New Members Welcomed to NCCHC Board

NCCHC welcomes three new members to its multidisciplinary Board of Representatives.

LaToya Duckworth, MHA, BSN, CCHP, is the newly appointed board liaison for the American Nurses Association. She is the nurse administrator for the Kansas Department of Corrections where she assures health care compliance through contract monitoring and serves as risk coordinator. Previously she was assistant division director for medical services with the Missouri Department of Corrections. She replaces Mary Muse, MSN, RN, CCHP-RN, CCHP-A, who represented the ANA for 10 years.

“Correctional nurses make up a large percentage of nursing professionals but are often the most overlooked,” said Ms. Duckworth. “In line with the mission and vision of NCCHC, I seek to improve the quality of health care in jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities through uplifting correctional health care professionals. I am committed to raising awareness and creating positive change for the correctional nursing field.”

Clinical psychologist Kenya Key, PsyD, CCHP-MH, joined the board as the American Psychological Association liaison. As deputy director of health services for the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, she oversees behavioral health and restorative justice programs. Previously, she served as chief psychologist for Cermak Health Services at Cook County Jail in Chicago. Dr. Key is the recipient of the 2023 NCCHC Edward A. Harrison Excellence in Correctional Health Care Leadership Award, presented each year to an outstanding leader who inspires others, leads by example, and is committed to quality improvement in correctional health care.

“I have spent my career at the intersection of psychology and corrections,” said Dr. Key. “This new role will provide me with additional opportunities to make a meaningful impact in this space. I look forward to contributing to the collective work that will shape the future of psychology and correctional health care.”

Andrea Knittel, MD, PhD, new board liaison for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is associate professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. As medical director for Incarcerated Women’s Health, she coordinates obstetric and gynecologic services offered to incarcerated women through the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. She also directs the department’s reproductive health fellowship and has published extensively on women’s health issues in incarceration. Dr. Knittel replaces Carolyn Sufrin, MD, PhD, CCHP, who represented ACOG for 10 years.

“I am a general obstetrician/gynecologist with over a decade of experience providing reproductive health care in jails and prisons,” she said. “I look forward to contributing my expertise to advance NCCHC’s mission with a particular focus on ensuring access to high-quality obstetric and gynecologic care across the life course.”

NCCHC is supported by the major national organizations representing the fields of health, mental health, law, and corrections. Each supporting organization names a liaison to the NCCHC Board of Representatives to create a robust, multidisciplinary governing structure that reflects the complexities of correctional health care.