Ariya Ouskouian, a former University of California student at Irvine (UCI) is arrested after impersonating a doctor as well as ‘gifted’ college professor.
A former University of California student at Irvine (UCI) was on Wednesday charged after impersonating a doctor on multiple occasions, including one instance of giving an patient a medical diagnosis.
In a released statement, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office told of Ariya Ouskouian, 23, being charged with one felony count of providing a medical diagnosis while impersonating a doctor and eight misdemeanor accounts of ‘representing oneself as a licensed medical practitioner’.
Ouskouian allegedly diagnosing an unidentified man in May regarding a growth on his neck in a consult room at UCI. On seven different occasions between April 23 and June 4, he also allegedly impersonated a doctor at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
‘During limited time on our campus, we believe this individual did not interact with any of our patients,’ the hospital said in a statement cited by abcnews. ‘The individual did not have any access to patient health information. Out of deference to the prosecution and defense of this matter, we will not provide any additional details.’
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office claims Ouskouian, a former rotary leader telling a security worker he was a doctor and later gained access to restricted floors of the children’s hospital.
‘Ouskouian is accused of claiming to have lost his hospital badge and requesting a temporary one be issued on each of these occasions,’ the office said in a statement.
‘When hospital staff became suspicious of the defendant and requested verification of his doctor status, Ouskouian is accused of providing the name of a UCI personnel.’
But it gets grimmer.
23-year-old, former UC Irvine student, ariya ouskoyian has been charged with impersonating a doctor at two Orange County hospitals.
Ouskouian was charged on Tuesday with the following counts: providing medical diagnosis while impersonating a doctor (a felony); and 8 counts of pic.twitter.com/vufqojj3IU— keep searching (@Anonymoparent) August 31, 2018
Dr. Ouskouian: ‘….he’s a brilliant mind, kind and caring, and one of the most inspirational characters I’ve ever met.’
Ocregister reported the ex student going so far as to ‘possibly’ masquerade as a professor at two area colleges.
A regard of Ouskouian’s online profile also revealed a man with the same name calling himself a professor on RateMyProfessor.com at both Orange Coast College and UCI. Both negative and positive reviews were recorded.
But no one by that name appears on any faculty lists and UCI officials confirmed Arya Ouskouian was never a faculty member at the university. Orange Coast spokespeople were unavailable for comment.
Posted one commentator on the rating board, ‘It was such a great experience to do peds oncology with Dr. Ouskouian, he’s a brilliant mind, kind and caring, and one of the most inspirational characters I’ve ever met. I was fortunate to assist on his research on chronic leukemia.’
According to ocregister, a longtime mentor of Ouskouian’s, Susan Shahini, reached out to say that Ouskouian hadn’t graduated UCI and was a ‘troubled’ young man.
The media outlet cites the fake doctor wannabe at one point posting on social media, ‘I’m 19, premed / psychology student, vegetarian, human /animal rights activist, pianist and just trying to be the best I can.’
Come Tuesday, Ouskouian was arrested and charged following an investigation by the Orange County Police Department. He was being held in the Orange County Jail, but was released Wednesday after posting $20,000 bond, reported the latimes, citing jail records.
The former student could face three years in state prison and eight years in the Orange County Jail if he’s convicted, according to the district attorney’s office.
It remained unclear what motivated the ‘troubled’ former student in impersonating a physician and how long he had expected to get away with his rouse before eventually being found out.
Fake Florida teen doctor ‘Dr Love’ sentenced 3.5 years (avoids 90 years jail).
