U of A Professor to Present New Findings From Arkansas' First Continuously Monitored Health Survey at I³R

The Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) at the U of A will host Dr. Michael David Niño, associate professor of sociology and criminology and director of the Arkansas Health Equity and Access Lab (HEAL), for a special presentation of the state's first and only continuously monitored health survey. The event, part of I³R's spring speaker series, will take place tomorrow, Friday, April 11, from 9-10 a.m., both in person at 793 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville, and online via Zoom.  

Niño will present Monitoring Health to Build a Healthier Arkansas: Insights from Year One of the Arkansas Health Survey. The Arkansas Health Survey (AHS) is a representative, population-based multimode (online and mail) survey of resident adults in Arkansas. AHS covers Arkansas-specific built environment and community-level measures that, once live, can be linked to individual survey responses.  

Niño, who serves as principal investigator of AHS, believes the findings can provide communities with a rich set of health-related data. "The Arkansas Health Survey will fundamentally reshape how we understand and address health disparities across our state—empowering policymakers, healthcare providers and communities to work together for equitable and lasting solutions," Niño explained. 

The AHS study team includes 12 scholars from five state institutions in Arkansas with expertise in survey design and administration, public health, the built and community environment, and advanced quantitative methods. Niño will discuss the design of the AHS, share key preliminary findings and introduce innovative tools such as a preview of a publicly accessible dashboard to support policymakers and community stakeholders in addressing health inequities. 

Attendees will also get an exclusive look at the next phase of data collection for year two, which includes expanding data to households, integrating new metrics and engaging more deeply with the community. 

"I³R is proud to facilitate the unveiling of this important initiative," said Dr. Ranu Jung, associate vice chancellor and founding executive director of I³R. "The survey exemplifies the power of convergence research, bringing together experts from multiple sectors and across disciplines to drive real-world impact. Our innovation hub is designed precisely for transformative efforts that enhance the wellbeing of our communities."  

As a catalyst for convergence research, I³R bridges academia, industry, government and non-profit sectors to develop and scale solutions that address complex societal challenges, particularly in integrative health. AHS collaborators include several of I³R partners and collaborators, such as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, U of A's Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and Arkansas High-Performance Computing Center, Arkansas State University, and the Department of Psychological Sciences.  

Jung emphasized the university's commitment to its land-grant mission, stating, "At I³R, we are dedicated to addressing critical health challenges across Arkansas, and this survey will provide valuable insights for our researchers, particularly in areas like maternal health. We are proud to host Dr. Niño at I³R, as his team's work is essential to strengthening our people's health and shaping a healthier future for our state."  

This event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to join in person or virtually. A Zoom link is provided in the campus calendar event. 

For more information, please visit the link: https://calendars.uark.edu/event/Michael-nino-speaker-series