Shairi Turner

It is the first time in the 10-year history of the department that a full-time chief medical director will monitor and evaluate care of juveniles throughout the system of private providers and state-run facilities. Florida's is the third largest juvenile justice system in the U.S., and Turner will be responsible for the medical care and well-being of 150,000 youth each year. About 10,000 detained or committed adolescents will be directly under her care.

Trained as a physician, Turner earned an MPH from HSPH in 2001 and then stayed at the School for two years as a part of the Yerby Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The program aims to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who enter academia. Each fellow works with mentors at HSPH, refining their skills in research, grant writing, teaching, course development, and oral presentation.

While a fellow, Turner worked with Angela Browne, associate director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center (HICRC); David Hemenway, director of HICRC; and Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Associate Dean for Faculty Development. She provided medical care to underserved adults and children at the Massachusetts General Hospital Medical Walk-In Clinic in Chelsea. She also served on Massachusetts' Disproportionate Minority Confinement subcommittee of the Governor's Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.

In Tallahassee, Turner will focus on assessing and evaluating the existing health care system, then standardizing the policies and care among the Department of Juvenile Justice's vast statewide network of providers. She plans to revise the Department's Health Services manual and oversee the revision of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services manual. Another component of her position will be to improve and enhance the basic care of juveniles in the system, and to ensure everyone continues to receive immunizations, dental care, thorough mental health evaluations, and care for sexually transmitted diseases.

"I am thrilled to be able to have such a significant impact on such an important part of Florida's population," Turner said. "The proper medical care of the juveniles in our care will be my top priority. I will look at this system across the board and determine how we can improve health, mental health, and substance abuse."

She added, "HSPH was very helpful. Angela Browne, David Hemenway, and Deborah Prothrow-Stith were phenomenal advisors. They allowed me to carve a niche in this area and to develop contacts that ultimately connected me to this position here. I also must extend appreciation to Betty Johnson, who worked with Walter Willett to direct the Yerby Fellowship. I would not be here if it were not for my time at HSPH."