Toward a Broader Understanding of Justice-Involved Health | 2026
When: 10/21/2026 - 10/23/2026
Where:
Register for Event
Registration closes 10/24/2026
Save Event to CalendarClick here for The Dana on Mission Bay
By Phone: Call our In-House Reservations Department at 800-445-3339; mention "WACHSA" (wash-a)
Booking through Release and Back to our Communities
The 2026 WACHSA Conference is a premier gathering for those dedicated to the evolution of justice-involved healthcare.
Our mission is to share best clinical practices, elevate lived experiences, and foster community in a reinvigorating, relaxing San Diego environment.
Conference Goals
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Connect: Build meaningful partnerships between professionals, students, and community members.
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Celebrate: Recognize the hard work of our partners through awards and networking.
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Rejuvenate: Learn and grow in a supportive, high-energy setting.
Who Should Attend?
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Anyone working within correctional and community health systems.
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Anyone interested in furthering their career in correctional health.
| Clinical & Admin | Leadership & Policy | Community & Education |
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Physicians, Nurses & Dentists
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Health Administrators
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Students of all health disciplines
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Mental Health Clinicians
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Public Health Officials
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Reentry & Nonprofit Partners
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Pharmacists & Allied Health
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System Innovators & Exhibitors
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Academic & Research Institutions
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Speaker Information |
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TIME
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SPEAKER |
SESSION |
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DAY 1 Wednesday October 21 | FOCUS: Emerging Trends and Mental Health |
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0700 |
Full Breakfast and Registration |
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0800 |
Karina Purcell, President |
Conference Kick Off |
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0830 |
Keynote with Emerging Trends in Correctional Healthcare |
Dean Aufderheide, PhD, National Mental Health Expert | ACA; co-presenting withHarbans Deol, MD, Chief Medical Officer | VitalCore Health Strategies |
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1000 |
Break and Exhibits |
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1030 |
Medication Safety and Creating a Partnership between Medical and Custody |
Elizabeth Harris, Executive Director with Tammy Provatas, MD, CCHP-CP, Medical DIrector and Nick Burleson | Sentinel Patient Safety Organization |
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1130 |
Networking Lunch and Exhibit Hall |
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1300 |
Beyond Good and Evil: Inside the Mind of the Psychopath |
Dean Aufderheide PhD, National Mental Health Expert | ACA |
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| 1430 | Break and Exhibits | ||
1445 |
Reducing Suicide in Jail/Prison: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know |
Dr. Lisa Boesky, Suicide Prevention Expert |
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1600 |
Health & Substance Use Trends: Special Considerations for Justice Involved Youth |
Shelley Aggarwal, MD, Medical Director, Juvenile Custody Health Services | Santa Clara Valley Healthcare |
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DAY 2 Thursday, October 22 | Focus: Systems, Inclusion & Innovation |
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0730 |
Full Breakfast and Registration |
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0800 |
1115 Waivers & CalAIM System Integration and a County implementation Perspective |
San Diego County Presented with San Diego Sheriff's Office - PANEL |
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0930 |
Break and Exhibits |
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1000 |
Using Patient-Centered Documentation and Language |
Kristin Walsh, MD | Santa Clara Valley Medical Center |
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1100 |
First, Do No Harm: The Power of Hope in Healing Incacerated Women's Lives |
Cynthia Chase, Co-Founder and TBD | The Gemma Project |
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1200 |
DRAFT- 45" Lunch Session TBA |
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1330 |
Optometry & Ophthalmology for the Justice-Involved (draft title) |
Linn Hong, OD | Santa Clara Valley Medical Center |
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1430 |
Rethinking Compliance: Identifying, Supporting, and Managing Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Prisons and Jails |
Kelly Mitchell and Sara Norman | Kelly Mitchell Consulting and Law Office of Sara Norman |
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1530 |
Break and Exhibits |
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1600 |
Trauma Informed Care in Correctional Dentistry |
Vaish Bahksar, DDS |
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1700 |
R1Learning Demonstration (30") |
R1Learning |
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1730 - 1900 Join the Award Ceremony and Celebrate! ALL INVITED! |
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DAY 3 Friday October 23 | FOCUS: Culture and Family |
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0730 |
Full Breakfast and Exhibits |
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0800 |
Family Reunification Post Incarceration |
Barbara Barney Knox, RN and Affie Tamuno Koko, Program Manager with Panel Discussion |
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0930 |
Break and Exhibits |
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1000 |
Infection control- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: The Basics and Beyond |
Bill Boylan, FNP | Regional Clinical Provider | Wellpath |
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1100 |
Accreditation That Works: Program Management and Cross Team Collaboration |
Heather Miller, MSM, CCHP, Director of Compliance | Wellpath
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1200 |
Conference Closeout |
Karina Purcell, RN President |
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List of Attendees