University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health

Mofan Gu, Ph.D.

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

Meg Gorvine, Ph.D., CHES

Education

Ph.D. – Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UAMS
M.S. – Health Sciences, University of Central Arkansas
B.A. – Linguistics (English minor), University of New Hampshire

Areas of Expertise

Implementation Science
Substance Use Disorder/Recovery Science
Integrative Health
Health Promotion and Prevention

Introduction

Dr. Gorvine completed a predoctoral fellowship with UAMS’ NIDA T32 training program in Translational Addiction Science and currently is a research faculty member in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education. Her work centers on stress, integrative health, recovery science, and resilience.

Credentials, Accreditations and Awards

2022 – 2024 Emerging Researcher, Mind & Life Summer Research Institute, Garrison, NY
2021 Early Career Investigator Scholarship, Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health
2018 – 2020 NIDA T32 Translational Addiction Research Training Fellowship, UAMS

 

Research Overview

Dr. Gorvine’s research focuses on multiple levels of intervention with integrative health and whole health promotion including stress management, opioid overdose elimination, and substance use disorder recovery. Her research methodologies include implementation science, qualitative, and mixed methods. Dr. Gorvine is currently exploring research in the areas of stress and resilience training for correctional officers in jail settings in Arkansas

 

Recent Books or Publications

Pro G, Horton H, Tody B, Gu M, Washington T, Williams A, Gorvine MM, Johnson O, Lovelady N, Jackson T, Ray A, Montgomery B, Zaller N. National and State-Level Trends in the Availability of Mental Health Treatment Services Tailored to Individuals Ordered to Treatment by a Court: United States, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2024 Jan 9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38193943.

Swindle T, Baloh J, Landes SJ, Lovelady NN, Vincenzo JL, Hamilton AB, Zielinski MJ, Teeter BS, Gorvine MM, Curran GM. Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) in the Pre-Implementation Phase: Key Steps and Activities. Front Health Serv. 2023 May 24; 3:1155693. PMCID: PMC10244502.

Zaller ND, Staton M, Gorvine MM, Tillson M, Glenn J, Pro G, Oser C, Ramaswamy M. Proposed Development of the Criminal Justice Translation and Clinical Science (CJ-TRACS) Network. J Clin Transl Sci. 2023 Apr 17; 7(1):e189. PMCID: PMC10514680.

Gorvine MM, Haynes TF, Marshall SA, Clark CJ, Lovelady NN, Zaller ND. A Qualitative Exploration of Women’s Lives and Resilience in Substance Use Disorder Recovery. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2021 Jun; 20(3):20-29. PMCID: PMC8325504.

Gorvine MM, Haynes TF, Marshall SA, Clark CJ, Lovelady NN, Zaller ND. An Exploratory Study of the Acceptability and Feasibility of Yoga Among Women in Substance Use Disorder Recovery. J Altern Complement Med. 2021 Mar; 27(3):273-281. PMCID: PMC7989855.

Nakita Lovelady, Ph.D., MPH

Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
Founder and Director, UAMS Project Heal

Education

2022 – Postdoctoral Fellow, UAMS, NIDA T32 Addiction Research Training
2019 – PhD, UAMS, Health Promotion and Prevention Research
2012 – MPH, UAMS, Health Behavior and Health Education
2009 – BS, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Biology

Research Interests

  • Community Violence Intervention
  • Health Disparities and Health Equity
  • Mental Health, Trauma, and Injury Prevention
  • Community-based Participatory Research
  • Dissemination and Implementation Research

Dr. Lovelady’s research is centered on investigating health disparities and community violence prevention, particularly developing and implementing multi-level public health interventions to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes and reduce gun violence among vulnerable racial-minority populations such as young African American men and their families. This includes exploring linkage interventions that leverage peer support, enhance healthy coping, and improve access to structural/systemic supports to confront persistent post-traumatic stress among African American men in both institutional settings (i.e. hospitals, jails, prisons) and non-traditional community settings (i.e. churches, barbershops). She currently leads a hybrid effectiveness implementation pilot that evaluates Arkansas’ first Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program and formative research that explores its rural adaptation. Her research hopes to effect real-world meaningful change among communities with the greatest need.

Recent Publications

Swindle T, Baloh J, Landes SJ, Lovelady NN, Vincenzo JL, Hamilton AB, Zielinski MJ, Teeter BS, Gorvine MM, Curran GM. Evidence-based quality improvement (EBQI) in the pre-implementation phase: Key steps and activities. Frontiers in Health Services. 2023;3:1. doi:10.3389/FRHS.2023.1155693

Mueller KL, Lovelady NN, Ranney ML. Firearm injuries and death: a United States epidemic with public health solutions. PLOS Global Public Health. 2023;3(5): e0001913. doi:10.1371/JOURNAL.PGPH.0001913

Porter A, Lovelady N, Allison MK. Changing trends in suicide: young Black Arkansans are at risk. Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society. 2023;119(3):86-87.

Wical W, Harfouche M, Lovelady N, Aguilar N, Ross D, Richardson JB. Exploring emergent barriers to hospital-based violence intervention programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive Medicine. 2022 Sep 6:107232. doi:10.1016/J.YPMED.2022.107232

Lovelady NN, Zaller ND, Stewart MK, Cheney AM, Porter A, Haynes TF. Characterizing firearm assault injury among young Black men using Arkansas hospital discharge data. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. March 2021. doi:10.1177/0886260521997947

Kari Weber, Ph.D., MHS

Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology

Co-Investigator, Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention

Education

2016- PhD in Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2011- MHS in Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2007 – BA in Health and Humanities, University of Southern California

Research Interests

  • birth and pregnancy outcomes: structural birth defects, preterm birth, maternal comorbidities,
  • environmental exposures: greenspace, air pollution, pesticides, neighborhood socioeconomic factors, built environment,
  • environmental justice and socioeconomic disparities

Recent Publications

Weber KA, Yang W, Lyons E, Stevenson DK, Padula AM, Shaw GM. Greenspace, Air Pollution, Neighborhood Factors, and Preeclampsia in a Population-Based Case-Control Study in California. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5127. 2021 May 12. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105127

Weber KA, Lyons E, Yang W, Stevenson C, Stevenson DK, Shaw GM. Residential proximity to green space and preeclampsia in California. Environ Epidemiol. 2020;4(6):e120. 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.1097/EE9.0000000000000120

Weber KA, Carmichael SL, Yang W, Tinker SC, Shaw GM; National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Periconceptional stressors and social support and risk for adverse birth outcomes. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020 Aug 24;20(1):487. doi: 10.1186/s12884-020-03182-6. PMID: 32831042; PMCID: PMC7446063.

Weber KA, Yang W, Carmichael SL, Lupo PJ, Dukhovny S, Yazdy MM, Lin AE, Van Bennekom CM, Mitchell AA, Shaw GM; National Birth Defects Prevention Study. An application of data mining to identify potential risk factors for anophthalmia and microphthalmia. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2018 Nov;32(6):545-555. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12509. PMID: 30300919.

Weber KA, Mayo JA, Carmichael SL, Stevenson DK, Winn VD, Shaw GM. Occurrence of Selected Structural Birth Defects Among Women With Preeclampsia and Other Hypertensive Disorders. Am J Epidemiol. 2018 Apr 1;187(4):668-676. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwx269. PMID: 29020134.

Michael R. Thomsen, Ph.D.

Professor, Governor Sidney S. McMath Chair in Obesity Prevention
Director, Center for the Study of Obesity
Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management

Office: RAHN 6201B
Office Phone Number: (501) 526-6737
Email: mthomsen@uams.edu

Education

1998, PhD, University of Minnesota, Agricultural and Applied Economics
1994, MS, Utah State University, Agricultural Economics
1993, BS, Utah State University, Agricultural Economics

Research Interests

  • Economics of obesity
  • Nutrition and food policy
  • School nutrition programs
  • Food access
  • Food insecurity

Courses Taught

HPMT 5335: Data Mining in Healthcare

Recent Publications

Fang D, Thomsen MR, Nayga Jr, RM. The association between food insecurity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC public health. 2021;21(1):607-. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10631-0. PMCID: PMC8006138.

Dunn RA, Nayga Jr RM, Thomsen MR, Rouse HL. A longitudinal analysis of fast-food exposure on child weight outcomes: Identifying causality through school transitions. Q open. 2021;1(1):qoaa007-. DOI: 10.1093/qopen/qoaa007

Zare S, Thomsen MR, Nayga Jr RM, Goudie A. Use of Machine Learning to Determine the Information Value of a BMI Screening Program. American journal of preventive medicine. 2021;60(3):425-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.10.016

Schauder S, Thomsen MR, Nayga Jr RM. Agent-based modeling insights into the optimal distribution of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Preventive medicine reports. 2020;20:101173-. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101173. PMCID: PMC7475199

Kim B, Thomsen MR, Nayga RM, Fang D, Goudie A. Move more, gain less: Effect of a recreational trail system on childhood BMI. Contemporary Economic Policy. 2020;38(2):270-88. DOI: 10.1111/coep.12448. PMCID: PMC7074062.