Dr. Kern is the Chief Medical Officer for NaphCare, Inc. A graduate of Haverford College, he received his MD from Tufts University and his MPH from Boston University. He is a fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American College of Preventive Medicine, and is also a fellowship trained geriatrician. Dr. Kern worked in academia at Boston University and the Department of Veterans Affairs for over a decade, then started in correctional health in 1995. He held positions as site medical director for several prisons in Massachusetts, as an Associate State Medical Director for the University of Massachusetts Correctional Health Program, and as the Medical Director for the New York City jail system. He has been a senior physician surveyor for the NCCHC and a member of the NCCHC Board of Directors and the CCHP Board of Trustees.

Currently Dr. Kern oversees all clinical aspects of the operations of NaphCare, a correctional healthcare provider based in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also a Professor (Adjunct) of Public Health Organization and Policy in the School of Public Health of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Kern carries over from his pre-corrections days, research interests in Health Information Technology, medical ethics, and health services research. A goal for his term as SCP President is to promote the organization’s leadership role as the foremost professional society for correctional physicians, particularly by enhancing educational opportunities and processes for recognizing expertise in the field of correctional health care.

Dr. Puerini has been a correctional health care provider for nearly twenty years, first serving as a medical consultant at a small juvenile facility. He's been the Chief Medical Officer at a mid-sized Oregon prison for the past ten years and has been active in the SCP and NCCHC for as many years. His time is primarily taken in clinical primary care, but is also involved with administrative work at the Oregon Department of Corrections. Mike is a frequent speaker at NCCHC national meetings, and is a CCHP who does occasional site visits and surveys for NCCHC. He is active nationally in the development of transitional health care programs, and is working with the NCCHC on this topic. A graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine and the Brown University Family Medicine residency, Dr. Puerini maintains his primary interest in the clinical practice of medicine. He maintains board certification in Family Practice.

Dr. Lincoln first encountered correctional health care as a medical student in 1986, through a community health elective. Since 1992, he has worked in greater Springfield, MA as a primary care physician at a community health center, and at Hampden County Correctional Center as the medical director. Dr. Lincoln’s other professional activities have been in education: Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Community Medicine track of the Internal Medicine program at Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine and Physician Assistant program at Springfield College. His research and presentation activities have focused on evaluation of various aspects of community and correctional health and the model developed at Hampden County, addictions, and HIV.

Dr. Ivens has served in both public and private sectors of correctional medicine. He worked for the Indiana DOC from 1995 - 97 as medical director of three prisons. When privatization came to Indiana’s DOC, he went to California for a year of jail experience while serving as assistant medical director for the western region. Since 1998, he has been regional medical director over the states of Indiana, Delaware, and Mississippi. He also spent a year in Tennessee. Besides performing the required administrative duties, he has also served the facilities in my regions as a surgical consultant.

Dr. Ivens became a member of SCP in 1996 and was one of the original members of the Fellowship Committee; and is one of the founding fellows of SCP. He is also a member of the ACA and the California TB Controllers Association and author of several presentations at both ACHSA and NCCHC meetings. Through the Correctional Medical Institute, he teaches surgical procedures and speaks to groups on utilization management.

Dr. Staples-Horne has been Medical Director for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice for twelve years and is responsible for the provision of medical services to youth served by the Department. She received her Medical Degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Emory University in Atlanta. She holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Clark Atlanta University with research experience in Biochemistry and Microbiology. Her clinical experience includes training in Pediatrics at Columbia University's Babies Hospital in New York and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. She has provided clinical services to a private pediatric group, a homeless shelter, and public health clinics.

Dr. Staples-Horne is Immediate Past President of the Society of Correctional Physicians, serves on the Health Care Committee of the American Correctional Association, the Juvenile Health Committee for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and is a Certified Correctional Health Professional. She has provided training and consultation for the National Institute on Corrections and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and contributed to several articles and books on correctional health care.

Dr. Jackson is the Medical Director for the Broward County Jails in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as well as the Director of Utilization Management and Women's Health for Armor Correctional Health Services. She previously worked in North Carolina as Medical Director for the Women's Prison and then as Deputy Medical Director for the Department of Corrections. Dr. Jackson has firsthand knowledge and experience as both a primary care provider and an administrator for jails and prisons and has worked in corrections for the past 12 years. She is board certified in Family Medicine and received additional fellowship training in obstetrics. Prior to her career in corrections, Dr. Jackson spent time as a primary care provider and in the public health arena.

Dr. Jackson is on the editorial board of HIV Inside, a trainer for women's health in corrections for NIC and a physician surveyor for NCCHC for nearly 10 years. She is a CCHP and a member ACA, ACHSA, AJA and, of course, SCP for nearly 10 years.

Dr. Nunez is an internal medicine specialist, who began working in corrections in Puerto Rico in 1995. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Society in 1998 and became a Fellow in 2002. He is also a CCHP since 1998, and has promoted the program in Puerto Rico for other health care professionals. Dr. Nunez was the first physician to work in a privatized facility on the island, assisting with the opening of two other facilities, all of which were NCCHC accredited. He is a surveyor for NCCHC, and served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Correctional Health Professionals from 2005 to 2007.

At present, Dr. Nunez is the medical director of the Brevard County Jail Complex in Florida. As an HIV specialist, one of his passions is treating HIV and hepatitis patients in corrections; not only within corrections but also when they transition to the outside community as well.

Dr. Rieger has worked a correctional physician during most of his career, except when he received his Masters in Public Health and completed a Preventive Medicine specialty. He has worked in jails and prisons; in high and low security settings; and in male, female, and juvenile facilities. Five years ago, Dr. Rieger left the public sector to serve as Chief Medical Officer for Correct Care Solutions. He has worked with and for the SCP for many years, serving on various committees and editing SCP’s newsletter, CorrDocs.

Dr. Penn is currently the director of mental health services at University of Texas Medical Branch Correctional Managed Care, which provides health services to state jail and prison inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He is also acting director, mental health services, UTMB CMC Texas Youth Commission, the state’s juvenile correctional system. He is board certified in general, child and adolescent, and forensic psychiatry.

Dr. Penn is the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry representative to NCCHC’s board since 2003; and principal author, Practice Parameter for the Assessment & Treatment of Youth in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities. He is also a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s forensic psychiatry committee and a former board examiner and general psychiatry recertification committee for the organization; and a member of the American College of Psychiatrists.