We are thrilled to introduce Dr. C.J. Rush, a distinguished professional in the field of psychiatry and addiction medicine, as our Chief Psychiatric Officer at CorrHealth. With a robust background in corrections at both county and state levels, Dr. Rush brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team.
A Career Dedicated to Service:
Dr. Rush is board-certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine by the AOBNP. His career has focused on assisting underserved populations and working with re-entry populations at an outpatient community behavioral health center, community hospitals, county jails, and state prisons. Dr. Rush tells us, “I also enjoy hospital work and was the Consult/Liaison Psychiatrist for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Hamot for six years, and I continue to do that job for the Allegheny Health Network-St. Vincent Hospital. I was the Medical Director of Second Chances addiction clinic in Erie, PA, offering medication-assisted treatment to the Medicaid population with substance use disorders. A proud combat veteran, I had the opportunity to perform disability examinations for traumatic brain injury cases for the Veterans Administration. My clinical focus in Psychiatry is in clinical psychopharmacology, addiction, the intersection of clinical medicine and psychiatry, Personality Theory, and multiple psychotherapy modalities.”
Military Background and Academic Achievements:
Dr. Rush joined the U.S. Army after attending the University of Illinois for two years. He trained as a Combat Medic and eventually progressed to paramedic and additional medical/surgical training. Leaving the military after 12 years, he returned to college to prepare for medical school. While at Idaho State University, Dr. Rush played NCAA rugby, then transferred and graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. in Psychology/Pre-Med. He then moved to Nashville, TN, and worked as a Crisis Worker while applying to medical schools. Dr. Rush tells us, “I was accepted at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at the age of 38. I graduated and stayed in Erie, PA, to complete a year of Internal Medicine as an Intern. Following completion, I did my residency in Psychiatry there as well. I was selected as the Chief Resident in my final two years of residency. Also, I completed a Master’s degree in Medical Education before graduation. I consider myself a dedicated educator and hold adjunct clinical professor positions at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Drexel University, teaching residents, medical students, Nurse Practitioner Students, and Physician Assistant students.”
Creating New Horizons at CorrHealth:
When asked what excites him the most about joining CorrHealth as the Chief Psychiatric Officer, Dr. Rush says, “I am excited there has never been a CPO before at CorrHealth. I am driven by the opportunity to break new ground. I don’t have to take pre-existing systems that may be broken or inefficient and remodel them. This allows me to create the systems necessary to bring the level of our Behavioral Health service line to the highest standards. I get to create and implement systems that will establish the highest quality, evidence-based treatment for mental health disorders at all of our sites with a Behavioral Health contract service. As an educator, I hope to offer knowledge and insight to CorrHealth and the correctional community to continue to elevate the standard of care for our inmate patients and all those incarcerated.”
