about an Anesthesiology Assistant applicant’s performance in school or prior practice in other jurisdictions. This committee also makes recommendations for rule creation and/or changes relating to the regulation of this profession.
Staff Contact: Wendy Alls
Chair Hector Vila, MD
Member(s) Eleonor Pimentel, MD – Vice Chair
Tiffany Sizemore Di Pietro, DO
Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine’s Joint Committee on Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee
This committee reviews the Board’s rules relating to standard of care for office surgery to determine necessary and appropriate revisions to strengthen patient safety and minimize the risk factors that contribute to adverse patient incidents. This committee addresses issues related to quality of care and standards of practice and formulates policy recommendations for the full Board’s consideration and studies quality of care issues as they arise.
Staff Contact: Bettye “Cherise” Strickland
Chair Kevin Cairns, M.D.
Member(s) Wael Barsoum, M.D. – Vice Chair
Ravi Chandra, M.D.
Tiffany Sizemore DiPietro, D.O.
Jorge Lopez, M.D.
Michelle Mendez, D.O.
Sandra Schwemmer, D.O.
Sarvam TerKonda, M.D.
Hector Vila, M.D.
Michael Wasylik, M.D.
Finance & Process Accountability
The purpose of this committee is to review the Board’s budgetary standing. In addition, this committee is tasked with following up on recommendations made with regard to process improvement.
Staff Contact: Cyrá Williams
Chair Andre Perez, Consumer Member
Member(s) Marcia Garcia, Consumer Member – Vice Chair
Scot Ackerman, M.D.
| Paul A. Vazquez, JD
Executive Director
|
Wendy Alls
Program Operations Administrator, Initial Licensure
Section: Initial Licensure Section
Responsibilities: Oversees the Initial Licensure Section, Credentials Committee Meeting Coordinator
Cherise Strickland
Program Operations Administrator
Section: Administrative and Licensure Maintenance Section
Responsibilities: Board meeting coordinator, new legislation
Angela Denson
Regulatory Supervisor Consultant
Section: Initial Licensure Section
Responsibilities: Oversees the Endorsement and Exam Licensure Section
Karrell Goldwire-Hayward
Regulatory Supervisor Consultant
Section: Initial Licensure Section
Responsibilities: Oversees the Endorsement and Exam Licensure Section
Shaila Washington
Regulatory Supervisor Consultant
Section: Administrative and Licensure Maintenance Section
Responsibilities: Oversees the Administrative Section
Tashunda Brown
Regulatory Supervisor Consultant
Section: Initial Licensure Section
Responsibilities: Oversees the Endorsement and Exam Licensure Section
Patrick Thorsson
Regulatory Supervisor Consultant
Section: Administrative and Licensure Maintenance Section
Responsibilities: Oversee functions of Registration/Inspection Programs
