2021
Daniel R. Barnes, Tipp City, Ohio
- Rationale: Received professional discipline in 2021 from the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board for billing for services that were not provided to eight clients/patients in 2019. Self-reported billing for services that were not provided to several patients in 2020.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, I-R, III, III-D, III-G
- Sanction: Censure, effective July 22, 2021.
Carrie D. Johnson, Anna, Texas
- Rationale: Terminated services without discharge evidence or notice, failed to provide timely referrals for services, and failed to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines during a global pandemic.
- Code (2016): I, I-B, I-M, I-T, IV, IV-D
- Sanction: Censure, effective July 26, 2021.
Sharon Caroline Morin (Lovelace), New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Rationale: Educator license was revoked in 2019 by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Received professional discipline in 2020 from the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (“Massachusetts Board”) for being unfit to provide services competently and for failing to disclose the revocation of the Massachusetts educator license. Harassed individuals within professional associations through unprofessional emails, voicemails, and phone calls. Failed to self-report the receipt of professional discipline from the Massachusetts Board to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-R, IV, IV-D, IV-G, IV-T
- Sanction: Revocation of membership and certification for five years, effective July 22, 2021.
Jane E. Reck, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
- Rationale: Admitted to practicing without a license for 27 cumulative years and to receiving discipline in 2020 from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
- Code (2016): III, III-A, IV, IV-R
- Sanction: Censure, effective July 26, 2021.
Melissa Joye Jones, Little Rock, Arkansas
- Rationale: Failed to meet the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology’s on-site supervision requirements for clinical fellows and mentors, including failure to obtain pre-approval of alternate supervision for 100% remote telesupervision and negligently completing Clinical Fellow Report and Rating Forms, resulting in four clinical fellows submitting applications that lacked the required on-site supervision hours for ASHA certification.
- Code (2016): IV, IV-D, IV-E
- Sanction: Censure, effective April 20, 2021.
Emily Elisabeth Kautz, Grove City, Ohio
- Rationale: Failed to work collaboratively with school teaching staff and school leadership to ensure students received services per their Individualized Education Programs. Received professional discipline in a 2020 Consent Agreement with the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board (“Ohio Board”) for false statements about services that were not provided to five students. Failed to self-report receipt of professional discipline from the Ohio Board to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-B, I-Q, I-R, III, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-R, IV-T
- Sanction: Censure, effective April 29, 2021.
Kristina Hodges Ricks, Ayden, North Carolina
- Rationale: Received professional discipline in 2020 from the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists for fraudulent billing and false documentation of at least 91 speech therapy visits that were not provided.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-E, IV-R
- Sanction: Withholding of membership and certification for 10 years, effective April 29, 2021.
Laura Elizabeth Wilfong, Athens, Georgia
- Rationale: Admitted to inadequate recordkeeping and documentation for seven patients, 12–26 visits per patient, during 2018 and 2019.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-G, IV, IV-A, IV-D
- Sanction: Censure, effective April 29, 2021.
Joane Camille Williams, Grander, Indiana
- Rationale: Received professional discipline in 2020 from the Indiana Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Board (“Indiana Board”) for four instances of fraudulent documentation and billing. Failed to disclose on their 2019 Indiana licensure renewal application that their privileges at a health care facility had been suspended. Failed to self-report receipt of professional discipline from the Indiana Board to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-R, IV-T
- Sanction: Censure, effective April 23, 2021.
Deborah C. Gale, Vienna, Virginia
- Rationale: Received a consent order in 2020 from the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology for engaging in an inappropriate personal relationship with a patient, delaying providing requested treatment notes for the patient’s personal injury lawsuit, and divulging confidential patient information.
- Code (2016): I, I-P, III, III-B, IV, IV-D, IV-G, IV-R
- Sanction: Suspension of membership and certification for 36 months, effective April 2, 2021.
Alison Dawn Penrod, Windber, Pennsylvania
- Rationale: Failed to meet the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology’s onsite supervision requirements and falsely completed Clinical Fellow Report and Rating forms, which resulted in nine clinical fellows submitting ASHA certification applications that lacked the required onsite supervision hours.
- Code (2016): IV, IV-D, IV-E
- Sanction: Censure, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
Abby C. Connell, Charleston, South Carolina
- Rationale: Admitted in 2020 to the South Carolina Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology (“South Carolina Board”) that they provided a fraudulent hearing aid repair invoice and warranty to a patient, which resulted in the receipt of professional discipline from the South Carolina Board. Failed to respond to the ASHA Board of Ethics regarding the complaint against them. Failed to self-report the receipt of professional discipline from the South Carolina Board to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-C, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-P, IV-T
- Sanction: Withholding of membership and certification for 18 months, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
Jenny C. Hipp, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Rationale: Pled guilty in 2019 in Mississippi court to the charge of statutory rape. Failed to self-report her conviction from Mississippi criminal court to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): IV, IV-D, IV-H, IV-R, IV-S
- Sanction: Withholding of membership and certification for seven years, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
Cyndi L. Joplin, Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Rationale: Received professional discipline in 2019 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Division of Professional Regulation (“Illinois Department”) for billing for speech-language pathology services that were not provided to three Medicare patients. Failed to respond to the ASHA Board of Ethics regarding the complaint against them. Failed to self-report receipt of professional discipline from the Illinois Department in 2019 to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-P, IV-R, IV-T
- Sanction: Withholding of membership and certification for 12 months, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
Kimberly K. Olson, Nampa, Idaho
- Rationale: Admitted to the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology that they committed professional misconduct and were chronically absent, resulting in failure to provide services and to maintain accurate student educational records.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-R
- Sanction: Censure, effective Dec. 22, 2020.
Melanie J. Palcic, Colorado City, Colorado
- Rationale: Pled guilty in 2020 in Colorado court to the felony of Medicaid fraud in excess of $1 million. Failed to self-report the guilty plea and felony conviction from Colorado court, and receipt of professional discipline from the Colorado Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification, to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, III, III-D, III-G, IV, IV-D, IV-E, IV-S, IV-T
- Sanction: Withholding of membership and revocation of certification for 10 years, effective Jan. 4, 2021.
Tommi Ann Wilde, South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
- Rationale: Admitted in 2019 to the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (“Virginia Board”) that they failed to complete records, initial evaluations, and routine treatment notes for at least 131 patients, which resulted in the receipt of professional discipline from the Virginia Board. Failed to self-report the receipt of professional discipline from the Virginia Board to ASHA Standards and Ethics.
- Code (2016): I, I-Q, IV, IV-R, IV-T
- Sanction: Censure, effective Dec. 24, 2020.