The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has summarily suspended the license to practice dentistry of Lawrence Wendell Stewart, D.D.S., based on his convictions in the 30th Judicial Circuit Court, Ingham County, Michigan. Stewart, 43, failed to report his convictions to MDCH as required by the Public Health Code.

On June 6, 2008, Stewart was convicted of 41 felony counts of Medicaid Fraud-False Claim. As a result, Stewart was sentenced to incarceration for 365 days (with incarceration suspended pending successful completion of probation), placed on probation for 60 months with terms, and ordered to pay restitution, fines, costs, and fees totaling $131,089.79.

On Aug. 18, 2008, MDCH issued an order immediately suspending Stewart's license pursuant to the Public Health Code, which provides for the mandatory summary suspension of a health professional upon the conviction of a felony, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a maximum term of two years, or a controlled substance-related conviction. An administrative hearing will be scheduled to address the status of Stewart's license to practice dentistry.

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.