Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
Newsleer
Hurstbourne Oce Park, 310 Whington Parkway, Suite 1B, Louisville, KY 40222
Phone (502) 429-7150 Fax (502) 429-7158 Website www.kbml.ky.gov
Summer 2024 Michael S. Rodman, Execuve Director William C. Thornbury, Jr., M.D., President
President
William C. Thornbury, Jr., M.D.
Glasgow
Vice President
Waqar A. Saleem, M.D.
Louisville
Secretary
Dale E. Toney, M.D.
Lexington
Aneeta R. Bhaa, M.D.
Louisville
Tamella B. Cassis, M.D.
Prospect
Vishnukant Joshi, D.O.
Louisville
Heidi M. Koenig, M.D.
Louisville
Karan S. Shah, M.D.
Louisville
Consumer Representaves
Sharmy R. Davis
Owensboro
James M Foster, Esq.
Hopkinsville
Katelyn Meckes
Lexington
Ex-Ocio Members
Joe E. Kingery D.O., Dean
University of Pikeville
Angela T. Dearinger, M.D.,
Execuve Vice-Dean
University of Kentucky
Mary Nan Mallory, M.D.,
Vice Dean for Clinical Aairs
University of Louisville
Steven J. Stack, M.D.
Commissioner for Public Health
Board Accepting Applications to Become a Medical Cannabis Practitioner
A medical cannabis practitioner, as defined by in KRS 218B.010, "means a physician
or an advanced practice registered nurse who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances
under KRS 314.042, who is authorized by his or her state licensing board to provide written
certifications pursuant to KRS 218B.050."
Physicians and advanced practice registered nurses ("APRNs") must be authorized
through their respective licensing board in order to register with the Program as a medical
cannabis practitioner. You can register as a practitioner through the Practitioner Authorization
Registration Portal here.
Medical cannabis practitioners may begin entering written certifications into the
practitioner registry on December 1, 2024. Patients will need their written certification, which is
valid for 60 days, before applying for a medical cannabis card with the Program. The Program
cannot accept applications for medical cannabis cards until January 1, 2025.
The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure ("KBML") has promulgated our regulation
regarding how physicians may become authorized to write written certifications for the use of
medical cannabis. You can read their regulation here. The Board has opened their application
for physicians to become authorized. You can find the application, along with more
information, here.
Please be advised that the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program has filed 5
regulations regarding patients and caregivers, including the written certification form that
medical cannabis practitioners will use. You can find all of the patient and caregiver
regulations here. For more information regarding patients and caregivers, please view our
Patient and Caregiver webpage.
Once medical cannabis practitioners are authorized and registered, the Program will
provide a list of registered medical cannabis practitioners on this website. For more
information about how to write written certifications, please click here.
Warning – Scammers are Still Attempting to Impersonate Board and
Government Officials
Please be aware the Board is still receiving reports of a widespread fraud scheme in
which telephone scammers are impersonating Board representatives in an attempt to extort
money or steal personal information. Over the past year, the Board has even noted the
scammers are employing more sophisticated tactics and have spoofed the Board main phone
number in attempt to convince their target that the call is legitimate and occasionally will send
documents on fake KBML letterhead.
Often, they will utilize an urgent and aggressive tone, refusing to speak or leave a
message with anyone other than the physician and threaten some kind of Board action or
action against the physician’s DEA unless thousands of dollars are wire transferred or sent via
untraceable gift card numbers or bitcoin. There have even been reports that these scammers
are informing physicians that involving their attorneys will only make things worse, which
certainly should raise a red flag. With these reports in mind, the Board would like to remind you
that our office does not operate in this manner and any correspondence from the Board would
appear on formal Board letterhead or from an email address ending with ky.gov. For instance,
It is important to note that physicians throughout the state have received these phone
calls. While the appropriate authorities have been made aware of these fraudulent attempts,
the Board encourages all its licensees to be on alert and are encouraged to contact our office
at (502) 429-7150 in the event you want to verify official board communications.
Board Orders can be viewed under the Physician Profile/Verification
of License link on the Board’s website: www.kbml.ky.gov
Board Action Report (actions taken since 04/01/2024)
Moutaz Al-Nabhan, M.D., Prospect, KY License #42043
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
John M. Bennett, M.D., Versailles, KY License #30690
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 5/22/2024
James J. Blake, M.D., Richmond, KY License #32744
Agreed Order of Surrender entered into 6/27/2024
Briana L. Boyd, M.D., Betsy Layne, KY License #40671
Order Terminating Second Amended Agreed Order issued
5/23/2024
Howard R. Bromley, M.D., Memphis TN License #56023
Agreed Order entered into 5/13/2024
Ngoc Jennifer Doan, P.A.-C, Louisville, KY License #PA3345
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 6/26/2024
Jitander S. Dudee, M.D., Lexington, KY License #30460
Order Terminating Order of Probation issued 4/26/2024
Gregory G. Duma, M.D., Mason, OH License #28974
Order Terminating Fourth Amended Agreed Order issued
4/26/2024
David M. Ellison, M.D., Latonia, KY License #47852
Agreed Order entered into 5/22/2024
David M. Ellison, M.D., Latonia, KY License #47852
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 5/29/2024
Andrew Epstein, D.O., Tuscon, AZ
Order Denying Application for Licensure issued 6/24/2024
Chris A. Ethridge, M.D., Lexington, KY License #55624
Agreed Order entered into 6/24/2024
Debbie G. Fibel, M.D., Lexington, KY License #26673
Agreed Order entered into 6/05/2024
John K. Garner, M.D., Campbellsville, KY License #31140
Agreed Order entered into 5/22/2024
David R. Geller, M.D., Louisville, KY License #36536
Agreed Order entered into 5/09/2024
Ehab Haj Ali, M.D., Prospect, KY License #45265
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
Kendall E. Hansen, M.D., Crestview Hills, KY License #25777
Order Dismissing Complaint issued 5/20/2024
Darin A. Harden, M.D., Louisville, KY License #32468
Order Terminating Third Amended Agreed Order issued
5/22/2024
Fatima Hussein, M.D., Ellicot City, MD License #C0526
Agreed Order entered into 6/21/2024
Fatima Hussein, M.D., Ellicot City, MD License #C0526
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 6/28/2024
Sajjad Jameel, M.D., Prospect, KY License #39870
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
Todd Stephen Jarosz, M.D., Lexington, KY License #51109
Order Terminating Fifth Amended Agreed Order issued
5/23/2024
Barbara Juriga, D.O., Murrells Inlet, SC
Order Denying Application for Licensure issued 4/01/2024
Mangesh H. Kanvinde, M.D., Cold Spring, KY License #39807
Agreed Order entered into 4/01/2024
Jeremy Luckett, M.D., Owensboro, KY License #44246
Agreed Order entered into 5/16/2024
Christopher A. Marek, M.D., Danville, KY License #34954
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 5/22/2024
Michael G. McIntosh, M.D., Fort Mitchell, KY License #19408
Agreed Order entered into 5/10/2024
Trung Nam Nguyen, D.O., Tyler TX License #04360
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/01/2024
Yogesh Patel, M.D., Brighton, CO License #53054
Agreed Order of Surrender entered into 6/24/2024
Loring Perry, M.D., Owensboro, KY License #59203
Agreed Order entered into 4/05/2024
Lawrence H. Peters, M.D., Louisville, KY License #31716
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
Stacey S. Roussell, M.D., Louisville, KY License #35005
Agreed Order entered into 6/03/2024
William Lawrence Gregory Siefert, M.D., Dayton, OH License
#46903
Agreed Order of Surrender entered into 4/25/2024
Nolan S. Smith, M.D., Louisville, KY License #R6838
Agreed Order entered into 6/28/2024
Thomas Paul Splan, M.D., Yorktown, VA License #50978
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
James R. Staheli, D.O., Sugar Hill, GA License #05138
Agreed Order entered into 5/14/2024
Venu Vemuri, D.O., Louisville, KY License #03034
Agreed Order entered into 5/16/2024
Courtnye A. Walker, M.D., Prairie Village, KA License #56168
Agreed Order entered into 5/10/2024
Scott Wilkes, P.A.-C., Lexington, KY License #PA3388
Agreed Order entered into 4/12/2024
William Roberts Wood, M.D., Dayton, OH License #51191
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 4/26/2024
Sajad Zalzala, M.D. Dearborn, MI License #52859
Agreed Order entered into 5/22/2024
Sajad Zalzala, M.D., Dearborn, MI License #52859
Order Terminating Agreed Order issued 6/26/2024
Restrictions have also been placed on the following physicians’
licenses pending resolution of charges brought against them.
Lawrence H. Peters, M.D., Louisville, KY License #31716
Emergency Order of Restriction issued 6/28/2024
Kentucky Department of Public Health Issues Health Alert
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) has been informed of a Louisville Metro based clinician prescribing
controlled dangerous substances (CDS) who surrendered their Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license, making this
clinician unable to continue prescribing such medications. Patients receiving care from this provider were receiving
prescriptions for medications including Opioids and Benzodiazepines. This incident has led to a disruption in access to care
and patient medical records for over 600 patients. Impacted patients are at-risk for withdrawal symptoms due to an abrupt
discontinuation of pain management and are more vulnerable to an overdose if they turn to the illicit drug supply given the high
rates of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Abrupt withdrawal from Opioids and Benzodiazepines can be life-threatening.
Recommendations for Health Care Providers: It is critical that patients who are prescribed CDS who lose access to their
prescribing provider are re-connected to healthcare services as quickly as possible. Patients with a primary care provider
should be encouraged to contact them immediately to discuss next steps in care. If the patient does not have a primary
care provider, they should be encouraged to call the number on the back of their insurance card to receive help in finding an
In-network provider to continue receiving care. Patients without health insurance coverage can be seen at a community mental
health center by visiting https://providerdirectory.dbhdid.ky.gov/.
Providers are also encouraged to:
• Counsel patients on the risks of abrupt discontinuation of pain management and withdrawal symptoms.
• Provide person-centered, non-judgmental, and trauma-informed care to patients.
• Educate patients about counterfeit pills in the illicit drug supply and the dangers of fentanyl. Remind patients that any
pill that was not directly obtained from a pharmacy may contain fentanyl, which increases the risk of a fatal overdose.
This includes pressed opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepine pills. Patients who are naïve to fentanyl (e.g., those
obtaining controlled substances from a regulated source) are at an extremely high risk of overdose if exposed to
fentanyl.
• Carry naloxone (Narcan) and encourage its use when a person’s respiration is depressed, or if an opioid overdose is
suspected.
• Provide information about harm reduction and safer use tips, including use of fentanyl test strips, trying a different route
of administration, carrying naloxone, and going slow/using less with a new substance.
• Refer individuals to local harm reduction agencies or other trusted, community based providers available to connect
patients to needed resources (i.e., sterile syringes, overdose education, HIV testing, fentanyl test strips, etc.). For more
information on Kentucky’s Harm Reduction Centers, visit https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/hab/Pages/
kyseps.aspx
Where to get Naloxone (Narcan): Kentucky residents can obtain free naloxone at participating distribution sites and by mail
for those without local access. Information and locations are available at https://findnaloxonenowky.org.
Treatment and Support:
• https://findhelpnow.org/ky is a 24-hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week suite of websites for people who have substance use
disorder (SUD) or friends and family of people with SUD can get immediate assistance.
• Support from live, Kentucky-based, trained individuals at the Operation UNITE KY HELP Statewide Call Center
Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm (EDT) and on Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (EDT).
1-8338- KY-HELP (1-833-859-4357)
• 988 is the nationwide 3-digit dialing code for Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention. 988 will connect people to
the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Compassionate, accessible care and support will be available for
anyone experiencing mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis. People
can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Interstate Medical License Compact
If you are interested in obtaining a medical license in another state, it is important to remember that the Kentucky
Board of Medical Licensure is now an active participant in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). Currently, over
half of the medical/osteopathic boards in the nation are participating in the IMLC, including some of our neighboring states such
as Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana.
For those not familiar with this concept, the IMLC is a legal agreement among participating states that allows
physicians to obtain expedited licensure in multiple states. This expedited licensure process requires that a physician hold a
full, unrestricted license in a member state and meet all 9 qualifying requirements, including such as specialty board
certification and an FBI fingerprint-based background check. A state where the physician holds the full, unrestricted license
verifies that the information on the IMLCC application is correct and has been primary source verified.
Once the application is approved, the verified information is sent to the states from whom the physician wishes to
receive licenses. Only states who have formally joined the IMLC can participate in this process. The IMLCC process requires
that all member boards issue a full, unrestricted license to the physician, which subjects the practice of medicine using that
license to that state’s medical practice act – just like all full, unrestricted licenses issued by that state.
For more information on the IMLC or if you are interested in applying for licensure in other states, please visit
https://www.imlcc.org/.
Reminder on Death Certificate Signatures
The Board would like to remind its licensees of the statutory requirement regarding the timely signature of death
certificates. Unfortunately, the untimely signing of death certificates continues to be one of the most frequent reasons why
grievances are filed against physicians.
According to KRS 213.076. medical certification shall be completed, signed, and returned to the funeral director within
five working days after presentation to the physician, dentist, or chiropractor in charge of the patient’s care for the illness or
condition which resulted in death, except when inquiry is required by KRS 72.400 to 72.475. In such cases, the coroner shall
complete and sign the certificate within five days after receiving results of the inquiry as required by KRS 72.400 to 72.475. In
the absence of the physician, dentist, or chiropractor, or with such person’s approval, the certificate may be completed and
signed by his associate physician, dentist, or chiropractor; the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred;
the physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent; or a physician employed by the local health department, if the
individual has access to the medical history of the case and death is due to natural causes.
Certifying a death certificate is an important final step in completing a patients care. Failure to comply with the statutory
requirement often causes the involved families additional hardships when it comes to issues such as probating estates,
insurance claims, social security, along with Veteran’s and retirement benefits. Unfortunately, all too often the primary excuse
the Board receives from physicians regarding this issue centers on the fact they were not made aware of the signature request.
The Board strongly encourages physicians to educate the members of their staff on the importance of bringing this matter to
their attention.
Please remember, Kentucky has an electronic registry, Kentucky Electronic Death Registration System (KY -EDRS),
which enables death records to be filed online with the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics (OVS), creating a paperless option.
The online KY-EDRS supports collaboration among multiple users including funeral homes, hospitals, nursing homes,
physicians, coroners, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, dentists, or chiropractors and OVS. With
KY-EDRS, funeral directors, physicians and medical certifiers can complete the death registration process faster with fewer
errors and more efficiently. By visiting the following link: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/vsb/Pages/kyedrs.aspx,
you will find more information on how to register for KY-EDRS along with information on how to receive training on the system.
Board Amends Definition of Immediate Family
The Board routinely enforces principles of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics discouraging physicians from treating
themselves or members of their “immediate family.” The Board, at its June 2024 meeting, amended its definition to the
following: “Immediate Family” is defined as “husband or wife; natural or adoptive parent; child, or sibling; stepparent, stepchild,
stepbrother, or stepsister; father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law; grandparent
or grandchild; spouse of a grandparent or grandchild; and any person residing in the same residence as the licensee.”
Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation Serving Kentucky Physicians and the Commonwealth
The Kentucky Physicians Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3), whose mission is the identification, evaluation, treatment,
reentry, and advocacy for professionals licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. The Foundation provides
support for physicians, physician's assistants, surgical technicians, genetic counselors, and athletic trainers.
For physicians not familiar with the work of the Foundation, it initially began in 1976 and has helped over 1800
professionals licensed by the Board impacted by addictive disease and mental or emotional illness. The Foundation can
provide the initial evaluation, assessment, testing, coordination, and post treatment monitoring for licensed medical
professionals who are struggling with substance use disorder, mental and emotional health issues, and distress/burnout. The
Foundation understands the ease of access to addictive substances and the unique stresses inherent to our profession, can
make medical professionals particularly vulnerable to substance use disorder and mental health issues. The Foundation
recognizes the unique challenges of treating these issues in the profession.
The Board strongly supports the work of the Foundation and does provide funding directly to it through a contract to
support its efforts of assisting licensed medical professionals. The Board strongly encourages any physician suffering from any
form of potential impairment to reach out to the Foundation for assistance. The Foundations’ medical director is Dr. Tina
Simpson, and you can reach her at their office by calling (502) 425-7761 or you can visit their website, www.kyrecovery.org
for more information .
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
310 Whittington Parkway, Suite 1B
Louisville, KY 40222
Change of Address Notice
All informaon provided below is used to update the licensee’s prole on the Board’s website www.kbml.ky.gov.
You may also change your address online by clicking here,
Date: _________________________________ License Number: _______________________
Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Pracce Address: _________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Pracce County: __________________________________________________________________________
Oce Phone Number: _____________________________________________________________________
Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________
*The Board does not publish your email address.
