Connecticut State Veterinary Board recommends reinstatement of Dr. Lynch’s license pending verification letters

The Connecticut State Veterinary Board on a voice vote agreed to recommend reinstatement of Dr. Molly Lynch’s veterinary license, contingent on receiving written verification from veterinarians who observed her work in recent months.

Board members said they received a written statement from Lynch describing supervised observation she performed since the board last met in October and asked staff to obtain confirmation letters. ‘‘Ill ask the chair and we take a vote of approval subject to receipt within 7 days of affirming letters from the vets,’’ a board member said during discussion; the board later set a deadline of receipt ‘‘by the end of the month.’’ The motion to recommend reinstatement subject to receipt of those letters carried on a recorded voice vote with members saying “aye.”

The board discussed whether to impose supervised-practice conditions before issuing a license. Several members said supervised practice or a probationary mentorship could be reasonable, but Lynch, the applicant, said she plans to relocate to Wyoming in the coming months and worried that short-term conditions could make hiring difficult. Celeste Dowdell, a Department of Public Health staff member on the call, told the board it could recommend reinstatement with conditions (for example, supervised work for three months full time or six months part time) but the board did not include such conditions in the final motion.

Board staff described the operational procedure for completing reinstatement after the letters arrive: Licensing staff will circulate the letters to board members, a majority of members must indicate the letters are sufficient, and then Department staff will reinstate the license. Betty, a licensing staff member on the call, said she would forward submitted letters to the board and Celeste Dowdell confirmed she would process reinstatement once the board indicated the submissions were sufficient.

Lynch told the board she observed at a five-doctor general practice and worked with Nicole Stoller, and that she observed surgery at the Connecticut Humane Society with Christina Delgado; she said she did not practice hands-on medicine because she was not licensed and lacked professional liability insurance. Lynch said she plans to join a multi-doctor practice in Jackson and to be mentored by a supervising veterinarian there.

The board’s motion and timeline: members moved and seconded a recommendation to reinstate the license contingent on receiving verification letters from the two veterinarians Lynch named; the board asked that letters arrive by the end of the month and agreed that reinstatement would occur upon receipt and board confirmation, not necessarily at the next scheduled meeting. Licensing staff said reinstatement would occur the day after sufficient documentation was received and confirmed by the board majority.

The board did not take additional disciplinary or probationary actions in connection with the reinstatement vote. The record shows board members asked for documentation that Lynch was present and observing as she described; they did not attempt to document clinical competency beyond those verification letters.

The board chair closed that agenda item after confirming the motion carried and staff responsibilities for processing the letters.

Ending: The board moved on to the next agenda item after confirming the process and timelines for reinstatement.