Correctional Health Expert Speakers | WACHSA 2026 Conference
Meet the healthcare, custody, behavioral health, public health, reentry, and correctional leadership experts presenting at the 2026 WACHSA Conference, October 21-23, San Diego.
Wednesday October 21| Emerging Trends and Mental Health
0830 #1 KEYNOTE - EMERGING TRENDS IN CORRECTIONAL HEALTH | Aufderheide and Deol (90")
1030 #2 MEDICATION SAFETY AND CREATING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MEDICAL AND CUSTODY | Harris, Burleson and Provatas
1300 #3 BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL: INSIDE THE MIND OF A PSYCHOPATH | Aufderheide (90")
1430 #4 REDUCING SUICIDE IN JAIL/PRISON: WHAT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW | Boesky
1600 #5 MEDICATION HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUTH | Aggarwal
1030 #2 MEDICATION SAFETY AND CREATING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MEDICAL AND CUSTODY | Harris, Burleson and Provatas
1300 #3 BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL: INSIDE THE MIND OF A PSYCHOPATH | Aufderheide (90")
1430 #4 REDUCING SUICIDE IN JAIL/PRISON: WHAT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS NEED TO KNOW | Boesky
1600 #5 MEDICATION HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUTH | Aggarwal
Thursday, October 22 | Systems, Inclusion & Innovation
1215 Lunch Session: SPONSORED LUNCH PRESENTATION by INDIVIOR | Getty (45-55)
Friday October 23 | Culture and Family
0800 #12 FAMILY REUNIFICATION POST-INCARCERATION | Barney-Knox and Tamuno-Koko
1000 #13 INFECTION CONTROL - HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C: THE BASICS AND BEYOND | Boylan
1100 #14 RETHINKING ACCREDITATION: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND CROSS-TEAM COLLABORATION | Miller and Albers
1000 #13 INFECTION CONTROL - HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C: THE BASICS AND BEYOND | Boylan
1100 #14 RETHINKING ACCREDITATION: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND CROSS-TEAM COLLABORATION | Miller and Albers
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPEAKERS
Our ability to provide excellence within our conferences is possible because of the dedication and desire our speakers have to share their expertise. Their voices provide our community with inspiration to return to their workplaces fulfilled and fortified with new ideas and knowledge. Their expertise is highly valued within the Correctional Healthcare Community.
We are deeply grateful for their partnership, passion, collaboration and commitment to a broader understanding of correctional healthcare.
The WACHSA Board and Community
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
FOR THE MOST CURRENT CONFERENCE SCHEDULE, SESSION TIMES, AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION,
Wednesday October 21 | FOCUS: Emerging Trends and Mental Health
Dean Aufderheide, PhD, Former Director of Mental Health Services, Florida Department of Corrections
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 8:30 AM
Dr. Dean Aufderheide is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and a nationally recognized expert in correctional mental health. .After serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, he served for nearly 20 years as Director of Mental Health Services for the Florida Department of Corrections, where he oversaw the mental health delivery system for approximately 100,000 incarcerated individuals.
He currently serves as the National Mental Health Expert for the American Correctional Association and provides consulting and expert-witness services to correctional systems nationally and internationally. His work includes litigation support, program evaluation, technical-needs assessments, architectural design consultation, and professional training.
Dr. Aufderheide has presented more than 100 peer-reviewed seminars at national conferences and has published numerous book chapters and professional articles on correctional mental health. He is a former president of the International Association of Correctional and Forensic Psychology and has served on several national correctional committees and editorial boards. He also serves as Chair of the Probable Cause Panel for the Florida Board of Psychology.
Harbans Deol, MD, Past Medical Director, Nebraska Department of Corrections, Vital Core Health Strategies
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 8:30 AM
Dr. Harbans Deol is the Chief Medical Officer for VitalCore Health Strategies. .Before joining VitalCore, he served as Medical Director for two state correctional systems for more than 20 years.
After completing his internal medicine residency at a Yale-affiliated hospital, Dr. Deol entered private practice. He earned a PhD in immunology and microbiology from New York University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital/New York Medical College in New York.
An accomplished scientist and clinician, Dr. Deol has conducted molecular biology research on HIV and hepatitis C virus, with a focus on disease pathophysiology. He also holds a patent for technology used to calibrate hematology analyzers for platelet counts in complete blood count testing.
Dr. Deol has chaired several American Correctional Association committees, including the Continuing Medical Education Committee, COVID-19 Therapeutics Committee, Health Care Committee, and Coalition of Correctional Health Authorities. He also served as ACA Treasurer for four years. He has published numerous articles, holds patents in laboratory diagnostics, and frequently presents at national and international conferences.
Providing effective healthcare in correctional settings requires evidence-based practices that are practical, adaptable, and responsive to the unique challenges of a closed environment.
This presentation will review literature-supported clinical guidelines that can be incorporated into daily correctional healthcare practice. Participants will examine approaches to disease management, continuity of care, and the identification of services that are frequently delayed, fragmented, or overlooked. Emphasis will be placed on practical strategies that strengthen clinical decision-making, improve consistency of care, and help bridge gaps between correctional, specialty, and community-based health services. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and recommendations that can be applied within their own facilities to support safer, more comprehensive, and patient-centered care.
Sentinel Patient Safety Organization - Creating Partnership
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 10:30 AMThis presentation addresses the critical intersections of clinical care and facility operations within correctional environments, focusing specifically on improving medication safety through collaborative
partnerships. Managing pharmaceuticals in a correctional facility introduces distinct challenges that require strong communication and aligned workflows between medical personnel and custody staff.
Elizabeth Harris, BSN MBA, MHAL, Executive Director, Sentinel Patient Safety Organization
Elizabeth Harris is a strategic healthcare executive .
with more than 20 years of experience
spanning bedside practice and enterprise leadership. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with master's degrees in business and healthcare administration, she has led turnaround, quality, and risk initiatives for organizations including Ascension, Johns Hopkins, Bon Secours Mercy Health, American Physician Partners, and TeamHealth.
As Executive Director of the Sentinel Patient Safety Organization--the first patient safety organization dedicated to correctional healthcare--she is developing national frameworks for benchmarking, training, and accountability in underserved systems. Earlier in her career, she led nonprofit initiatives that delivered $95 million in free care.
Elizabeth holds an MBA, an MHAL, and a BSN, and she maintains an active Tennessee registered nurse.
Nick Burleson, MPP, Advisory Member, Sentinel Patient Safety Organization
Nick Burleson is a correctional operations and public safety leader with more than 13 years .
of experience at the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His career spans frontline operations, supervisory leadership, training, investigations, and data-informed system improvement.
Nick began his career in dispatch and advanced through booking and intake, classification, and sworn service as a corrections deputy and sergeant before retiring in 2022. He served as Sergeant of Jail Classification and as the Jail Data Liaison, partnering with community, academic, and governmental organizations--including the NAACP, Detroit Bail Project, universities, and regional mental health agencies--to support equitable, evidence-based correctional practices. He also served on the Michigan Sheriffs' Association MISSION Team, supporting internal and critical-incident investigations statewide.
A certified academy instructor through the Michigan Sheriffs' Corrections Training Council, Nick is also a certified National Institute of Corrections trainer in Direct Supervision, Inmate Behavior Management, and Strategic Inmate Management.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University and a master's degree in public policy. He also served for more than eight years as a military police officer in the Michigan Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve.
Tammy Provatas, MD, CCHP-CP, Medical Director, Sentinel Patient Safety Organization
Dr. Tammy Provatas is a board-certified emergency medicine physician with more .than four years of experience in correctional healthcare. She serves as Medical Director of Sentinel, a nonprofit, AHRQ-listed Patient Safety Organization dedicated to advancing patient safety across jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities.
In this role, Dr. Provatas provides strategic clinical leadership focused on systems improvement, risk mitigation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is recognized for her ability to align medical, custody, and executive stakeholders around shared safety goals, helping ensure that security requirements and clinical care are integrated rather than treated as competing priorities.
Through Sentinel's federally protected Patient Safety Organization framework, Dr. Provatas supports confidential event review, organizational learning, and continuous improvement. Her work helps facilities identify root causes, strengthen processes, reduce risk, and sustain safer operations.
NETWORKING LUNCH: With an interactive demonstration.
Interactive Demo: Tools in Action
An open, interactive walkthrough of our toolkit, letting conference attendees test-drive the features in real time.
Dean Aufderheide, PhD, Former Director of Mental Health Services, Florida Department of Corrections
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 1 PM
Please see Dr. Dean's biography above.
About This Session:
Individuals with psychopathic traits are estimated to comprise approximately 15-20% of the incarcerated population. .This session will take participants on an extraordinary journey through the complex dimensions of psychopathy.
Participants will explore the origins and evolution of the concept of psychopathy and examine the characteristics of the psychopathic personality, including how individuals with these traits perceive and interact with the world. The session will also consider the genetic and environmental factors associated with psychopathic behavior and examine why some individuals may be more predisposed to persistent antisocial or criminal behavior.
Using recorded interviews with incarcerated individuals who exhibit psychopathic traits, participants will apply a structured checklist to identify common signs and characteristics of psychopathy and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be "Inside the Mind of the Psychopath."
Lisa Boesky, PhD; Author of Juvenile Offenders with Mental Health Disorders: Who Are They and What Do We Do with Them?
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 2:45 PM
Dr. Lisa Boesky is a psychologist and nationally recognized jail suicide-prevention expert with more than 28 years of experience consulting with correctional systems. .She has trained thousands of professionals on strategies to reduce suicide risk and improve prevention practices in correctional facilities.
Dr. Boesky evaluates jail suicide-prevention policies and practices and provides recommendations to strengthen systems, procedures, and staff response. She also serves as a media expert for national outlets, including USA Today, CNN, Fox News, and The Wall Street Journal.
In addition, Dr. Boesky serves as an expert witness in litigation involving suicide deaths in custody.
Shelley Aggarwal, MD, Medical Director, Juvenile Custody HS | Santa Clara Valley Healthcare
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 | 4 PMSESSION #5 MEDICATION HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE TRENDS: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED YOUTH
Dr. Shelley Aggarwal is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine subspecialist who currently serves as Medical Director for Juvenile Custody Health Services. .She has specialized expertise in caring for high-risk, system-impacted youth and historically marginalized communities.
Dr. Aggarwal has published on the health needs of vulnerable youth populations, supported the development of size-inclusive healthcare models, and contributed to policy initiatives designed to reduce disparities and close gaps in care.
Thursday, October 22 | Focus: Systems, Inclusion & Innovation
SESSION #6 IMPLEMENTING 1115 WAIVER and MEDICAID SERVICES FOR THE JUSTICE INVOLVED (90')
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 | 8 AM
This presentation will highlight San Diego County's implementation of Medicaid Transformation, including the Section 1115 Waiver and the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, with an emphasis on the cross-sector collaboration required to support this work. The session will describe how county partners, managed care plans, Enhanced Care Management providers, and community-based organizations have coordinated efforts to expand access to prerelease services for individuals in custody..
Presenters will also examine the internal partnerships needed among sworn staff, medical services, and reentry teams to align policies, workflows, and communication strategies that support timely enrollment and effective care coordination.
Within the broader Medicaid Transformation framework, the presentation will explore strategies for improving client engagement, using technology to streamline service delivery, and addressing operational and systemic barriers. It will highlight enhancements designed to meet the 90-day prerelease requirements, strengthen behavioral health support, and improve connections to community-based resources.
By sharing lessons learned and practical strategies, this session will demonstrate how a coordinated, person-centered model can support successful transitions from county jails to the community and improve long-term health and stability for justice-involved individuals.
Patricia Ceballos, MA, Reentry Services Administrator, San Diego County
Patricia Ceballos is the Reentry Services Administrator for the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. In this role, she. collaborates across the department to develop, implement, and evaluate reentry and rehabilitation services in all seven detention facilities. Her work includes creating strategic plans that identify opportunities to strengthen and expand reentry services.
As manager of the Reentry Services Division, Patricia oversees professional, sworn, and contracted staff who provide direct services to individuals preparing to return to the community.
She serves on several local, state, and national committees focused on developing and implementing best practices in reentry. Patricia brings 20 years of experience in reentry services, program development, facilitation, and training. She has led workshops throughout San Diego County on evidence-based practices, reentry, and community engagement.
Patricia holds a Master of Arts in Human Behavior from National University.
Lynn Carr, MPA, MPH, Chief, Agency Operations for County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Clinical and Safety Net Coordination Division
Lynn Carr is the Chief of Agency Operations for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency's Clinical and Safety Net Coordination Division. .
She has more than 20 years of experience with the County of San Diego, leading and supporting collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for the community's most vulnerable members.
Before joining the Clinical and Safety Net Coordination Division, Lynn worked for the Office of Homeless Solutions, where she led the development and implementation of innovative programs designed to reduce the cycle of homelessness and incarceration.
In her current role, she is committed to the successful implementation of Medi-Cal Transformation, including the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative. This initiative creates a pathway for eligible incarcerated Californians to enroll in Medi-Cal and receive behavioral health connections and reentry services during the 90 days before their release.
Nilanie Ramos, MSW, Assistant Medical Services Administrator for the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services, Healthcare Oversight Unit
Nilanie Ramos is an Assistant Medical Services Administrator for the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services' Healthcare Oversight Unit. .She has more than 27 years of experience with the County of San Diego, including the past nine years with Behavioral Health Services. In this role, she has led and developed programs and supported initiatives involving justice-involved populations, hospitals, and workforce education.
Her team oversees the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) programs and the behavioral health treatment providers that support collaborative courts. Before joining Behavioral Health Services, Nilanie worked in child welfare services.
Nilanie earned a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University and a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the University of San Diego.
Christopher Miedico, JD, RHIA, CHC, MBA, Medical Services Administrator, San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Christopher Miedico was appointed Medical Services Administrator for the San Diego County Sheriff's Office Medical Services Division in 2023. .He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2020, along with certificates in Health Law and Healthcare Compliance.
He has been a Registered Health Information Administrator through the American Health Information Management Association since 2003 and earned certification in healthcare compliance from the Compliance Certification Board in 2020.
SESSION #7 USING PATIENT-CENTERED DOCUMENTATION AND LANGUAGE
Dr. Kristin Walsh completed a fellowship in HIV correctional health at the University of Southern California. She has worked at the Santa Clara County Jail for the past decade, .where she has helped build its sexually transmitted infection screening and hepatitis C treatment programs.
Cynthia Chase, LCSW, Executive Director of The Gemma Project and Nicole Green, MSW, ASW, Therapy Intern and Residence Director, The Gemma Project
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026| 11 AM
SESSION #8 THE SILENT 10%- THE UNTOLD CRISIS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS FASTEST GROWING POPULATION - WOMEN
Cynthia Chase is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in juvenile and criminal legal system reform as a Social Worker, Probation Officer, .Corrections Director of Programming, and the Executive Director of The Gemma Project. Cynthia has been recognized as a dedicated leader and tireless advocate in her work at the intersection of justice and gender. As a
subject matter expert, Cynthia has worked to improve systems and outcomes for marginalized individuals at the city, county, and state levels. Cynthia has also created and advocated for policy change as a City Council member and Mayor of Santa Cruz, California.
Nicole Green, MSW, ASW, is a passionate Forensic Social Worker and Project Manager who has dedicated herself to supporting the reentry population in the California Bay Area. She is the founder
of a consulting company, N.M.Green Consultations, that creates specialized housing and supportive services for justice-involved individuals and is a published author. Nicole is also the Therapy Intern and Residence Director for The Gemma Project and is working to gain her clinical hours toward her LCSW.
of a consulting company, N.M.Green Consultations, that creates specialized housing and supportive services for justice-involved individuals and is a published author. Nicole is also the Therapy Intern and Residence Director for The Gemma Project and is working to gain her clinical hours toward her LCSW.
Sponsored Lunch Presentation by Indivior
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 | 12:15 PM - 1:10PM
Linn Hong, OD | Santa Clara Valley Healthcare
Thursday Oct. 22, 2026 | 1:30 PMSESSION #9: OPTOMETRY FOR THE JUSTICE-INVOLVED
.
This presentation highlights the identification, management, and escalation of common ocular conditions frequently encountered by medical staff in a custody setting. Participants will learn to diagnose and provide first-line care--such as artificial tears, antihistamines, or targeted patient education--for mild eye conditions, while recognizing critical "red-flag" symptoms like acute pain, vision loss, photophobia, and diplopia that necessitate immediate referral to an eye care specialist. Additionally, the session addresses the unique visual demands of incarcerated individuals, emphasizing how addressing visual impairments through reading or prescription glasses directly enhances patient quality of life and institutional safety.
SESSION #10 IDENTIFYING, SUPPORTING AND MANAGING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN PRISONS AND JAILS
Correctional facilities increasingly face operational, legal, and human challenges when managing incarcerated individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This practical, operations-focused session addresses common system failures--such as .unnecessary discipline, victimization, and restrictive housing--while providing strategies to enhance safety, reduce liability, and ensure ADA and constitutional compliance.
Drawing from decades of experience in correctional leadership, court monitoring, and litigation, presenters will share national trends, real-world case examples, and actionable tools adaptable to any facility size.
Key Topics Covered:
Identification & Intake: Improving screening, referral processes, and classification considerations.
Institutional Supports: Implementing reasonable accommodations, communication aids, and functional supports.
Behavioral & Case Management: Developing effective behavioral intervention strategies and interdisciplinary case management.
Staff & Quality Control: Delivering targeted staff training and establishing robust quality assurance practices.
Kelly Mitchell, BA | Kelly Mitchell Consulting
Kelly Mitchell is a correctional consultant and former executive leader with more than 25 years of experience. in correctional administration, ADA compliance,
operational oversight, and justice system reform.
Ms. Mitchell previously held executive leadership positions with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, including Assistant Deputy Director of Program Operations. In that role, she had statewide responsibility for ADA compliance, access to care, grievance systems for incarcerated people with disabilities, and operational compliance across 35 prisons. She also served as Acting Warden and Chief Deputy Warden at San Quentin State Prison.
Ms. Mitchell currently provides consulting, court monitoring, technical assistance, and expert witness services nationwide. Her work focuses on ADA compliance, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health systems, quality assurance, operational reform, and evidence-informed correctional practices. She has extensive experience developing regulatory, policy, and operational standards that align with constitutional requirements and compliance frameworks, as well as multidisciplinary systems designed to improve outcomes.
LINKED IN PROFILE
Sara Norman, JD | Sara Norman Law
Sara Norman is a nationally recognized civil rights attorney with .nearly three decades of experience litigating complex prison and jail conditions cases involving disability rights, healthcare, mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and correctional reform. She previously served as Deputy Director and Managing Attorney at the Prison Law Office in California and now operates the Law Office of Sara Norman in San Francisco.
Ms. Norman has served as lead counsel in major class-action litigation involving incarcerated individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Clark v. California, one of the nation's leading prison disability rights cases. She has extensive experience developing compliance monitoring systems, collaborative audit processes, and remedial frameworks designed to improve outcomes for incarcerated individuals with disabilities.
Ms. Norman is a frequent national presenter on correctional law, disability rights, access to care, and systemic reform.
SESSION #11 TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE IN CORRECTIONAL DENTISTRY
Dr. Nicole Taylor is a licensed clinical psychologist and attorney .with more than 20 years of experience in correctional mental health. She previously served as Mental Health Director for the Arizona Department of Corrections and has worked extensively with individuals experiencing serious mental illness in correctional settings. Dr. Taylor is a nationally recognized speaker and educator who has presented on correctional mental health, reentry, restrictive housing, and legal issues affecting incarcerated populations. She has also served as an instructor for National Institute of Corrections training programs. Dr. Taylor currently serves as Vice President of Mental HealthLocal Government West for Wellpath, where she supports behavioral health programs across correctional systems.
Dr. Vaishnavi Bahksar is a general dentist at Santa Rita Jail in California. She is committed to advancing equitable oral health care for justice-involved populations. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Michigan. Dr. Bhaksar's work focuses on addressing both patient- and system-level barriers to oral health care within correctional settings. Her professional interests include health equity, preventive dentistry, and improving access to high-quality dental services for underserved populations.
PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION
Interactive Demo: Tools in Action
An open, interactive walkthrough of our toolkit, letting conference attendees test-drive the features in real time.
Friday October 23 | Focus: Culture and Family
Panel Presentation with Formerly Incarcerated and Family | California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS)
Friday Oct. 23, 2026 | 8 AMSESSION #12 FAMILY REUNIFICATION POST-INCARCERATION
Barney-Knox, MBA, MA, BSN, RN, Deputy Director Nursing, Statewide Chief Nurse Executive
Barbara Barney-Knox is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of clinical and administrative experience. .She currently serves as Deputy Director of Nursing and Statewide Chief Nurse Executive for California Correctional Health Care Services, overseeing nursing practice and regulatory compliance across 31 state prisons.
Key Impact and Leadership
Workforce Innovation: Co-founded the nation's first civil service LVN-to-RN Apprenticeship Program to advance clinical expertise and career development.
Program Oversight: Oversees large-scale initiatives, including the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Peer Support Specialist programs.
WACHSA Leadership: Serves as Past President of the Western American Correctional Health Services Association and plays a key role in organizational legacy and succession planning.
Honors
Barbara was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and named Executive of the Year in 2020 for her commitment to healthcare excellence and workforce equity.
She was also nominated for the American Correctional Association's Award of Excellence for Nursing Professionals in Corrections.
Affie Tamuno-Koko, MSQA Assistant Deputy Director, Assistant Statewide Chief Nurse Executive - HQ
Affie Tamuno-Koko is Chief Nurse Executive at California Correctional Health Care Services, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. .She is a visionary leader in correctional nursing, with expertise in substance use disorders, mental health, quality improvement, and care coordination.
Key Initiatives and Expertise
Transformative Programs: Spearheads the Peer Support Specialist Program, which empowers incarcerated individuals to support long-term recovery.
CalAIM Integration: Leads the implementation of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal to promote seamless care coordination and successful community reentry.
Quality Excellence: Holds a master's degree in quality assurance, with a focus on data-informed patient outcomes and systemwide healthcare improvement.
Clinical Experience: Brings extensive experience in community hospitals, quality management, and patient education.
William Boylan has more than eight years of experience in corrections. He began his career with the Nashville Metro Health Department, where he provided care to the city's. unhoused population. He later joined Wellpath as a healthcare provider at the Davidson County Jail.
After working in a community walk-in clinic, Mr. Boylan returned to Wellpath as a Continuous Quality Improvement Manager. In 2018, he became a Regional Clinical Provider specializing in Hepatitis C. Through telemedicine, he provides synchronous direct care and clinical decision support.
Mr. Boylan also develops and maintains Hepatitis C disease registries for patient cohorts and chairs multiple Hepatitis C committees across Wellpaths business lines.
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Accreditation is often treated as a checklist exercise, resulting in last-minute preparation and unclear ownership. In complex care environments, successful accreditation requires structured program management and strong collaboration among teams with different priorities..
This session will present practical strategies for building and sustaining an accreditation program that is proactive, organized, and integrated into daily operations. Participants will learn how to establish clear oversight, maintain continuous readiness, align workflows with accreditation requirements, and prepare effectively for regulatory inspections and surveys.
The session will also highlight approaches to strengthening collaboration between medical and custody staff, with an emphasis on communication, coordination, and shared accountability.
Heather Miller, MSM, CCHP,
Director of Compliance | Wellpath
Heather Miller is a correctional healthcare professional with more than 20 years of experience in clinical care, quality improvement, .operations, and compliance. She began her career as a licensed practical nurse and has since served in progressively responsible roles, including Continuous Quality Improvement Supervisor, Contract Health Services Manager, site and regional leadership positions, and, currently, Compliance Director.
Her diverse background has given her broad expertise in correctional healthcare operations, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and program implementation.
Key Areas of Expertise
Multi-State Implementation: Led transition teams for new client start-ups across multiple states, helping ensure seamless healthcare operations.
Operational Leadership: Develops processes that support continuity of care and regulatory compliance in correctional settings.
Systems-Focused Perspective: Combines frontline clinical experience with executive leadership to address complex healthcare challenges.
Mission-Driven Leadership: Committed to advancing quality care, operational excellence, and improved outcomes for patients and healthcare teams.
Monica Albers, RN-BSN, CCHP Director of Compliance and Accreditation | Wellpath
Monica Albers is the Director of Compliance and Accreditation at Wellpath and a correctional nursing leader with nearly 40 years of healthcare experience. .Her career includes more than two decades of service with Wellpath and extensive leadership experience in correctional healthcare.
Committed to improving outcomes for underserved populations, Monica specializes in clinical quality, risk reduction, and regulatory compliance within complex institutional settings. Her experience spans frontline prison and jail operations, utilization management, site leadership, and senior corporate roles.
Monica spent several years developing and managing corporate Utilization Management programs for Correctional Healthcare Management and Correct Care Solutions in partnership with the Corporate Medical Director. She later returned to field operations as a Health Services Administrator before transitioning to her current compliance and accreditation role.
Grounded in strong clinical experience, Monica practiced as a licensed practical nurse for more than 20 years before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and becoming a registered nurse. She received her degree from the University of Phoenix.
Monica is a longtime Certified Correctional Health Professional and has extensive hands-on experience with American Correctional Association and National Commission on Correctional Health Care accreditation standards. She brings a deep understanding of correctional healthcare operations, compliance, and program integrity to the WACHSA stage.