Edgewood doctor allowed unlicensed assistant to practice medicine, investigation finds

BY MEGHAN GOTH | LINK nky MANAGING EDITOR

An Edgewood physician who allowed an unlicensed assistant to administer anesthesia is no longer allowed to practice medicine in Kentucky, according to an agreed order from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

In an investigation released June 1, the state medical board found that Pragya B. Gupta, who specializes in interventional pain management, allowed Donald Jay Thomas to actively participate in patients’ care, including the administration of anesthesia via IV.

Thomas, Gupta said in response to the investigation, “is a trained medical assistant.”

But the board did not find such training to be adequate.

“My conclusion is that Donnie J. Thomas is practicing medicine without a license,” the investigation reads. “This represents an immediate threat to the safety and health of the citizens of Kentucky.”

The investigation goes on to say that while Gupta, who practiced at a clinic on Barnwood Drive in Edgewood, considers Thomas to be a medical assistant because of his training, “(Gupta) conceded that Mr. Thomas has no certification.”

The situation was brought to the board’s attention in a January 2023 complaint.

The complaint states that Thomas was introduced to a patient as the office manager, but that he was an active participant in the patient’s care.

“On multiple occasions, he was the individual who administered the anesthesia,” the complaint said. “He would ask Dr. Gupta how much to administer and then measure out and give the doses by iv.”

The patient goes on to describe complications she experienced during and after the procedures intended to treat fibromyalgia, including swelling and a possible allergic reaction. The complaint also states that she was given more anesthesia than necessary and was prescribed the incorrect dosage of medication.

Gupta responded to the complaint on Feb. 12, calling Thomas a trained medical assistant and saying that he did not recall a patient having any type of allergic reaction.

The board responded on March 21, saying that it found the patient had been overmedicated, among other things. Gupta responded by saying that the patient was difficult to manage.

“I spent anywhere from 1-2 hours with her each visit and could not document everything that transpired during the visit,” Gupta said in the response. “I treated her with FDA-approved combination medicine for fibromyalgia, as she failed all other treat-

ments, but she did not respond.”

In May, Gupta informed the board that he is moving to California and is planning to take a job there starting in October. He told the board all patients were transferred to another physician, that May 18 was his last day and that he would perform no further procedures in Kentucky.

According to his website, Gupta is also an assistant professor in anesthesiology and pain medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, though the university’s website does not list him as being on staff.

On his clinic’s website, Gupta lists current licensure in four states: Kentucky, California, Ohio and Massachusetts.

“Dr. Gupta has been practicing pain medicine (interventional and non-interventional) since 2002 in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area,” the website reads. “He has treated more than 4500 patients under the auspices of the Advanced Pain Treatment Center.”

Also on the website, Gupta wrote a statement saying that he would be transferring patients to a new physician.

“It has been a pleasure caring for you over the past two decades. I appreciate the opportunity to have been involved in your care,” the statement reads. “As I move on to further my research ambitions, I welcome Pain Specialists of Cincinnati to the space I’ve called home for most of my career.

“Dr. Zeeshan Tayeb, along with many familiar faces from Advanced Pain Treatment Center, will continue your care moving forward. Since providing notice in April, many of you have already completed your medical records release form to transfer your charts to the new practice.”

Kenton County officer graduates from state basic training academy

A Kenton County police officer graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s basic training academy.

James M. Treadway graduated from Class 539 with 26 other officers from around the commonwealth.

Officers in the class received more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over 20 weeks. Major training areas include patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law, traffic and DUI, firearms, criminal investigations, cultural awareness, bias-related crimes and tactical responses to crises.

“Congratulations to these men and women who have dedicated themselves to 20 weeks of extensive basic training,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “I ask the commonwealth to join me and First Lady Beshear in prayer for a safe and fulfilling career of service for these heroes.”

Enzweiler institute to provide skilled trades training Kenton students

Kenton County public and private high school students will soon be able to take courses from the Enzweiler Building Institute during the regular school year.

As outlined in an agreement between the county and the institute on June 13, Enzweiler will provide “skilled trades training to 240 Kenton County public and private high school students and 400 Kenton County adults over the coming years,” according to an announcement.

Through the program, high school students will be able to attend an introduction to trades program throughout the school year.

The county also recently committed $3.5 million to assist Enzweiler with “operational and gap financing for the full build out of their new Covington location on Winston Avenue in Latonia,” according to the announcement.

New tapas restaurant Conserva offers taste of Spain in Ludlow

munity with food and wine,” Challis Hodge said. “It was clear to me that few places in the world do that better than the tapas culture in Spain.”

Her family has been in the wine and spirits business for some time. Both she and Challis come from career backgrounds in marketing, advertising and technology but leaped into the food business in 2019.

“We believe strongly that if you put something in your body, you should know where it comes from, and that there is a story behind all good food and wine,” Challis said.

Conserva opened in Ludlow in January, offering folks around Northern Kentucky Spanish-inspired food, drinks and vibes.

The restaurant is helmed by Ludlow residents Challis and Lauren Hodge. The two also own and operate Ludlow's Taste on Elm, a curated market and café with local and international foods and specialty wines.

“I started with our mission to create com-

The food, wine, beer, ciders, sherry, vermouth, sangria and cocktails are all authentically Spanish. The Hodges have been curating Spanish-preserved seafood, including mussels in salsa brava and scallops in Galician sauce, since 2019.

“Our ultimate goal is for people from Spain to feel like they’re at home, people who’ve traveled to Spain to feel like they’ve gone back and people who have never been to Spain to feel like they experienced it right here in Ludlow," Challis Hodges said.

Conserva also hosts events and special dinners that include sherry dinners and Tapas Culture 101 and 102. The new owners plan to add more events in the future and to introduce wood-fired paella. You'll find live music, including Spanish guitar, tango and flamenco, on the weekends from performers such as London Scholle and Phil Strange.

The Hodges hope to continue growing their community and food footprint in Ludlow.

“We would love more than anything to see Ludlow grow and flourish and pursue future concepts in our hometown!” Challis Hodge said.

The menu offers dishes like savory mejillones (mussels) en salsa brava or patatas (potatos) a la riojana. Grab a bite while you sip on a mahon gin and tonic.

Conserva is open from 5-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Young Professionals group names Wice as Legend Award winner

The Northern Kentucky Young Professionals announced that Kenton County Community Development Manager Josh Wice will receive the Legend Award at its 2023 Next Generation Leader Awards.

The Legend Award is presented to an individual “that has continued to inspire leadership and career success among young professionals,” according to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Wice is a native of Northern Kentucky and a graduate of Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University. He is the first community development leader for Planning and Development Services of Kenton County.

Previously, he served as director of business and community development for the city of Florence and vice president for strategic initiatives and investor relations for REDI Cincinnati. He then returned to Florence, where he served as its city administrative officer for two years.

“I am very honored to receive this recognition from the Northern Kentucky Young Professionals,” Wice said. “I look back at my ability to serve our region through LEGACY as one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my life to date. I would encourage those just starting their careers to remain committed to our region and urge nothing less than excellence and results in the organizations you’re involved in. Being able to help build the organizational structures and boost the potential for our region to grow is something I am grateful for.”

The awards will be held at Newport Aquarium from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. The cost of attendance is $50. A discounted rate of $40 is available for members of the Young Professionals.

I-75 in Kenton, Grant counties undergoing lane closures until November

A portion of road about five miles long on I-75 passing through Grant and Kenton counties is undergoing ongoing road closures until November, according to a recent announcement from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The closures are the result of a resurfacing project taking place along northbound Interstate 75 from just south of exit 166 into Crittenden to about five minutes to the north near the Kenton/Boone county border.

“Crews will be working on pavement repairs and resurfacing, drainage repairs, guardrail work, cross slope correction and erosion repairs,” according to a statement from the cabinet.

“Motorists should expect northbound lane closures,” it said. “Two lanes will remain open during daytime hours. During eve ning/overnight hours, a single lane of traf fic will remain open. Two lanes of traffic will reopen the following morning. Weath er permitting, crews are expecting to work overnight through late June. Once over night work is complete, I-75 northbound will be maintained to two lanes.”

After work on the northbound lanes is com pleted, crews will complete similar work on the southbound lanes. Time frames for when and how long the southbound lanes will close will be announced as the project progresses. The cabinet hopes to complete all work by November.

Ky. school district plans policy changes after investigation into racial harassment

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A Kentucky school district has agreed to make “institutional changes” to settle a federal investigation into complaints of widespread harassment of Black and multiracial students, the U.S. Justice Department announced.

The investigation of the Madison County School District, launched in October 2021, uncovered numerous cases of race-based harassment in which Black and multiracial students were subjected to derogatory racial comments by their peers, the Justice Department said in a news release. It found that the district failed to “consistently or reasonably” address the problems, including racial taunts and intimidation, at times reinforced by displays of the Confederate flag, the department said.

When the district did respond, it often failed to follow its own anti-racial harassment policies and ineffectively addressed the “broader hostile environment,” the department said. The situation deprived Black and multiracial students of equal access to educational opportunities, the DOJ said.

“Racial harassment inflicts grievous harm on young people and violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will create the institutional changes needed to keep Black and multiracial students safe and to provide them with a supportive educational environment.”

The school district – based in Richmond, Kentucky, about 28 miles southeast of Lexington – said it fully cooperated with the investigation.

“The district will continue working closely with the U.S. Department of Justice to implement policy and procedure changes outlined in the agreement, particularly those that pertain to the tracking and analyzing of data pertaining to racially motivated incidents,” the district said in a statement on June 13.

It agreed to retain a consultant to revise anti-discrimination policies. It also plans to create three new positions to oversee how racial discrimination complaints are handled and will update how it tracks and responds to race-based harassment. Additional measures will include training staff to identify, investigate and respond to racial harassment and discriminatory discipline practices and informing students and parents how to report harassment and discrimination.

OK House OKs requiring defibrillators at schools, arenas after Hamlin incident

be required before the start of any athletic season.

The measure also calls for the Ohio Department of Health to develop a model emergency action plan for schools, centers and sports groups to adopt regarding the use of AEDs.

The proposal now heads to the Senate for consideration.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs, could be placed in nearly every school and sports or recreation venue in Ohio under a proposal that cleared the Republican-dominated House on June 14 with overwhelming bipartisan support.

The legislation, sparked by the sudden cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin in January on the field during a football game in Cincinnati against the Bengals, would require that all public schools, municipally owned sports and recreation locations, such as gymnasiums and swimming pools, and some private schools have on-site AEDs.

It cleared the chamber on an 84-6 vote.

Current Ohio law allows school districts to require AEDs on site, but it’s an elective decision that’s left to individual districts.

State Rep. Adam Bird of New Richmond, one of the bill’s sponsors, said he’s confident many districts already have AEDs, but making it a requirement can help further protect students.

Under the bill, employees would be required to undergo special training on how to use AEDs and recognize the signs of cardiac arrest. Informational sessions for students on sudden cardiac arrest would

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An NCAA panel is calling for the removal of marijuana from the organization’s list of banned drugs, suggesting that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing substances.

The proposal from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports would mark a big change for the NCAA, which has been conducting drug tests at championship events since 1986. Committee members recommended halting cannabis tests at such events until a final decision is made, likely this fall.

Legislation would still have to be introduced and approved by all three NCAA divisions to take effect. Administrators in Divisions II and III had asked the committee to study the issue.

The recommendation comes as the U.S. is seeing more states allowing medical or recreational marijuana use.

Earlier this year, the committee increased the THC threshold needed for a positive test and recommended revamped penalties for athletes. The threshold for THC –the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – was raised from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter, matching that of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Bill & Betsy Scheben center lands Kentucky Colonels grant

Thanks to a grant for $11,000 from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the Bill & Betsy Scheben Care Center, located in Florence, can now purchase an additional vehicle for its Medicaid Transportation Program. The care center provides medical adult day care, as well as regional Medicaid transportation for medically compromised, differently abled and elderly people in our community. The Colonels were able to award $3.1 million this year to 343 nonprofits supporting 3.8 million Kentuckians.

Kenton County Pioneer Award honoree adds to family legacy

Kenton County officials have recognized Dave Schroeder, executive director of the

Kenton County Public Library, with a 2023 Kenton County Pioneer Award. The award is given to four county residents who have a record of outstanding service to the community. Under Schroeder’s leadership, the library has been ranked as one of the top library systems in the country and is known as a leader in innovation and support to the community. His late father, Ken Schroeder, also earned the honor in 2018.

Boone County is the place for summer concerts in July

Boone County comes alive with the sound of music in July. The Fillmore Philharmonic Brass Band summer series kicks off Tuesday, July 6 with a performance by the River’s Edge Brass Band in Boone Woods Park, 6000 Veterans Way in Burlington. The free concert starts at 7 p.m.

Check out the horn-driven covers by the local London Street Band on Thursday, July 8 at the amphitheater (Meeting Room ABC) at Boone County Public Library’s Hebron branch, located at 1863 N. Bend Road in Hebron. The family-friendly event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and features favorites from the

1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

Boone County Library will continue hoppin’ with more concerts throughout July, including the Neil Diamond tribute band Forever Diamond on July 8 and the Jump n’ Jive band on July 22, both in Boone Woods Park.

Boone County sheriff’s officers honored for saving a life

Three Boone County Sheriff’s officers – Sgt. Jared Horton, Deputy Bryan Rondeau and Deputy C. J. Weires – received the Deputy/ Lifesaver’s Medal for their quick action that saved the life of Independence resident

Gary Spare, who had gone into cardiac arrest while refilling his car at a gas station. The officers used CPR and an automatic electronic defibrillator to care for Spare. He was transported by EMS to the hospital and has made a full recovery.

‘Boot, Scoot and Boogie’ on July 7 at Bellevue First Friday

Bellevue’s First Friday monthly shopping and entertainment series continues in July with “Boot, Scoot and Boogie Down the Avenue.” A country-western dance theme will feature throughout the month throughout the city’s Fairfield Avenue business district, starting at 5 p.m. July 7. Because it’s an official entertainment district, visitors can carry approved adult beverages as they stroll through the zone. Merchants in the 200 to 700 blocks of the avenue are open later than usual, and there’s food and entertainment.