Physician Message

“Help our community see our patients not just as inmates, but as individuals in need of treatment and compassion.”

Elizabeth Soyeon Ahn, MD is a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist: “I’ve worked at LA General Medical Center, in Health Services Administration, and in Community Programs within the Department of Health Services (DHS). Currently, I serve as Director of Intake Psychiatric Services at Correctional Health Services (CHS), where my teams provide services similar to Psychiatric Emergency Services by evaluating, treating, and triaging patients at the door of the LA County jails. I have been interested in Street Medicine and began working with homeless shelters and volunteer clinics early in my education and training. Over the years, I’ve come to learn that our patients on the streets, in psychiatric hospitals, and in jails are often the same individuals cycling through the same revolving door, a reflection of systemic gaps and the urgent need for integrated healthcare. CHS cares for patients in the largest jail system in the world, with approximately 15,000 individuals in custody on any given day. LA County jails also function as the largest psychiatric institution in the U.S., housing approximately 6,500 individuals with psychiatric illness. For me, there’s no better place to apply my training, knowledge, and skills than here, working with the sickest, most marginalized, and most vulnerable patient populations. My day-to-day work includes a mix of clinical and administrative responsibilities, as well as teaching the next generation of physicians rotating from various medical schools and postgraduate programs. One of the ongoing challenges I face is bridging the gap in perspective—helping our community and justice partners see our patients not just as inmates, but as individuals in need of treatment and compassion.”

“I work alongside like-minded mission-drive colleagues.”

Jessica Lucey, MD, is a family medicine physician with a special interest in equitable access to health care: “Many of our patients have historically experienced limited access to physical and mental health services, either because of socioeconomic disadvantages or because of previously feeling stigmatized in a health care setting. My work here in the Correctional Health Services (CHS) feels meaningful precisely because I am consistently serving an ignored and invisible sector of the population. I currently work on the medicine floor in Men’s Central Jail (MCJ), seeing patients that are too sick to be housed in “Gen Pop” (General Population), but not sick enough to have a bed in a step-down unit. During the day I go cell-to-cell to see a wide variety of pathologies with the virtual support of specialists from LA General Medical Center (LGMC). I enjoy connecting with patients and spending time educating them about their diseases to set them up for success when they are released, and I appreciate having ample administrative time to finish my charting at work. While there is an emotional toll to working in a correctional setting, I appreciate working alongside my like-minded mission-driven colleagues.”

“Taking care of medical needs while incarcerated provides continuity of care once patients are released into the community.”

My name is Wendy Ruggeri, MD, and I am an Emergency Medicine Physician. I am currently the Senior Physician overseeing Urgent Care in Twin Towers, as well as Primary Care Clinics at Pitchess Detention Center (PDC). I was led to Correctional Health Services (CHS) by a colleague who enjoys working here. I started as a Relief Physician, working in the Urgent Care a few times per month. With time I realized my experience as an ER doctor has proven to be extremely beneficial in treating the incarcerated population. As a Senior Physician I oversee a group of healthcare professionals who attend to urgent needs of our patients and, when possible, avoiding unnecessary transfers to tertiary hospitals. I do clinical work as well as administrative work to improve workflows and optimize care. Being a CHS physician is rewarding and poses unique challenges to practicing medicine. We may not have the same resources and availability for testing as outside clinics and we must work within the safety parameters issued by our custody partners. Upon joining the CHS team, physicians will find that you can make a difference with our patient population. Taking care of medical needs while incarcerated prevents emergency room visits once released into the community and provides continuity of care.

“I enjoy the dynamic nature of my role, whether managing chronic conditions, substance use disorders, or communicable diseases.”

My name is Jerome Soldo, MD, and I’m a Family Medicine physician from Kentucky. I graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed residency at UCLA-Santa Monica. At Correctional Health Services (CHS), I provide primary care in the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ), working across multiple clinics and in the Inmate Reception Center (IRC). I enjoy the dynamic nature of my role, whether managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart failure, substance use disorders, or communicable diseases. Many of our patients have faced significant barriers to healthcare access, and their gratitude and willingness to collaborate in their physicians make this job incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy teaching medical students and residents and participating in population health and quality improvement initiatives at CHS. If you’re passionate about working with a diverse and underserved patient population in a safe and supportive environment, I encourage you to consider joining the CHS team!