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(SANTA BARBARA, CA) – The Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health (SBCPHD) has appointed two experienced professionals to strengthen health care oversight and quality within the county’s correctional facilities. Dr. Carrick Adam has been named Chief Medical Advisor for Correctional Health, and Aaron Stilwell, DNP, MBA, RN, will serve as Correctional Health Care Quality Improvement (QCI) Manager. These appointments reinforce the county’s commitment to providing effective and compassionate care to incarcerated people.

The new roles are consistent with the Board’s direction to expand oversight of the agreement with private health care providers and a broader effort to improve health services in county correctional facilities. Both Dr. Adam and Mr. Stilwell bring extensive experience in correctional health care and will work collaboratively to improve the physical and mental well-being of those incarcerated in county facilities.

Dr. Carrick Adam, a board-certified pediatrician and addiction medicine specialist, will oversee the work of third-party healthcare providers, ensuring compliance with National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards and advancing medical protocols.

Aaron Stilwell, DNP, MBA, RN, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with more than 17 years of healthcare experience, will focus on quality improvement and compliance monitoring. He brings a strong background in risk management and healthcare operations, having held leadership positions in several local facilities.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Adam and Mr. Stilwell to our team,” said Mouhanad Hammami, director of the Department of Public Health. “Their leadership and expertise are invaluable assets to our Correctional Health Services team, and we are confident they will help us achieve our goal of providing compassionate, high-quality health care to people in the system correctional.

These appointments come at a critical time as Santa Barbara County continues to invest in improving its correctional health infrastructure and services. In addition to expanding medical and mental health care, the County remains committed to exploring innovative ways to improve rehabilitation programs, reduce recidivism and ensure the well-being of all individuals in the correctional system.

Tanja Heitman, Deputy County Executive Officer, added, “These appointments reflect our continued commitment to improving the healthcare system in our county’s correctional facilities. We are confident that Dr. Adam and Mr. Stilwell will make significant contributions to the health and well-being of our correctional system community.

ABOUT DR. CARRICK-ADAM:

Dr. Adam is board certified in pediatrics; Preventive Medicine-Addiction Medicine; and addiction medicine. Dr. Adam has extensive experience providing health care locally to incarcerated youth, serving as the Medical Director of Santa Barbara County Juvenile Justice Centers since 2005. She has been instrumental in developing protocols COVID-19 for the Juvenile Justice Center and worked in conjunction with local laws. application. Dr. Adam also serves as the medical director of the Santa Barbara County Sexual Assault Response Team and a pediatric sexual abuse forensic pathologist. She received her medical degree and master’s degree in public health from Tulane University and completed her residency and internship at the University of California, San Diego.

As the new Chief Medical Advisor for Correctional Health, Dr. Adam will ensure the delivery of high-quality health services to incarcerated individuals through a third-party contractor while maintaining compliance with current regulations and standards . She will be responsible for monitoring and coordinating all clinical and related activities of the prison health provider clinical staff and juvenile justice centers in their implementation of the National Correctional Health Care Commission (NCCHC) and evidence-based standards of health care (e.g., medical, dental). , mental health, auxiliary services, etc.) for incarcerated people.

Dr. Adam will report directly to Dr. Phyllis Preciado, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Department of Public Health. Dr. Adam’s regular reports, audits, and findings will be shared with the County Board of Supervisors through regular SBCPHD briefings. Dr. Adam is committed to advancing medical protocols and services for a diverse inmate population, ensuring county facilities provide timely and efficient care.

ABOUT AARON STILWELL:

Aaron Stilwell, DNP, MBA, RN, brings 17 years of healthcare experience, including more than 10 years in quality measurement and improvement, risk management, compliance and operations. Her previous roles include working with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Lompoc Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and CenCal Health. Dr. Stilwell is licensed as a Registered Nurse and holds a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Quinnipiac University. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

As the Correctional Health Care Improvement Manager for Santa Barbara County Correctional Health Services, Stilwell will oversee and guide the quality assurance process to ensure health care providers follow clinical protocols and adhere regulatory standards for incarcerated people.