Connecticut Department of Public Health presents evidence alleging podiatrist practiced while impaired; respondent denies charges

The Department of Public Health presented sealed investigative records and witness testimony on June 12, 2025, alleging that podiatrist Shane Reynolds abused cocaine and practiced while impaired during September 2024; Reynolds denied the charges on the record.

The department's attorney, Joelle Newton, told the hearing panel that the case centers on “respondent’s use and abuse of cocaine” and allegations that Reynolds practiced “while impaired” and failed to complete treatment plans, prescriptions and medical records. Newton said the department is seeking revocation of Reynolds’ podiatry license.

Why it matters: the hearing could lead to disciplinary action affecting Reynolds’ license to practice podiatry in Connecticut. The department entered multiple documents into the record, including a statement of charges, a motion for summary suspension and a summary suspension order, and called a clinical peer as an expert witness to describe observed patient-care concerns.

In opening remarks on behalf of the department, Newton said the department’s witness would describe observations from “approximately 1 month, in September of 2024” when the witness believed Reynolds was impaired. Reynolds, who represented himself, orally denied the allegations: “I deny,” he said when asked to answer the statement of charges. He also told the panel that he did not abuse patients, that his charts were completed “in a relatively timely manner” and that personal emotional distress unrelated to drug use affected him during the alleged period.

The panel entered evidence from both sides. The hearing officer placed the following board exhibits into the record: the statement of charges (board exhibit 1, dated May 21, 2025); a motion for summary suspension (board exhibit 2, dated May 21, 2025); a summary suspension order (board exhibit 3, dated June 10, 2025); an email and mailing documentation for the summary suspension (board exhibits 4–6); and the notice of hearing and related mailing/tracking (board exhibits 7–9). A motion to amend the statement of charges to correct typographical errors and to add the word “occasions” was moved, seconded and granted; that motion was entered as board exhibit 10.

The department also entered three sealed exhibits: an investigative report (department exhibit 1, pages 1–4 sealed), “Haven records with excerpts” (department exhibit 2, pages 1–14 sealed), and respondents’ personnel records with excerpts (department exhibit 3, pages 1–6 sealed). The hearing officer explained that discussion of those sealed pages would require the board to go into executive session.

Dr. Ferrante, introduced by the department as an expert podiatrist, testified that during September 3–30, 2024, he and multiple staff observed behaviors that gave rise to reasonable suspicion of impairment. “Certain bouts of sleepiness, hyperness, fidgeting, long periods of time in the bathroom, trips to his car, falling asleep, leaving treatment rooms without discussing treatment plans, failure to order prescriptions on multiple occasions, and multiple reminders to complete progress notes,” Ferrante said when describing what he had observed. Ferrante testified that those failures—omitted prescriptions and incomplete notes—constituted deviations from the standard of care.

The hearing record also includes a summary suspension order dated June 10, 2025, entered as a board exhibit and accompanying mailing and tracking evidence; the panel did not announce an on-the-record change to that order during this portion of the hearing. The department asked the panel to revoke Reynolds’ license; Reynolds maintained he did not abuse patients and denied the substance-use allegations.

After the department’s direct examination of its witness, a board member moved and the panel voted to enter executive session to discuss the sealed materials and related matters; the motion carried.

The hearing remains in process. No final disciplinary decision or penalty was announced on the public record at the conclusion of the session described here.