The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has immediately suspended the nursing license of Alan Joseph Kerschen, R.N., based on his felony conviction. Kerschen, 52, failed to report his conviction to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On June 25, 2009, in the 37th Judicial Circuit Court, Calhoun County, Michigan, Kerschen was convicted of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a felony. As a result, Kerschen was incarcerated for a minimum period of 18 months and ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $2,159.59.

On Sept. 21, 2009, MDCH issued an order summarily suspending Kerschen's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional's license upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction.

For more information on disciplinary actions taken by the health professional licensing boards within MDCH, please go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdch, and click on Health Systems and Licensing.