Michelle Staples-Horne
Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne has been Medical Director for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for over thirty years serving 16 administrations. She is currently responsible in association with Augusta University for the provision of medical services for approximately one thousand youth daily in 25 secure facilities across the state. She initiated Georgia’s program to provide health services to DJJ youth in secure confinement in1994 at the request of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The medical program has expanded from four registered nurses at that time to over 300 medical providers today and has received national recognition as an exemplary medical program by the United States Department of Justice.
Dr. Staples-Horne holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Clark Atlanta University. She holds a Medical Degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Emory University in Atlanta. Her clinical experience includes Pediatrics at Columbia University’s Babies Hospital in New York and Preventive Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. She provided clinical services to public health clinics on a part time basis for over 25 years including several Fulton County Health and Wellness Teen Clinics. Dr. Staples-Horne is a Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP).
Dr. Staples-Horne currently serves on the American Correctional Association (ACA) Health Committee and the Delegate Assembly. She was formerly on the ACA Board of Commissioners and Juvenile Committee. She currently serves on the ACGME Correctional Health Advisory Council and formerly on the Board of Directors of the Academic Consortium for Criminal Justice Health. Dr. Staples-Horne is a Past President of the American College of Correctional Physicians (ACCP), member of the Juvenile Health Committee of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), past President of the Morehouse School of Medicine National Alumni Association, and past Treasurer and Board member for Physicians for Reproductive Health. She is currently on the executive committee of the Atlanta Medical Association and Chair of the Community Health and Preventive Medicine Section of the National Medical Association. She has served on numerous advisory boards and provided educational training and legal consultation for academic institutions, and other State and local juvenile jurisdictions. Dr. Staples-Horne has authored over 25 publications for several scientific journals, magazine articles and book chapters on correctional health care. She has been recognized nationally as the recipient of the Armond Start Award from the ACCP, the Bernard P. Harrison Award from the NCCHC and the E.R. Cass Award from the ACA for her contribution to health care in the correctional environment.