Match tier
Institution-verified
Presence
Current · Arkansas
Last published
2026
Sources
Institutional record
Refreshed
2026-10-05
Sufna Gheyara John
Sourced from institutional research profiles (UAMS TRI or ARA).
Associate Professor
PSY Psychiatry, College of Medicine
7 h-index
21 pubs
206 cited
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Sufna John, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, specializing in infant and early childhood mental health and intergenerational trauma. Her work focuses on training professionals in assessments and treatments that promote family resilience and equitable, trauma-informed practices. She leads statewide initiatives such as the Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) program and serves as Clinical Director for the Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (TRIS). Her research has investigated the influence of cumulative trauma exposure on youth, the role of emotion regulation in the relationship between child abuse and mental health, and gene-environment interactions in early childhood behavior. John collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Joy R. Pemberton and Karin L. Vanderzee, with whom she has co-authored multiple publications.
Research Overview
Sufna John, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health and intergenerational trauma and trains various professionals in assessments, treatments, and practices that support family resilience. She leads several statewide initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for traumatized children and their families throughout the state of Arkansas, including serving as Co-Director of the Arkansas Budling Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST - https://psychiatry.uams.edu/arbest/) and Clinical Director of the Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (TRIS - https://www.tris-ar.org/) programs. She is passionate about partnering with various child-serving systems to promote equitable and trauma-informed practices for caregivers and children.
Metrics
- h-index: 7
- Publications: 21
- Citations: 206
Positions
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Associate Professor 2021–presentUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences PSY Psychiatry, College of Medicine Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Managing Youth Trauma Effectively: Evaluating the virtual delivery of a brief psychoeducational group for caregivers of trauma-exposed young children (2023)
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Behavior Management in Young Children Exposed to Trauma: A Case Study of Three Evidence-Based Treatments (2023)
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Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic (2022)
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Examining the Implementation of Conscious Discipline®: A Qualitative Study Utilizing the I-PARIHS Framework (2022)
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Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience (2021)
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Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample (2020)
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Training providers at Children’s Advocacy Centers to treat early childhood trauma: Perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and sustainability (2020)
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A genetically informed examination of the relations between inaccurate emotion expression and recognition and experiencing peer victimization (2019)
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Nightmares in Treatment-Seeking Youth: the Role of Cumulative Trauma Exposure (2019)
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Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians (2018)
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A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEMANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELYPROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN (2017)
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Emotion Regulation Mediates the Relationship between a History of Child Abuse and Current PTSD/Depression Severity in Adolescent Females (2017)
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Evidence of reactive gene-environment correlation in preschoolers’ prosocial play with unfamiliar peers. (2015)
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Peer Victimization and DRD4 Genotype Influence Problem Behaviors in Young Children (2015)
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile.
- The ARBEST Trauma Assessment and Mental Health Case Management Program US Department of Justice via Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration Principal Investigator
- Expanding Mental Health Services for Children in Foster Care: Trauma Assessment, Mental Health Case Management US Dept of Justice - Office for Victims of Crime via Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration Principal Investigator
- Expanding Mental Health Service for Children in Foster Care: Trauma Assessment & Mental Health Case Management. US Dept of Justice - Office for Victims of Crime via Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration Principal Investigator
- Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Act for 2010 Co-Investigator
- Arkansas Network for Early Stress and Trauma Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Co-Investigator
- Improving Outcomes for Young Children with Behavior Disorders: A Coordinated Care Model. UAMS Translational Research Institute/UAMS Department of Psychiatry Principal Investigator
- Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) State of Arkansas, Arkansas Revenue Stabilization Act Principal Investigator
- Supporting Children and Adults with Trauma Arkansas Department of Human Services/Division of Adult, Aging and Behavioral Health Services Principal Investigator
- Arkansas AWARE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Consultant
- Expanding Mental Health Services for Children in Foster Care: Trauma Assessment and Mental Health Case Management Victims of Crime Act - DFA Principal Investigator
- VOCA US Dept of Justice - Office for Victims of Crime via Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration Principal Investigator
- The Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (TRIS) Blue & You Foundation Co-Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
Karin L. Vanderzee
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
8 shared publications
In database
- Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians
- A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEMANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELYPROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN
- Training providers at Children’s Advocacy Centers to treat early childhood trauma: Perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and sustainability
- Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
Nicola A. Conners Edge
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
7 shared publications
In database
- Nightmares in Treatment-Seeking Youth: the Role of Cumulative Trauma Exposure
- A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEMANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELYPROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN
- Training providers at Children’s Advocacy Centers to treat early childhood trauma: Perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and sustainability
- Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Joy R. Pemberton
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
7 shared publications
In database
- Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians
- A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEMANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELYPROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN
- Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
- Managing Youth Trauma Effectively: Evaluating the virtual delivery of a brief psychoeducational group for caregivers of trauma-exposed young children
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Glenn R. Mesman
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4 shared publications
In database
- Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Behavior Management in Young Children Exposed to Trauma: A Case Study of Three Evidence-Based Treatments
Lisabeth Fisher DiLalla
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (US)
3 shared publications
- Peer Victimization and DRD4 Genotype Influence Problem Behaviors in Young Children
- Evidence of reactive gene-environment correlation in preschoolers’ prosocial play with unfamiliar peers.
- A genetically informed examination of the relations between inaccurate emotion expression and recognition and experiencing peer victimization
Benjamin A. Sigel
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Treatments for Early Childhood Trauma: Decision Considerations for Clinicians
- Nightmares in Treatment-Seeking Youth: the Role of Cumulative Trauma Exposure
- Emotion Regulation Mediates the Relationship between a History of Child Abuse and Current PTSD/Depression Severity in Adolescent Females
Teresa L. Kramer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Nightmares in Treatment-Seeking Youth: the Role of Cumulative Trauma Exposure
- A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THEMANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELYPROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN
- Training providers at Children’s Advocacy Centers to treat early childhood trauma: Perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and sustainability
Chad M. Sievers
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Nightmares in Treatment-Seeking Youth: the Role of Cumulative Trauma Exposure
- Managing Youth Trauma Effectively: Evaluating the virtual delivery of a brief psychoeducational group for caregivers of trauma-exposed young children
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Allison Smith
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
3 shared publications
- Training providers at Children’s Advocacy Centers to treat early childhood trauma: Perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and sustainability
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Behavior Management in Young Children Exposed to Trauma: A Case Study of Three Evidence-Based Treatments
Elissa H. Dougherty
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children’s Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Elissa H. Wilburn
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3 shared publications
In database
- Examining the Implementation of Conscious Discipline®: A Qualitative Study Utilizing the I-PARIHS Framework
- Managing Youth Trauma Effectively: Evaluating the virtual delivery of a brief psychoeducational group for caregivers of trauma-exposed young children
- Behavior Management in Young Children Exposed to Trauma: A Case Study of Three Evidence-Based Treatments
Kyle Bersted
2 shared publications
- Peer Victimization and DRD4 Genotype Influence Problem Behaviors in Young Children
- Evidence of reactive gene-environment correlation in preschoolers’ prosocial play with unfamiliar peers.
Lindsey T. Roberts
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
2 shared publications
- Pairing policy change with investments in supports to improve outcomes for children impacted by family violence: The Arkansas experience
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Daryl T. Cooley
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
2 shared publications
In database
- Feasibility and Satisfaction with Virtual Trainings for Evidence-Based Child Trauma Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Behavior Management in Young Children Exposed to Trauma: A Case Study of Three Evidence-Based Treatments
Josh M. Cisler
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
1 shared publication
- Emotion Regulation Mediates the Relationship between a History of Child Abuse and Current PTSD/Depression Severity in Adolescent Females
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