Mission Statement: The mission of the ABIC is to engage, integrate, inspire and advocate for brain injury stakeholders to help achieve the Statewide Vision for Brain Injury policies and services throughout Arkansas.
Purpose: It shall be the purpose of the ABIC to act as an energetic and dynamic group of people who shall provide their time and expertise in the areas of leadership and implementation to pursue the (Voice Generated) Statewide Vision for Brain Injury Policies and Services. The ABIC shall advise the Arkansas Department of Health, the lead state agency (TBD) in the realm of brain injury, on matters that include, but are not limited to, implementation of the Annual Brain Injury State Plan and the federal traumatic brain injury (TBI) grant.
Arkansas Brain Injury Council Membership Application
If you are interested in applying to be a part of the Arkansas Brain Injury Council, please fill out the online application.
Brain Injury Positions
- Tony Thornton, RN, FP-C, EMT-P, CCP-C, Chair
- Edward Rinehart, Vice-Chair
- Ralph Lusher
- Tamika Washington
- Gary Higgins
- Laura Dina, BA
- Jan Williams
- Open Position (person living with a brain injury)
- Bruce Stowe
- Jennifer Rizzo
- Open Position (family member/caregiver of an adult living with brain injury)
- Jill Chamness (parent of person living with a brain injury)
Agency Representatives
- Kristie Hayes, Business Operations Manager, Division of Medical Services, DHS
- Stacy Gravett, MA, CRC, Vocational Rehab Counselor, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services
- Jim Mather, PhD, Executive Director, Sources for Community Independent Living Services
- FranSha’ Anderson, MBA, DD, Executive Director, Arkansas State Independent Living Council (Alternate)
- Claudia Sanders, Community Liaison, Southern Administrative Services
- Kelly Urban, PhD, Med, RN, CCRN-K, TCRN, Education Outreach & Injury Prevention Coordinator, Trauma Program, UAMS
- Lorrie George-Paschal, PhD, OTR/L, ATP; Professor and Research Coordinator, UCA
- Bethany Compton, MCD CCC/SLP, Speech/Language Pathology Consultant, Low Incidence Liaison for Brain Injury, Easterseals Arkansas Outreach Program and Technology Services In Association with DESE/OSE
- Open Position – Criminal Justice
- Susan Pierce, Director of Policy, Disability Rights Arkansas
- Tom Masseau, Disability Rights Arkansas (Alternate)
- Morgan Purkiss, PT, DPT, CBIS, Pediatric Subcommittee, Therapy Coordinator, Easterseals Arkansas
ABIC Quarterly Meetings
The ABIC meets virtually quarterly and is open to the public. To be added to the invite, please email braininjury@uams.edu.
- Upcoming: May 13, 2025
- February 11, 2025 (retreat, closed to the public)
- November 12, 2024
- August 13, 2024
- May 14, 2024
- February 6, 2024
- November 7, 2023
- August 11, 2023
- May 9, 2023
- November 8, 2022
- August 9, 2022
- May 10, 2022
- February 8, 2022