The George Washington University (GW) has announced a first-of-its kind online program for a Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) in Correctional Health Administration. This program is designed to prepare graduates to lead health care initiatives for incarcerated populations in U.S. jails or prisons.

With classes beginning fall 2019, the program offers both a graduate certificate and a full master's degree curriculum built on serving the unique health care needs of incarcerated patient populations, improving health outcomes, and leading correctional health care teams. The full graduate program will take an average of two years to complete. Students also have the opportunity to receive a Graduate Certificate in Correctional Health Administration, which gives them the option to complete required courses in just one year, and then decide whether to continue classes to earn the full MSHS degree.

Newton E. Kendig, MD, clinical professor of medicine and program director for the MSHS in Correctional Health Administration at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, brings 25 years of experience as a correctional health care administrator, having served in both state and federal systems, as well as the medical director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and as an assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service.

"Serving patients in a correctional facility comes with a unique set of challenges," said Kendig. "Our program was carefully designed to create health care leaders who know how to meet the needs of diverse patients while balancing a budget and managing a team of correctional health care professionals."

Kendig is supported by other faculty who are nationally known experts in the field of correctional health administration, teaching courses such as "Correctional Health Care for Special Populations," “Correctional Health Care Fiscal Management,” and "Correctional Health Care Oversight."

Learn more about GW's Correctional Health Administration programs at smhs.gwu.edu/correctional-health-administration/.