Meeting of the Board of Regents | October 2008

Summary

Issue for Decision

Should the Regents approve the appointment of Douglas E. Lentivech as Executive Secretary to the State Board for Chiropractic and Executive Secretary to the State Board for Respiratory Therapy?  Mr. Lentivech has over 14 years of experience as Assistant Counsel, assigned to the Office of Professions, providing legal advice and support, and for the past two years has also served as Acting Executive Secretary of the State Board for Chiropractic.

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State statute.

Proposed Handling

This recommendation will come before the full Board of Regents at its Executive Session for discussion during the October Regents meeting.  It will then come before the full Board for final action on October 21, 2008.

Procedural History

Section 6553 of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Chiropractic. Section 8503 of Education Law requires the Board of Regents to appoint the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Respiratory Therapy. 

Background Information

Douglas Lentivech has 14 years of varied and progressively responsible experience with the State Education Department.  After leaving the private practice of law to join the Department’s Office of Counsel, where he worked on a variety of education issues, he moved to the Office of the Professions where he has made significant and positive contributions.  Mr. Lentivech was responsible for overseeing the development of the Office’s web page that posts all of the Board of Regents disciplinary actions relating to licensed professionals.  This internet resource was the first comprehensive listing of professional discipline summaries in the nation and soon became a recognized model.  Mr. Lentivech continues to oversee this project, which has disciplinary information available, in summary form, for all of the Title VIII professions spanning from 1995 to the present.

Mr. Lentivech’s other responsibilities include providing legal advice and support to the Division of Professional Licensing, the Office of Professional Responsibility, and the State Boards for all 48 professions, including those for Chiropractic and Respiratory Therapy.  He has also worked with the Department’s Office of Counsel on a variety of matters including litigation support.  During the past several years Mr. Lentivech has provided support to the New York Attorney General’s Office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, serving as an expert witness and consultant in cases involving the professional responsibility and Medicaid/insurance fraud.  Mr. Lentivech also acts as the Office of the Professions’ Freedom of Information Officer.

Mr. Lentivech has served as Acting Executive Secretary to the State Board for Chiropractic since September 12, 2006.

Recommendation

              It is recommended that the Regents approve the appointment of Douglas E. Lentivech as Executive Secretary to the State Board for Chiropractic and Executive Secretary to the State Board for Respiratory Therapy.

Timetable for Implementation

If the Regents approve the recommendation, the appointment will be effective October 21, 2008.