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
- Cassandra Daugherty, MS, CRC, Vice-Chair
- Keith Handcock
- Laura Dina, BA
- Joe Page III, MSCJ
- Constance Tullis, LMSW
- Jacque Miller
- Cendy Nowlin
- Jensyn Hallett
- Open Position
- Open Position
- Open Position
If you have a brain injury and are interested in one of the open positions, please email braininjury@uams.edu.
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, AR Sources
- Charlotte Bishop, State Long Term Care Ombudsman, Adult Behavioral Services, DHS
- Kelly Urban, PhD, Med, RN, CCRN-K, TCRN, Education Outreach & Injury Prevention Coordinator, Trauma Program, UAMS
- Valerie Oji, PharmD, BCPP, Director/Clinical Pharmacologist, MedCentre PLLC; Associate; Professor of Clinical Medicine, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Amy Goddard, MS, OTR/L, CBIS, Consultant for Students with Brain Injury, Arkansas Department of Education
- Tracy Hobbs, Retired Criminal Justice
- Susan Pierce, Director of Policy, Disability Rights Arkansas
- Morgan Purkiss, PT, DPT, CBIS, Pediatric Subcommittee Chair, Therapy Coordinator, Easterseals Arkansas
- Open Position
If you are a professional that works with people living with brain injury and would like to join the council, please email braininjury@uams.edu.
ABIC Quarterly Meetings
The ABIC meets quarterly and is open to the public. To be added to the invite, please email awatson@uams.edu.
- May 9, 2023
- November 8, 2022
- August 9, 2022
- May 10, 2022
- February 8, 2022