Incarcerated Bodies, Invisible Struggles: Gender, Rights, and Health in Prisons

Ivan Calder is the Chief Executive Officer for Health through Walls, Managing Director at Virtu Medical and the Chair of the ICPA Health Care Network Group. He has a nursing degree, master’s in addiction psychiatry, master’s in business administration, and amongst other roles, has served as a Corrections Officer for the United Nations, Program Director, Prison Governor, and Assistant Commissioner for justice administration in Australia, and Head of Healthcare for the National Health Services across 20 prison locations in the United Kingdom. Ivan has direct experience in healthcare and management within prison environments and multi-jurisdictional correctional administration capabilities. Central themes running through his career include a commitment to public service, the pursuit of continuous improvement, and a love of working in partnership with stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Fatou Kiné Dieng has been the Medical Chief Officer in the Penitentiary Administration of Senegal since April 2024. She is responsible for healthcare coordination across 37 medical facilities within the Senegalese prison system. Dr. Dieng specialises in emergency medicine and previously served as the Medical Chief Officer in the Emergency Medical Unit at Ouakam Military Hospital for three years. Her expertise extends to medical forensics, expert testimony, and personal injury assessment. Dr. Dieng has researched improving prison healthcare in Senegal, documented in her thesis "Prospects for Improving Prison Medicine in Senegal."

Professional Experience with United Nations Peacekeeping Operations:

Professional Affiliations:

Karine Duverger has dedicated the past 16 years to serving as the Chief of Party for Health Through Walls, where she focuses on the critical areas of identifying, preventing, and managing infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis within Haiti's National Penitentiary, Women’s Prison, 17 additional correctional facilities, and three Mobile Clinics. With over 34 years of extensive experience in planning, coordinating, and supervising health programs and projects, Mrs. Duverger is recognized for her exemplary leadership in optimizing workflows and enhancing team dynamics, significantly improving project outcomes.

 

Her previous role as a director at a Head Start program showed her commitment to providing comprehensive services to low-income children and their families. Mrs. Duverger holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from St. Thomas University, underscoring her dedication to the field.

 

A passionate advocate for women's leadership in corrections, she actively supports initiatives that empower women in leadership roles. Her deep-seated belief in compassion, justice, and community service drives her involvement with organizations supporting young immigrants, making her work not only impactful but also deeply fulfilling.

Dr. Donna Royer-Powe is a trailblazer in the Jamaican correctional healthcare world. As the first and longest-serving woman to lead the Department of Corrections' Medical Services, she oversees healthcare across 10 prisons. In a male-dominated field, Dr. Royer-Powe has championed transformative initiatives, including establishing a nursery for incarcerated mothers and expanding access to gynecological care.

Dr. Royer-Powe's journey has not been without challenges, including facing harassment and discrimination as a woman. However, her unwavering dedication to improving prison healthcare has made her a respected role model. Over 20 years, her work has inspired an increased number of women to serve as doctors in correctional healthcare in Jamaica. A recognized public health expert, she also works in HIV clinics, showcasing her commitment to vulnerable populations. Dr. Royer-Powe has presented her knowledge on HIV and public health in Jamaica at conferences around the world.