The Southern Public Health and Criminal Justice Research Center Team

Izah Broadus is a Community Health Coordinator for UAMS Project Heal, a hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) designed to address violent assault injury, primarily gun violence, among high-risk populations in Little Rock. Izah is an experienced and compassionate support specialist with a lived experience of violent assault injury. He provides essential peer support and case management for Project Heal participants to help promote their overall wellbeing and reduce their risk of re-injury. He has over 10 years of experience providing case management, social service navigation, mental and behavioral health support, mentorship, and support group facilitation in pastoral and clinical settings.

Mofan Gu, Ph.D., is a senior research associate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Gu’s research focuses on the prediction of adverse health outcomes using social and behavioral factors. His current projects involve probation revocation, HIV prevention and care, and substance use disorders. Dr. Gu has methodological expertise in epidemiologic research and statistical analyses utilizing big data. Dr. Gu earned his B.A. in biology from Hendrix College, followed by an MPH in epidemiology from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Heather Horton is a Program Manager with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education. She is interested in disparities in violence victimization, sexual health, and health care utilization especially among those impacted by incarceration in Arkansas. She received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Arkansas, and a M.A. in Sociology from the University of New Orleans. She has over 13 years of experience working with community-based organizations in direct service and research capacities.

Timikia Jackson is a Community Health Program Manager in the Health Behavior and Health Education department. Ms. Jackson has been an active servant working in the substance abuse and mental health recovery field for over 18 years. She is a firm believer in second chances in life and strongly endorses mentorship and counseling.

Ms. Jackson enjoys helping the community and finding resources for people who want to help themselves.

O’Dell Johnson, Ph.D., MBM is an associate professor of integrative health studies at Saybrook University and adjunct professor of community psychology and social justice at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. His primary research interests focus on health disparities in marginalized and underserved communities, particularly those who have been impacted by the US carceral system. His experience in cross-cultural professional spaces has contributed greatly to the development of meaningful axiological and epistemological worldviews to advance research and best practices when working with marginalized populations. Dr. Johnson earned his B. S. in Theological Science from St. Louis Christian College, followed by an M.S. in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, and a Ph.D. in Humanistic Psychology from Saybrook University.

Azizi Ray, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral fellow supported by the NIDA T32 program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Ray’s broad research interests include implementing pharmacists-led interventions to mitigate overdose deaths in African American justice-involved populations with OUD and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in mental health care. Dr. Ray’s additional goal is to increase access to MOUD to vulnerable populations most at risk for overdose by expanding the practice of pharmacists who are often under-utilized as healthcare providers. Dr. Ray’s preclinical experiences are varied and span pharmacology, neurobiology, and treatments for substance abuse disorders with an emphasis on overdose deaths, neurotoxicity, and the abuse liability of traditional stimulants of abuse and synthetic cathinones.

Brooklyn L. Tody is a research technician for the HIV PrEP project. She is a 2021 honors graduate of Philander Smith College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and minored in Criminal Justice. She plans on eventually going back to school for her PhD in Public Health or Epidemiology. Her primary research interests include HIV/STD prevention of the general population and forensic science.

Taylor Washington, MHA, is a program manager for UAMS Project Heal, a hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) designed to address violent assault injury, primarily gun violence, among high-risk populations in Little Rock, AR. She also serves as the coordinator for the Southern Public Health and Criminal Justice Research Center. She recently received her Master of Health Administration from the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. She has administrative experience in hospital risk management and patient safety, as well as years of direct patient care experience in hospital and clinical settings. Her interests lie in hospital-based community health research and programming, and health equity action planning.