Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to public meetings, the licensing agency may convene in closed session to consider any evidence relating to the licentiate’s mental or physical illness obtained pursuant to the proceedings under Section 820. The licensing agency shall only convene in closed session to the extent that it is necessary to protect the privacy of a licentiate.