Department of Public Health board approves two license reinstatements, two consent orders and a summary suspension

The Department of Public Health board took multiple enforcement and licensing actions during the meeting, approving two physician reinstatements, two consent orders and a summary suspension.

Votes at a glance

- Reinstatement recommended for Dr. Greco (applicant for Connecticut physician licensure): board recommended approval by roll call; most members voted in favor and the recommendation passed. The application packet noted Dr. Greco had been out of active practice since 02/2023.

- Reinstatement recommended for Dr. Finger (applicant for Connecticut physician licensure): the board recommended approval by roll call; the packet likewise noted Dr. Finger had been out of active practice since 02/2023 and members said he maintained active licenses and practice in other states during that period.

- Consent order approved for Dr. Laura Boney: the board approved a consent order resolving allegations that a respondent failed to perform maternal Group B streptococcus screening at the required interval and did not evaluate or diagnose preeclampsia despite persistently elevated blood pressure. Attorney Newton told the board the proposed consent order increased the civil penalty from a previously proposed $5,000 to $7,500 and included probation plus required coursework on preeclampsia. Attorney Solano, representing Dr. Boney, said the episode occurred at the height of COVID-19 during an electronic medical record transition and that new safeguards have since been implemented.

- Consent order approved for Dr. Sondergaard: the board approved a five-year consent order for a respondent who reported diagnoses including alcohol use disorder, general anxiety disorder and ADHD. Attorney Nanny (Department of Public Health) described the order as providing monitoring in lieu of an initial program transfer, with a five-year probationary period, a graded urine-screen schedule (twice weekly in years 1–2; weekly in year 3; twice monthly in years 4–5), monthly then quarterly therapy reports, quarterly employer reports, 8–10 group therapy meetings per month with attendance reports, a ban on solo practice and monitoring for the first year after controlled-substance permit reinstatement. The respondent, Doctor Sondergaard, said she opted out of an extended residential program because of child-care responsibilities and reported 11 months of sobriety.

- Summary suspension of Dr. Singhal: the Department asked the board to summarily suspend the physician's license, stating the respondent has had one or more emotional disorders or mental illnesses since approximately December 2024 that may affect practice and that continued practice presented a clear and immediate danger to public health and safety. The department cited Connecticut General Statutes Section 4-182c and 19a-17c in support of the motion; the board approved the summary suspension by roll call.

Roll-call context and recorded concerns

Board members asked procedural and substantive questions during consideration of consent orders. For the obstetrics consent order, Doctor Sauer (the board's OB-GYN) said the record did not document proteinuria testing and questioned the preeclampsia diagnosis, though he supported the resolution and praised changes to protocols. Another member urged that probation include chart review or other post-course verification, not simply the completion of coursework. Attorney Solano responded that safeguards are now in place at the practice and hospital and that the physician has had no subsequent incidents.

For the monitoring consent order, the department explained it had completed an evaluation and did not find cause to deny clinical practice with monitoring conditions; Doctor Sondergaard confirmed participation in treatment and recent sobriety milestones.

For the summary suspension, the department presented the case and no representative for the respondent spoke during the meeting; the board approved a summary suspension and noted a prompt hearing would be scheduled.

Outcomes

All listed actions were approved by roll call. Several members registered dissenting votes or an abstention on individual matters as recorded in the meeting roll calls; those tallies are summarized in the article's structured action records. The board chair noted DPH will arrange any required expedited hearings and panel assignments following the summary suspension.