About

Justin Berk, MD MPH MBA, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Epidemiology at Brown University. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Addiction Medicine. His research focuses on addiction medicine in carceral settings, including the use of injectable buprenorphine in correctional facilities. Dr. Berk is a clinical educator involved in innovative pedagogies, such as producing medical education podcasts that have reached over 2 million downloads. He has served as the Medical Director for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections and is a researcher with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other institutions. His work emphasizes low-threshold buprenorphine initiation and addressing healthcare disparities faced by incarcerated populations. Dr. Berk has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications on clinical medicine, addiction, and correctional healthcare, and contributed to the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. His educational background includes an MD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, an MPH from Yale University, an MBA from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech, and training at Johns Hopkins Hospital's combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Medicine
• Medical education
• Psychology
• Pedagogy
• World Wide Web
• Psychotherapist
• Internal medicine
• Intensive care medicine
• Business
• Pathology
• Virology

Selected publications

• Hepatitis C treatment in a jail setting: A retrospective cohort analysis of low-barrier initiation of direct acting antivirals

  International Journal of Drug Policy · 2026-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  • This is the first study to assess the feasibility of initiating HCV treatment in a U.S. pre-trial jail setting using a low-barrier approach, where patients received a full course of medication upon initiation. • Over half of individuals who initiated treatment in jail completed treatment before release, demonstrating feasibility even in a setting with unpredictable incarceration lengths. • Among those who obtained follow-up HCV RNA labs, cure rates for jail-initiated treatment were 85 %, comparable to those who initiated and completed treatment in prison. • Among individuals released from jail or prison with remaining HCV medications, 65 % ultimately obtained follow-up labs (with the majority of labs occurring during reincarceration events), identifying the need for post-release patient supports. A significant proportion of individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) experience incarceration. Jails house individuals who are pre-trial or for short sentences and represent a critical setting to expand HCV treatment access. Low-barrier treatment models may help overcome implementation barriers to initiating treatment in jail settings. In 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections began implementing low-barrier HCV treatment including take-home medications for those released before completing therapy in both a jail (pre-trial) and prison (sentenced) setting. This study aimed to evaluate response to therapy for HCV infection between individuals who initiated treatment in jail versus those who initiated in prison. This study was an observational cohort of people receiving low-barrier HCV treatment initiation between January 2021 and September 2023 at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Logistic regression compared individuals who initiated therapy in jail to those initiating in prison. The primary outcome sustained virological response 12 weeks after treatment completion (SVR12). Of 160 individuals who initiated treatment during incarceration, 84 initiated in jail and 76 in prison. SVR12 was similar between individuals who initiated HCV treatment in jail (85%) and those who initiated in prison (86%). There was no statistical difference in likelihood of SVR12 between those initiating in a jail versus a prison in unadjusted bivariate analysis or an adjusted model. Individuals completing treatment in-facility were more likely to achieve SVR12. Jail-based HCV treatment initiation is feasible. However, individuals released with medication face challenges in linkage to care. Improved discharge planning and community linkage are critical to post-release treatment success.

  PublisherDOI

• Injectable buprenorphine during transition out of prison: A pilot partially randomized preference trial protocol

  Contemporary Clinical Trials · 2025-07-15

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Individuals involved in the criminal legal system represent one of the most disproportionately affected populations in the opioid overdose crisis. Despite evidence of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) reducing overdose mortality, illicit opioid use, and recidivism, most correctional facilities do not offer these treatments. Sublocade and Brixadi, two distinct, branded, formulations of extended-release buprenorphine (XR-B), offer a promising approach to improving MOUD treatment adherence and reducing post-release overdose deaths. METHODS: This hybrid pilot study will utilize a partially randomized preference trial (PRPT) design to compare the preliminary effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability and other outcomes between Sublocade and Brixadi initiation. We aim to enroll 60 incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder who are interested in XR-B and have a scheduled release within 120 days. Participants will choose their preferred injectable treatment or, if ambivalent, be randomly assigned. All participants will receive monthly XR-B injections pre-release and continue for three months post-release, with additional administrative follow-up for another three months. The primary outcome is post-release treatment retention; other outcomes will be assessed using the Proctor taxonomy. Data will be collected using clinical assessments, surveys, and administrative databases. DISCUSSION: This study explores differences in XR-B formulations during the high-risk time of transition out of prison. It combines a hybrid implementation science and preference trial design-two methodologies that can help address the specific challenges of research in carceral environments. By understanding implementation of XR-B in a prison setting, findings can provide valuable insights to guide other facilities in adopting this life-saving treatment.

  PublisherDOI

• Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study”

  UNC Libraries · 2025-06-12

  articleOpen access

  This is the authors’ response to peer-review reports for the paper “SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting”.

  PublisherDOI

• MAb for symptomatic COVID-19 in correctional facilities: an important opportunity

  UNC Libraries · 2025-06-04

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Lung Cancer Screening in the Incarcerated Population Through a Community Imaging Partnership

  Journal of Correctional Health Care · 2025-01-03 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Limited data exist on cancer screening in carceral facilities. This study evaluates the feasibility and outcomes of a population-based lung cancer screening initiative in a carceral setting. This is a retrospective review of a lung cancer screening event at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Sentenced individuals meeting U.S. Preventive Services Task Force age criteria for lung cancer screening were mailed a letter asking about their smoking history. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans were offered to individuals who responded and met the criteria. Retrospective analyses examined patients' LDCT scoring using the American College of Radiology's Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS v1.1). Among more than 2,000 incarcerated individuals, 282 met the age criteria and 117 (41.5%) replied with interest in screening, of whom 57 (48.7%) verified as eligible. All 57 (100%) received LDCT. Most scans (94.4%) were categorized as Lung-RADS 1 or 2, indicating negative or benign findings. Comparisons with general population estimates showed no significant differences in Lung-RADS scores. The screening identified 21 incidental findings, including aortic aneurysms and severe coronary artery calcification. The implementation of lung cancer screening in a carceral setting was shown to be feasible and accepted by the incarcerated population.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Executive Summary: State-of-the-Art Review: The Intersection of Infectious Diseases and Carceral Medicine

  Clinical Infectious Diseases · 2025-09-15

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Caution Around Reinforcing Baseline-Shackling Practices

  Journal of General Internal Medicine · 2025-01-06

  letterOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Nursing home availability for incarcerated persons granted compassionate release

  Scientific Reports · 2025-10-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  As incarcerated individuals age, prison systems often struggle to provide appropriate long-term care. Compassionate release policies can address this gap by allowing seriously ill or aging individuals to transition to community-based care. Many nursing homes, however, are reluctant to admit individuals recently released from prison. This study examined how incarceration status affects nursing home admission decisions.Using a statewide secret shopper methodology, researchers contacted all 74 licensed nursing homes in Rhode Island. Callers first inquired about bed availability for a standardized model patient, then disclosed the patient would be arriving from prison under compassionate release. Responses before and after disclosure were categorized and analyzed using ordinal regression.Of 74 facilities, 61 (82.4%) were reached. Before disclosure, 52.5% reported bed availability within one month; this dropped to 26.2% after incarceration was mentioned. Complete rejections increased from 9.8 to 44.3%. Facilities were 3.41 times more likely to downgrade admission status after disclosure (OR = 3.41; 95% CI: 1.76-6.70; p < 0.001). For patients with serious criminal offenses, the rejection rate reached 70.5%, and the odds of rejection increased to 11.39 (95% CI: 5.48-24.65; p < 0.0001). Facility size was not associated with rejection likelihood.Incarceration and criminal history significantly reduce access to nursing home care, even when medical need and payment ability are constant. These findings highlight the need for policy and system-level interventions to reduce stigma and increase care access for aging individuals eligible for compassionate release.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• MINMON-J: a hybrid implementation pilot study evaluating a low-barrier hepatitis C treatment model in a jail setting

  BMJ Open · 2025-09-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a leading cause of infectious disease-related morbidity in the USA, disproportionately affecting people who inject drugs and people who are incarcerated. Despite the availability of highly effective, highly tolerated direct-acting antivirals, treatment uptake in jails remains limited due to short stays, unpredictable release dates and system-level barriers. The original MINMON trial demonstrated that a low barrier 'minimal monitoring"' model can achieve high cure rates in community settings. This study, MINMON-J, aims to adapt and evaluate a modified version of the MINMON model for use in a jail setting, addressing the urgent need for scalable, low-barrier treatment approaches among justice-involved individuals. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: MINMON-J is a single-arm, hybrid effectiveness-implementation pilot study protocol planned to recruit at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. 40 people who are incarcerated with positive HCV RNA, who are treatment-naïve, without cirrhosis and awaiting trial, will receive 12 weeks of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir with no required lab monitoring during treatment. If released before treatment completion, participants will receive their remaining medication at discharge. Community health workers will provide post-release support. Mixed-methods evaluation will be guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance/Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model framework. Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability and adherence. Data will be collected through administrative records, surveys (Acceptability of Intervention Measure, Feasibility of Intervention Measure, Brief Adherence Rating Scale) and qualitative interviews with participants and other relevant parties. This study was reviewed and approved by the Brown University Health Institutional Review Board (2240400) and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Medical Research Advisory Group. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was reviewed and approved by the Brown University Health Institutional Review Board (2240400) and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) Medical Research Advisory Group. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrolment. People who are incarcerated will be assured that participation is voluntary, will not impact their clinical care and that they may withdraw at any time without penalty. Study procedures follow ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and comply with federal regulations regarding research involving vulnerable populations.Dissemination of findings will include peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences focused on infectious diseases, implementation science and/or correctional health. Lay summaries will be shared with RIDOC leadership and community partners. De-identified data and associated metadata may be archived in a publicly accessible repository in accordance with National Institutes of Health data sharing policies, contingent on final institutional review board approval and participant protections. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06953479.

  PublisherDOI

• Initiating Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Hospitalized Incarcerated Patients

  Journal of General Internal Medicine · 2025-05-29

  reviewOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Injectable Extended-Release Buprenorphine (XR-B) in a Correctional Setting: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

  NIH · $846k · 2022–2027

Frequent coauthors

• Josiah D. Rich

  Rhode Island Hospital

  102 shared

• Matthew Murphy

  Brown University

  83 shared

• Philip A. Chan

  Brown University

  79 shared

• Lauren Brinkley‐Rubinstein

  Duke University

  60 shared

• Kimberly Kane

  42 shared

• Louis Fridhandler

  35 shared

• Jessica Kelly

  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  30 shared

• Alan W. Dow

  28 shared

Labs

• Justin Berk LabPI

Education

• B.A.

  Yale University

• Other

  Yale School of Public Health

• M.D.

  Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

• Other

  Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech

Awards & honors

• Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health Early Investi…
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Distinguished A…
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) – Visiting Scho…
• The Jeremiah Barondess Fellowship in the Clinical Transactio…
• Adolescent Hero Award (Johns Hopkins Children’s Center) (201…