Courses, Seminars, and Certificate

Term One: Research at the Intersection of Substance Use and Injury/Violence (Dr. Renee M. Johnson) 

• August 30: Introduction to the Series
  Renee M. Johnson, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health
  
  The first session of the Graduate Seminar in Injury Research and Policy Series: Research at the Intersection of Substance Use and Injury/Violence.
  
  Dr. Johnson's presentation will provide an overview of the foundational principles, conceptual frameworks and strategies that comprise the field of substance use epidemiology, and will lead a discussion about how substance use shapes risk for injury and violence.
• September 13: Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention 
  Ju Nyeong Park, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
  
  Dr. Park will discuss harm reduction as a critical strategy for prevention overdose events and overdose fatalities. She will also describe approaches to harm reduction, such as naloxone distribution.
• September 27: Adolescent Opioid Use
  Rachel H. Alinsky, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  
  Dr. Alinsky will present her research that addresses adolescent opioid use and overdose, as well as systems of treatment for adolescents and emerging adults. 
• October 4: Multilevel Challenges to Engagement in HIV Care After Prison Release
  Danielle Haley, PhD, Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences
  
  Dr. Haley will discuss her qualitative work with people who are living with HIV and transitioning out of the state prison system in North Carolina, with attention to how substance use shapes the release process and people’s ability to effectively manage their HIV. The seminar will include a discussion of policy implications.
• October 11: Experiences with Drug Use and Overdose in Baltimore and Across the State of Maryland
  Danielle German, PhD, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society
  
  Dr. German will discuss her ethnographic work with people who use drugs and have HIV. She will discuss the “Statewide Ethnographic Assessment of Drug Use and Services” (SEADS) project, which was an investigation of how people who use drugs access services in Maryland, with attention to local context and the experiences of people who use drugs.
• October 18: Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
  Anna Gribble, MSW, MPH, Provider Engagement and Policy Manager, Maryland Department of Health
  
  Dr. Gribble will discuss the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and the Office of Provider Engagement and Regulation (OPER)’s efforts to promote safe controlled substance prescribing and dispensing through data-driven, educational initiatives.
• October 25: Discussion Session
  Renee M. Johnson, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health
  
  This final session is required for students pursuing the Certificate in Injury and Violence Prevention. Dr. Johnson will facilitate a discussion exploring the overall seminar series theme as well observations and reflections from the students.

Information about the seminars, including Zoom meeting links, are available at the Johns Hopkins Calendar of Events.

Please check back for more information. 

Term Three: Transportation (Jeffrey Michael, EdD) - Register to join the seminars each week.

January 24         Course Introduction:  Perspectives on New Landmark Federal Policy to Prevent Impaired Driving: A Mandate for Vehicle Technology to Detect Driver Impairment

Jeffrey Michael, EdD

Distinguished Scholar

Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy

Dr. Michael will provide an overview of new legislation that requires the US Department of Transportation to develop a vehicle safety mandate for driver impairment detection.  He will review a 15-year history of technology development and describe an evolution of stakeholder perspectives.  Dr. Michael will introduce a series of speakers scheduled for upcoming class sessions who will who provide differing perspectives on the technology and the mandate.  He will also discuss plans for the final class session which will include reports by students of their perspectives on key issues regarding the legislation based on information from the speakers.   

January 31         Vehicle-based Impairment Detection as a Policy Priority: Perspective of a Drunk Driving Prevention Advocate    

Stephanie Manning

Chief Government Affairs Officer

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Ms. Manning will describe the role the MADD has played in the development of the technology and the new vehicle safety mandate, focusing on the role of victim advocacy and strategic considerations in the formulation of the legislative approach. 

February 7         Impairment Detection as Part of a Comprehensive State Safety Program

John Lewis Saunders

Director, Highway Safety Office

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

As Director of the Highway Safety Office in the first state to test vehicles with impairment detection technology, Mr. Saunders will discuss experience with deploying prototype systems in a fleet of state-owned vehicles and public response to a statewide awareness and education campaign. 

February 14       Impaired Driving Prevention Strategies:  Insights from a Period of Unmatched Success

Tara Gill

Senior Director for Advocacy & State Legislation

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Ms. Gill will discuss vehicle impairment detection in the context of other options for making significant reductions in impaired driving deaths.  Ms. Gill will reflect the experience of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety in working with state offices to adopt strong impaired driving laws and effective drunk driving prevention programs.

February 21       Implications of Impairment Detection for the Criminal Justice System:  Perspectives on Law Enforcement and Courtroom Processes

Stephen Talpins

Chief Assistant State Attorney at Miami-Dade County (Florida) State Attorney's Office and NIJ LEADS Scholar

Speaking from 25 years of experience in impaired driving enforcement and adjudication, Mr. Talpins will discuss how vehicle-based impairment detection systems could affect criminal justice processes and suggest steps that might facilitate integration and enhance the effectiveness of the new technology.

February 28       Federal Leadership in Impairment Prevention Policy  

Nanda Srinivasan

Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Mr. Srinivasan will discuss the history of NHTSA involvement with impairment detection technology and the federal role in leading the development of impaired driving interventions.   

March 7              Strategies for Leading Technology Change

Mark Rosekind, PhD

Distinguished Policy Scholar, Johns Hopkins Department of Health Policy & Management

Chief Safety Innovation Officer, Zoox

Former Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Dr. Rosekind will share his perspective as both a technology executive and as former auto safety regulator on strategies for leading further development of impairment detection technology, approaches for facilitating its effective deployment in the vehicle fleet, and potential roles of such technology in a mobility system.

March 14            Discussion Session – Required for students registered for course credit

This session is required for students pursuing the Certificate in Injury and Violence Prevention.  Dr. Michael will facilitate a discussion of key issues, overlapping themes, and contrasting perspectives of the guest speakers. Based on information from the speakers, students will be asked to discuss their observations and predictions with regard to the outcome of the new federal policy.  

Please check back for more information.