Joseph Trambulo

Resignation will be effective December 31, 2024

Acknowledgement & Undertaking, as signed by Joseph Trambulo (11391) on November 2, 2024.

I, Joseph Trambulo, acknowledge and undertake as follows:  

1. I acknowledge that in January 2024, a panel of the Inquiries Complaints and Reports Committee of the College (“ICRC”) referred allegations involving my conduct to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. The allegations included that I failed to maintain the standards of practice of the profession, engaged in sexual abuse of a patient, failed to maintain records in accordance with the practice of the profession, and falsified clinical notes. (College File Number 2023-0205)  

2. I undertake to resign my membership and certificate of registration with the College effective December 31, 2024.  Between December 15, 2024 and December 31, 2024 I will be unable to deliver patient care and this will be reflected as a term, condition and limitation on my certificate of registration.   

3. I acknowledge and agree that, in exchange for providing an original copy of this Undertaking executed by me to the College, the College will withdraw the allegations against me as set out in the Notice of Hearing dated January 22, 2024 (College File Number 2023-0205).  

4. This acknowledgment and undertaking does not constitute an admission of any liability or professional misconduct.    

5. I acknowledge that after I resign my membership with the College, I will not be entitled to use the titles, “physiotherapist”, “physical therapist” or any abbreviation thereof or equivalent in another language. I will not be entitled to hold myself out as a person who is qualified to practice in Ontario as a physiotherapist/physical therapist and I will not be entitled to imply that I am a physiotherapist/physical therapist in Ontario. I will be able to refer to my academic qualifications. 

6. I hereby undertake never to apply or re-apply for membership, registration, licensure or similar status with the College as a physiotherapist or for a license to practice physiotherapy in Ontario. 

7. I acknowledge that if I ever apply or re-apply, or attempt to apply or re-apply for membership, registration, licensure or similar status with the College in the future, the College will be entitled to rely upon this undertaking in any registration or other similar proceeding as reason to deny my application. 

8. I acknowledge that if I attempt to register as a physiotherapist in another jurisdiction and that regulatory body asks for information about this matter, the College will be entitled to disclose the content of its investigation files with the other jurisdiction.  

9. I acknowledge that if I ever apply or re-apply for membership, registration, licensure or similar status as a  physiotherapist, for a license to practice physiotherapy in Ontario after December 31, 2024 the College shall, in its sole discretion, have the right to proceed with a disciplinary proceeding on the basis of a breach of this undertaking and, if I am successful in being registered, the College shall also be entitled, peremptorily to me, to rescind the withdrawal of the allegations set out in  the Notice of Hearing, re-initiate and re-open the Notice of Hearing in College file number 2023-0205, and to proceed to prosecute the allegations set out in the Notice of Hearing before the Discipline Committee.  

10. In the event of a breach of this undertaking and the College proceeding with discipline hearing in College File Number 2023-0205, I hereby agree to bear the risk of any prejudice that the passage of time might cause to my ability to make full answer and defence, and waive the right to seek any remedy on the basis of the passage of time, should the College proceed with  the discipline hearing, and any allegations that may arise as a result of any future breach of this Undertaking by me.   

11. I acknowledge that under section 23 of the Health Professions Procedural Code which is Schedule 2 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, the College is required to publish the fact of my resignation and this Undertaking on the College’s public register. This information will also appear on the College’s website. This publication is indefinite.  

12. I acknowledge that I have been advised of my right to obtain legal advice prior to entering into this Undertaking and have either availed myself of that right or chosen not to avail myself of that right. 

13. I acknowledge that I am entering into this undertaking freely, voluntarily and without duress. 

Joseph Trambulo
Registration Number #11391
Case: 2021-0078

On November 18, 2021, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) referred a matter involving Joseph Trambulo to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. 

The hearing took place on November 21, 2022. This matter was resolved by way of an Agreed Statement of Facts and a Joint Submission on Penalty. 


Finding 

The panel of the Discipline Committee issued a decision on the finding on November 21, 2022, on the penalty on November 21, 2022 and on costs on November 21, 2022. 

After having considered all of the evidence, the panel found Joseph Trambulo to have committed the following acts of professional misconduct:

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);

• paragraph 18 (engaging in conduct or performing an act relevant to the practice of the profession that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional) and;

• paragraph 26 (failing to keep records in accordance with the standards of practice of the profession)

Penalty

The panel ordered the following penalty, Joseph Trambulo will:

• Receive a reprimand at the conclusion of the hearing (delivered on November 21, 2022)

• Successfully complete counselling with Dr. Lori Haskell, or another counsellor selected by the Registrar

• Serve a suspension, beginning December 2, 2022, which will continue until the counselling has successfully been completed 

• Participate in practice enhancement coaching after returning to practice

While Joseph Trambulo is serving the suspension, he cannot use the title Physiotherapist, PT or any abbreviation there of. Joseph Trambulo’s name, PT title and/or registration number cannot be use for billing purposes while the suspension is being served.

The panel also ordered Joseph Trambulo to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5,000 to offset some of the costs associated with investigating and prosecuting this case.
 

Joseph Trambulo

Registration Number 11391

Case Number: 2017 0306

On August 9, 2018, the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee referred a matter involving Joseph Trambulo to the Discipline Committee for a hearing. The hearing was held on April 29, 2019.


Overview of the Allegations

The allegations refer to the following headings of professional misconduct:

1. At all material times Joseph Trambulo was a registered member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.

2. On or about December 5, 2016, Mr. Trambulo engaged in professional misconduct within the meaning of the following paragraphs of section 1 of the Professional Misconduct Regulation, 0. Reg. 388/08:

• paragraph 1 (failing to maintain the standards of practice of the profession);
• paragraph 10 (sexual abuse of a patient);
• paragraph 18 (engaging in conduct or performing an act relevant to the practice of the profession that, having regard to all the circumstances, would reasonably be regarded by members as disgraceful, dishonourable or unprofessional); and
• paragraph 19 (conduct unbecoming a physiotherapist).

3. On or about December 5, 2016, Mr. Trambulo committed an act of professional misconduct under ss. 1(3), 1(4) and s.51(1)(b.1) of the Health Professions Procedural Code, which is Schedule 2 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c.18 (the "Code") in that he engaged in sexual abuse of a patient.
 

Finding:

At the conclusion of the hearing the panel found that Mr. Trambulo had committed several act(s) of professional misconduct and they ordered the following penalty. The College withdrew allegations related to paragraph 10 – sexual abuse of a patient.
 

Outcome:
 

• The registrant received a reprimand at the conclusion of the hearing on April 29, 2019
• The registrant’s certificate of registration will be suspended for a period of twelve months, commencing July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2020
• The registrant must successfully complete the ProBe ethics program
• The registrant must successfully complete the Understanding Boundaries and Managing Risks Inherent in the Doctor-Patient Relationship
• The registrant must attend for therapy and counseling sessions which will focus on the issue of boundaries and the inherent power imbalance in the relationship between a health care provider and a patient
• The registrant must complete a review of the following College standards, tools, and resources
• The registrant is required to pay costs to the College in the amount of $5500

In addition, the registrant signed an undertaking with the College in which he agreed not to work as a Physiotherapist Assistant during the period of time that he is serving his suspension

The panel’s full decision and reasons is available on Canlii.

Status: Complete