Dong Zhang

Dong Zhang serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, where his research addresses critical public health challenges in rural and underserved communities. His work specifically targets maternal-child health disparities, mental health access, and preventive interventions for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Zhang's primary research domains include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their developmental impacts, implementation science for nutrition/physical activity programs in early care settings, sleep-cognition relationships across the lifespan, and telehealth solutions for opioid use disorder in rural contexts. His methodological approach integrates longitudinal cohort analyses (e.g., CARDIA, NIH-AARP studies), mixed-methods community evaluations, and nationwide healthcare utilization datasets to identify scalable interventions.

Recent publications (2022-2024) reveal consistent focus on childhood health trajectories—particularly ACEs classification, obesity prevention program sustainment, and pandemic impacts on youth behaviors—alongside innovative work on coparenting dynamics in rural poverty and telehealth policy evaluation. His scholarship demonstrates strong alignment with UAMS' mission to eliminate rural health disparities through community-engaged research.