Board hears reinstatement petition from former OTA convicted of stalking; record submitted for deliberation

The California Board of Occupational Therapy held a formal reinstatement hearing Feb. 26 for Anait (Anna) Khudagulyan, who seeks to reinstate an occupational therapy assistant license revoked after a 2017 conviction for stalking.

An administrative law judge, Corin Wong, presided and the Deputy Attorney General Amber Whippler presented jurisdictional documents, including the indictment, sentencing and a 2018 default decision and order. The board admitted a bundle of documentary evidence: the petition for reinstatement, supervised‑release completion letter, a bachelor’s degree diploma, NBCOT certification documentation, continuing‑education transcripts and certificates, and institutional performance reports from a Federal Correctional Institution work assignment. The hearing record (estimated ~95 pages) closed after testimony and cross‑examination.

Under oath the petitioner described the events leading to the criminal case, accepted responsibility for the misconduct, and detailed rehabilitation efforts since revocation. She said she provided notice to the board and attempted to communicate while incarcerated (she testified some prison mail may have been mishandled) and listed multiple professional development activities, including ethics and boundary training, continuing education specific to occupational therapy practice, and completion of court‑ordered conditions. She also said she regained national certification from NBCOT and has sought additional academic advancement.

On cross‑examination the Deputy Attorney General and board members probed the depth of the petitioner’s insight and the nature of rehabilitative care. Board members asked about the duration and frequency of counseling (petitioner described an initial assessment and a short course of weekly counseling; the board noted limited long‑term therapy), whether the petitioner had engaged in active, supervised clinical practice since release (work was limited by probation conditions), and how passive, self‑directed materials (podcasts/books) translate into active, supervised clinical competence. The petitioner acknowledged the misconduct and expressed remorse and readiness to accept board‑imposed conditions (including further therapy if required).

Several members pressed for evidence of sustained, active rehabilitation and workplace‑relevant training (billing, electronic documentation, and hands‑on practice), and the AG’s office noted that while the petitioner’s continuing education and re‑certification are noteworthy, self‑directed coursework and books are not a substitute for clinical supervision or long‑term psychotherapy where needed to address causative factors of the underlying felony.

The record is now closed and the matter was submitted. The board moved into closed session to deliberate; the ALJ said a written decision on the petition will be issued at a later date. The AG made no formal recommendation and left the ultimate decision to the board’s discretion.

Next procedural step: the board will deliberate in closed session, produce a written decision, and communicate that decision to the petitioner and parties as required by procedure.