Recognition for the physicians who have devoted their training, expertise, and careers to the health of incarcerated patients — and the right to add FACCP to their name.
The American College of Correctional Physicians serves clinicians in the correctional world and their patients by promoting excellence in practice, physician development, and consistent ethical behavior. It has long been part of the ACCP’s vision to raise the profile of physicians working in jails, prisons, and other carceral facilities through formal recognition in the medical field — and especially specialty recognition and accreditation by the ACGME. One step on that route is this Fellowship.
Successful applicants receive a certificate testifying to this achievement, along with the authority to carry these post-nominal letters — identifying themselves, for life, as Fellows of the College.
Submit your application by email to Jessica Roquemore, ACCP Executive Director.
The ACCP Fellowship Committee — primarily current Fellows appointed by the President — meticulously reviews each applicant and may recommend approval, denial, a request for more information, or deferral.
The ACCP Board of Directors acts on the application and communicates its conclusion through the Fellowship Committee Chair to the candidate.
Successful applicants receive a certificate and the authority to identify themselves as Fellows — adding FACCP to their name.
The Fellowship Committee is comprised primarily of current ACCP Fellows appointed by the President, one of whom serves as chairperson. The Committee meticulously reviews applicants and has the authority to recommend approval, denial, a need for additional information, or deferral to the ACCP Board of Directors, which takes final action on every application.
Fellows have demonstrated their expertise in and dedication to correctional healthcare. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the full criteria and application process below.
Hover a requirement to expand it · tap on mobileContact Jessica Roquemore by email — ACCP Fellowship, Jessica Roquemore, Executive Director.
At the time of application, the candidate must be actively involved in correctional medicine, including direct patient care and/or administration. At least four years of experience (8,000 hours or more) should be documented over the most recent six-year period. If adequate hours are documented but during more than the most recent six-year period, an explanation is required. Participation in and/or completion of a formal correctional healthcare training program will be counted towards the hours requirement.
Candidates shall demonstrate continuing dedication and commitment to correctional medicine. At least four of the following activities are suggested, although the Fellowship Committee may consider any activity suggested by the candidate:
Candidates shall be actively licensed to practice medicine in the state(s) where performing correctional healthcare work. License(s) shall not be restricted in a way that requires institutional or correctional work; that is, the licensee must be able to practice in the community.
Candidates must demonstrate excellent character. Candidates must disclose and provide full information regarding any medical or controlled substance license or certification restriction or revocation, complaints to a medical board, criminal convictions including pleas accepted in lieu of criminal conviction, restriction or revocation of hospital or other medical staff privileges, malpractice actions reported to a licensing board, or active substance abuse or dependence during the six years prior to application. This list shall not be considered exhaustive. (If privileges, licensure, etc. were relinquished in lieu of action or possible action, this shall also be reported.) National Practitioner Database entries must be fully explained.
Candidates must have active Board Certification in an ACGME-accredited specialty obviously applicable to correctional healthcare, most typically Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Emergency Medicine. Other areas of specialization will be considered along with practice experience on a case-by-case basis. Candidates who have completed an ACGME fellowship in correctional medicine within the previous six years will be deemed to have met this requirement irrespective of other Board Certification status.
Candidates shall have earned at least thirty-six continuing medical hours directly and specifically related to the practice of correctional medicine during the three years prior to Fellowship application. Additional consideration will be given for additional hours or related teaching activities.
Candidates shall be active and contributing ACCP members for at least the four years prior to application. Examples of contributions include attending or presenting at ACCP conferences, membership on an ACCP committee, ACCP Board membership, or writing or contributing to CorrDocs (the ACCP quarterly publication). This list is not exhaustive.
Candidates shall seek two letters of recommendation from current ACCP members, at least one of which must be a current Fellow. Letters shall include a description of the relationship between the candidate and the writer and, among other information, attest to the good character and dedication to correctional healthcare of the candidate. Letters shall be submitted directly by the writer to the same address given above.
Recertification shall occur every three years. Recertification shall require attestation that no additional or new licensure restrictions or limitations have been imposed by any licensing boards, that no clinical or hospital staff privileges have been reduced, limited, or withdrawn (or that such action is pending or that such privileges have been voluntarily relinquished in lieu of such action), that the Fellow has not been released from employment for cause, that no felony convictions have occurred (or that such actions are pending), that no untreated substance abuse or behavioral disorder which might affect the practice of medicine exists, and that the Fellow continues to be dedicated to supporting high quality healthcare in the correctional setting. If the Fellow wishing recertification cannot attest to all of the above but wishes to continue as a Fellow, a full explanation must be attached to the request for recertification. The Fellowship Committee will review the recertification request, including any attached explanations, before determining whether Fellowship status can continue.
Fellows who are fully retired from the practice of correctional medicine may continue status as Fellows. Use of the initials FACCP should be amended to FACCP (emeritus) for clarification.
From time to time the President may identify a physician whose years of service to correctional healthcare deserve recognition and submit their name to the Fellowship Committee for consideration for Honorary Fellowship status. The Fellowship Committee shall have the authority to review the referral and determine whether the honor is warranted.
From time to time a Fellow may, through behavior or performance, no longer meet the standards expected of an ACCP Fellow. Any ACCP member may bring such a concern to the attention of the President, a Member of the Board of Directors, or the Chair of the Fellowship Committee. The circumstances shall be investigated and reviewed by the Fellowship Committee, including providing the Fellow an opportunity to present information and/or concerns. If the Committee believes Fellowship status should be revoked, this recommendation shall be forwarded to the President, who shall ensure the Board of Directors reviews it. The Board shall make one of the following recommendations:
One-time fee submitted with your Fellowship application.
Lifetime membership as a Fellow of the College, payable after your application is approved.
This Fellowship is named for Dr. Dianne Rechtine. Her early years were spent traveling the world as a military dependent, but when she reached college age she settled in her home state of West Virginia, earning her Bachelor and Medical Doctor degrees from West Virginia University (1961 and 1965). She began as a family physician and accepted a public health role in the mid-1980s — and it was in public health, including directing a rehabilitation unit, that she first became dedicated to those citizens in most need. In 1985 she moved into practice and supervisory roles in the Florida Department of Corrections.
During her years in the FDOC and after her 2005 retirement, Dr. Rechtine advocated for all aspects of correctional healthcare, and for correctional physicians in particular. Her vision and work were recognized and honored by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, the American Correctional Association, and the Society of Correctional Physicians (now the ACCP). One of her continuing projects was achieving recognition for physicians working in jails and prisons; she helped develop and lead the Correctional Medical Fellowship at Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Rechtine passed in 2021 after a long illness. We will miss her — not only because she contributed so greatly to correctional healthcare, meeting and exceeding her professional duties, but also because of her always optimistic and supportive approach to life. We will never forget her.
Physicians who have earned the right to identify themselves as Fellows of the American College of Correctional Physicians.
For more information on becoming a Fellow of the American College of Correctional Physicians, get in touch with our Executive Director.
Email jessica@accpmed.org → or call 803-269-5555