Josiah D. Rich

Josiah D. “Jody” Rich, MD, MPH is Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Brown University and a practicing Infectious Disease Specialist since 1994 at The Miriam Hospital and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Dr Rich has expertise in the care and prevention of disease in addicted and incarcerated individuals and has understanding of the importance of strong linkages between the correctional and substance use treatment systems. This combined clinical experience has given him a unique vantage point from which to understand the challenges, as well as the opportunities that the incarcerated setting offers. This has informed and driven his research career which has focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and co-morbid conditions, especially among incarcerated populations. He is Director and Co-Founder of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights at The Miriam Hospital, www.prisonerhealth.org. Dr. Rich has advocated for public health policy changes to improve the health of disadvantaged people including improving legal access to sterile syringes, increasing drug treatment for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated populations and reducing overdose.