Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board

The board actions taken in January 2026 detail disciplinary measures against several practitioners. Benjamin Dickerson received probation, a fine, and a continuing education audit requirement due to failure to respond timely to a continuing education audit, resulting in a violation. Steven Weber voluntarily surrendered and had his license revoked following a failure to complete required continuing education hours for an audit period. Aaron Kubistek was placed on probation for no less than one year due to creating an intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for colleagues and patients through offensive language, gestures, demeaning comments, and physical contact. Joshua Rudinsky faced a five-year license suspension followed by probation due to extensive violations, including sending pornographic materials, engaging in unwanted sexual communication, sexual contact, abandonment of patients, and continued sexual contact after termination of the professional relationship with multiple patients.

Key discussions during the meeting included reporting on staffing changes, eLicense updates concerning the new OT Compact, the Board's budget, and Board outreach activities. The Board held an executive session to discuss personnel matters related to compensation. Significant actions involved the nomination and election of officers, including the President Elect and Joint Board Secretary for the upcoming period. The Board also authorized the use of signature stamps/electronic signatures, permitted the Executive Director to make editorial changes to motions, and authorized staff to issue various licenses and authorizations for 3-D printing of prosthetic kits. Discussions on law and rule changes included sending a new rule on OPP supervision to the Common Sense Initiative and sending OPP rules for the five-year review to JCARR. Several licensure applications were approved, including licensure by unique and exceptional circumstances for two individuals, and ratification of licenses issued between the previous and current meetings. The Board also discussed the Safe Haven quarterly report, addressed correspondence regarding AI in practice writing and comprehensive assessments, and reviewed section reports from Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Athletic Trainers, and the Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics Advisory Council, along with the most recent Annual Report and the 2026 meeting calendar.

The meeting included the Executive Director's report covering licensure statistics, physical therapy renewal, the OT Compact, and board outreach. A significant action involved the recommendation and subsequent summary suspension of a physical therapist license due to serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving colleagues, posing an immediate threat to the public. The section discussed legislation regarding House Bill 253 and moved to file continuing education rules with JCARR. Several licensure applications were reviewed, involving determinations of educational equivalence, approval to take the NPTE, and denial of an appeal for a seventh NPTE attempt. The section ratified the issuance of numerous physical therapist and physical therapist assistant licenses. Enforcement statistics were reviewed, and releases from consent agreements were noted. Several consent agreements were accepted in lieu of hearings for specific cases, and Notices of Opportunity for Hearing were issued for multiple cases involving non-compliance, investigation impediments, and inappropriate workplace behavior. Finally, discussions covered CE waiver requests, correspondence on various practice topics, reports from OPTA and FSBPT/PT Compact, and future planning for AI use, PTA education, and consent issues.

The document outlines the mission of the Ohio OTPTAT Board, which is to actively promote and protect the health of Ohioans through effective regulation of occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics professions. This mission is accomplished through primary regulatory tasks including establishing entry requirements, adopting administrative rules for transparency, investigating complaints and disciplining licensees, and assuring continued competence through required education.

The meeting included nominations for Chair and Secretary of the PT Section, Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the FSBPT Delegate Assembly, and Delegate to the PT Compact. The Section authorized the Executive Director to accept consent agreements, use signature stamps, make editorial changes to motions, and use hearing officers. It also authorized staff to issue licenses to applicants with completed applications. The CE Liaison reported on capping CEU's obtained through the Healthy Practice Tool, and the Section discussed law and rule changes, including releasing PT Continuing Education rules for early stakeholder comment. The board also considered licensure applications and application withdrawals. Additionally, the board discussed enforcement statistics, proposed consent agreements, and the hearing officer's report and recommendation for Brett Bowman's case. Finally, the meeting covered correspondence, OPTA and FSBPT/PT Compact reports, open forum, and liaisons for the upcoming year.