Center for Correctional Healthcare Excellence

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Welcome

Incarcerated individuals in the United States are the only Americans with a guaranteed right to adequate healthcare because of the historic 1976 U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in the Texas case, Estelle v. Gamble.

Access to care means that, in a timely manner, an incarcerated individual is seen by a qualified healthcare professional, is rendered a clinical judgment, and receives care that is ordered.

At UTMB, we recognize that individuals in correctional settings deserve the same high standards of healthcare afforded to every member of our society. Through this Center, we aim to lead the nation—and the world—in advancing the quality, equity, and humanity of correctional healthcare.

We serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary engagement, bringing together clinicians, educators, researchers, and system leaders to address the unique challenges and opportunities within correctional environments. Whether we are fostering cutting-edge training programs, developing impactful research, or strengthening policy and practice, our mission remains clear: to elevate correctional health to a standard of excellence.

Professional headshot of Olugbenga Ojo

Olugbenga Ojo, MD, MBA, FACP, SFHM, CCHP, CCHP-CP

Message from our Director

Mission

To foster research, education, and improvement of health care delivery in correctional health and serve as a resource to the UTMB research, education, and health care communities.

Vision

Contribute to correctional health improvement, knowledge, and education through innovative research, thoughtful database development, and innovative training opportunities.

Our Mission Areas

Clinical Mission

Clinical Mission Areas

  • Hospital Galveston
  • Inpatient Mental Health
  • Women's Health
  • Virology
  • Public Health
  • Telehealth
  • Allied Health

Key Clinical Activities

  • Submit Carceral Fellowship Application Package to ACGME
  • Develop data systems to track continuity of care for inmates with mental health conditions released into the general community.
  • Develop a screening protocol to assess cognitive impairment and dementia in older prison inmates
  • Develop an assessment of Candida auris transmission in TDCJ, to improve fiscal and logistical efficiency in HG and CMC infirmary operations
Closeup of gloved hands holding bottle and syringe, healthcare technology, medical examination, medical research and development concept

Research Mission

Research Mission Areas

  • Advance a multidisciplinary research agenda on penitentiary health
  • Engage faculty, students, residents, & partners in impactful research
  • Strengthen internal research capacity and mentorship
  • Enhance public & academic engagement through social media

Priority Research Areas

  • Infectious Disease (TB, HIV, Hep C, AMR, etc.)
  • Mental Health & Substance Use
  • Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, Hypertension, Aging)
  • Health Systems (Telehealth, AI, Workforce)
  • Economic Evaluation of Health Interventions in Correctional Healthcare
  • Delivery
  • Cardiovascular Outcomes in Correctional Health

Research in the Pipeline

  • CKD & ESRD in incarcerated adults
  • TB skin test conversions in Texas prisons
  • Psychosocial outcomes after TB (potential R01)
  • Scoping review of TB outbreaks in prisons
  • Youth mental health in juvenile justice
  • Epidemiology of mental illness and cognitive disorders in correctional healthcare
  • Trauma informed care

Research Steps

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  • Initial Consultation
    1. Present a study abstract to CCHE to evaluate feasibility
    2. Study abstract information will be submitted through webform at CCHE website
  • Proposal Development
    1. Draft study proposal following CCHE template
    2. Include correctional-specific consideration
  • Scientific & Operational Review
    Internal CCHE review
  • UTMB IRB Approval
    Refer to IRB Process
  • Study Launch
    • Coordinate with prison site (if is applicable)
    • Follow security and privacy guidelines (if is applicable)
    • Start recruitment and data collection (if is applicable)
    • Coordinate with CCHE to access to the EMR authorized for the study
  • Study Results Presentation
    1. Provide 6-months progress report
    2. Final report should be presented to CCHE and TDCJ before to submit for publication
    3. Any poster/abstract should have clearance from CCHE and TDCJ
    4. Final report should be presented to CCHE and TDCJ before to submit for publication

Research Project Approval Flow

  • Research Project Approval Flow

     

        CCHE Oversight Committee    
          Strategic Priority Setting    
        CCHE Scientific Review Committee    
          Administrates research program (procedurally and substantively)    
        CCHE Research Process     
        
    		    
        Regulatory Approval
    - UTMB IRB
    - TDCJ Research Review    		    
    Letter of Intent  ApprovedFull Proposal  Approved  ApprovedStudy Launch   
    Annual Monitoring    		Study Closing and/or Publication 
    Security & Operational Approval 
            

     

Education Mission

Education Mission Areas

  • Improve outcomes of patients in carceral settings, increase health literacy, and promote health equity
  • Promote students’ understanding of correctional health care by applying and analyzing how concepts of social justice, social determinants of health, health literacy, health disparities, and health inequities can be addressed in this population
  • Provide clinical opportunities and training for students to apply their knowledge and improve their clinical skills in this marginalized population
  • Provide educational opportunities for faculty, nurses, students, and the public

Nursing Education Goals

  • Nursing Process
    • Assessments, Diagnoses, Care Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
  • Clinical Skills
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Professionalism

Key Activities

  1. Establishment of UTMB Correctional Health Fellowship Program
  2. Curriculum Development (e.g. Ethical Issues in Carceral Care – Graduate Course in SPPH)
  3. Didactic and Practical Instruction
  4. Establishment of Certificate and other Carceral Programs (e.g. Nursing Correctional Care Nursing Program)
  5. Collaboration with UTMB and Community Stakeholders to provide presentations and educational opportunities (e.g. Ethical Issues in Carceral Care – BHH Graduate Course SPPH)

Unit Based Chronic Care Management Goals

  1. Intake: Medical History & Screening
  2. Individual Care Plan Development
  3. Patient-Centered Education
  4. Medication Management
  5. Regular Monitoring & Follow-up
  6. Re-entry (transition) Planning

Bioethics Mission

Bioethics Mission Areas

  • Education: Providing substantive ethics-related content, curriculum development, didactic and practical instruction
  • Clinical Care: Providing consultation, practice guidance, and policy perspectives
  • Research: Develop a program of scholarship, presentation, and publication on ethical issues of carceral care
  • Oversight: Participate in CCHE oversight, goal setting, funding, and accountability
  • Professional & Community Engagement: Pursue opportunities that meaningfully contribute to CCHE mission

Strategic Priorities

  • Work with Center leadership to develop a mechanism of inter-institutional carceral research oversight and research strategy.
  • Create a community of ethic-oriented scholarship and research priorities
  • Contribute to curriculum development regarding ethical issues in carceral care for wide-ranging constituencies, e.g. graduate students, residents/fellows, professional students, faculty.
  • Reinvigorate external partnerships to develop community-based initiatives

Steering Committees

Oversight Committee (Advisory Board)

  • Lanette Linthicum, MD, FACP, CCHP-A (TDCJ)
  • Andrew Barbee, MA (TDCJ)
  • Scott LePor, DO (TJJD)
  • Evan Norton, PsyD (TJJD)
  • Owen J. Murray, DO, MBA (CMC)
  • Joseph Penn, MD (CMC)
  • Kristen Peek, PhD (SPPH)
  • Jacques Baillargeon, PhD (SPPH)
  • Jeff Farroni, JD, PhD (SPPH)
  • Patricia Blair, JD, LLM, PhD (SON)
  • Cesar Ugarte-Gil, MD, PhD, MSc (SPPH)
  • Olugbenga Ojo, MD, MBA, FACP, SFHM, CCHP, CCHP-CP (SOM)

Research Committee

  • Andrew Barbee, MA (TDCJ)
  • Evan Norton, PsyD (TJJD)
  • Owen J. Murray, DO, MBA (CMC)
  • Jacques Baillargeon, PhD (SPPH)
  • Cesar Ugarte-Gil, MD, PhD, MSc (SPPH)
  • Olugbenga Ojo, MD, MBA, FACP, SFHM, CCHP, CCHP-CP (SOM)
  • Rocksheng Zhong, MD, MHS
  • Carole Tucker, PT, PhD (CHPPRR)