For immediate release: May 1, 2023 (23-057)
Contact: DOH Communications
Public inquiries: Health Systems Customer Service 360-236-4700
OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Health has revoked or suspended the licenses, certifications, or registrations of the following health care providers in our state. The department has also immediately suspended the credentials of people who have been prohibited from practicing in other states.
The department’s Health Systems Quality Assurance Division works with boards, commissions and advisory committees to set licensing standards for more than 80 health care professions (e.g., dentists, nurses, counselors). Information about disciplinary action taken against medical doctors and physician assistants can be found on the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) website. Questions about WMC disciplinary actions can be sent to media@wmc.wa.gov.
Information about health care providers is on the agency’s website. Click on “Health Care Provider Lookup” under the “Find it Fast” section of the Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov). The site includes information about a health care provider’s license status, the expiration and renewal date of their credential, disciplinary actions and copies of legal documents issued after July 1998. This information is also available by calling 360-236-4700. Consumers who think a health care provider acted unprofessionally are also encouraged to call and report their complaint.
Clallam County
In March 2023 the Hearing and Speech Board indefinitely suspended the hearing aid specialist credential of Thomas S Gilliam (HA00002496). Gilliam practiced with an expired credential. Gilliam may petition for reinstatement if he pays a fine of $1,000 and completes a minimum of 4 hours continuing education in the areas of law and ethics.
Cowlitz County
In April 2023 the secretary of health summarily suspended the registered nursing assistant license of Amanda Michelle Cobb (NA60560947) pending further disciplinary proceedings. In January 2023, Cobb was placed on the Department of Social and Health Services’ Adult Protective Services long-term care abuse and neglect registry.
King County
In March 2023 the Dental Quality Assurance Commission indefinitely suspended the dentist license and dentist moderate sedation with parenteral agents permit of Daniel Ghorbani (DE00009770, CS60276151). Ghorbani did not comply with a December 2020 disciplinary order that required, among other things, 70 hours of continuing education, fines totaling $50,000, and refunds to patients.
Snohomish County
In April 2023 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the phlebotomist medical assistant license of Staci April Morrison (PC61313938). Morrison withdrew herself from a substance use monitoring program she was required to participate in as part of a 2022 agreement to practice with conditions.
In April 2023 the Chiropractic Commission placed the chiropractor license of Gordon Aubrey Myco (CH00003460) on probation with conditions. Department of Health investigations in 2020 and 2021, found that Myco did not require patients or staff at a clinic he owns to wear face coverings, follow social distancing, or screen for COVID-19. The conditions of the probation are that Myco must update his office policy to align with current health recommendations, take and pass a jurisprudence exam, submit an essay on the topic of public health laws, attend and complete an ethics examination, attend and complete an ethics course, pay a $10,000 fine, and allow unannounced inspections up to 4 times annually for 2 years.
Spokane County
In April 2023 the Pharmacy Commission and Glodi Kingombe Pongo (VB60780264, IR60924702) agreed to the suspension and subsequent probation of his pharmacist assistant and pharmacist intern credentials. In October 2019, Kingombe Pongo was found by Washington State University to have engaged in academic dishonesty and in November 2021 he was terminated from his pharmacy employment for theft and leaving work while clocked in.
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