University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Research and Innovation: Addiction Research Training Program

George Pro, Ph.D.

Position

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Contact

Email: gcpro@uams.edu

Research Experience

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at Northern Arizona University’s Center for Health Equity Research, Dr. Pro investigated inequities in SUD treatment uptake through theory-informed, evidence-based research. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, his current work focuses on SUD treatment trends in Arkansas and identifying strategies to strengthen treatment services and reduce comorbidities. Related to the proposed NIDA R01 research project, he is the PI of a NIDA R21 investigating patient-reported outcomes for methamphetamine use disorder treatment. He works closely with the Central Arkansas Harm Reduction Project, a non-profit based in Little Rock, with the goal of using community-engaged research to strengthen treatment uptake among people who use drugs.

Research Interests

Dr. Pro’s primary research focus is broadly on substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, specifically around differential access and outcomes among underrepresented populations. As a health services researcher, he uses applied analytic strategies and epidemiologic models to measure trends in treatment and healthcare use, most recently including methamphetamine, opioids and fentanyl, and poverty. Generally, his research addresses health systems within the US, but the foundation for his scientific approach first took shape as he began to witness global inequities on orders of magnitude beyond those at home. His vision for health services research is based on his experiences in southern Africa, first as a Peace Corps Volunteer and later as an infectious disease researcher. It was there he saw firsthand how applied research could improve health and inform major policy decisions.

Recent Publications

  1. Pro G, Hayes C, Gu M, Bravo R,† Baloh J. Geographic and policy factors influence telehealth availability for substance use disorder treatment. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. August 2025. In press. IF=2.0.
  2. Pro G, Ball A,† White R. Differential associations between increasing opioid withdrawal symptoms and more frequent methamphetamine use, US, 2022-2023. Substance Use and Misuse. May 2025. 60(11): 1699-1708. IF=2.0.
  3. Pro G, Neighbors HW, Wilkerson B,† Haynes T. Place-based access to integrated mental health services within substance use disorder treatment facilities in the US. Social Science & Medicine. February 2025. In press. IF=5.0.
  4. Noor NB, Pro G, Acharya M, Eswaran H, Hayes C. Association between different modalities of opioid use disorder-related care delivery and opioid use disorder-related patient outcomes: A retrospective cohort study. Addictive Behaviors Reports. January 2025. In press. IF=2.8.
  5. Pro G, Cantor J, Willis D, Gu M, Fairman B, Baloh J, Montgomery B. A multilevel analysis of changing telehealth availability in opioid use disorder treatment settings: Conditional effects of rurality, the number and types of medication for opioid use disorder available, and time, US, 2016-2023. The Journal of Rural Health. January 2025. 41(1): e12854. IF=2.8.
  6. Pro G, Bautista T, Gu M, Ware O, Kleinerman A,† Baldwin J, Rojo M. Services provided in Spanish in substance use disorder treatment facilities: Limited access in communities with fast growing Spanish-speaking populations. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. November 2024. In press. IF=2.0.
  7. Hayes C, Raciborski RA, Martin BC, Gordon A, Hudson, T, Brown CC, Pro G, Cucciare M. Are gaps in rates of retention on buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder closing among veterans across different races and ethnicities? A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. November 2024. 166: 209461. IF=1.9.
  8. Pro G, Hayes C, Mancino M. Worsening trends in the frequency of methamphetamine and other stimulant use between treatment admission and discharge. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. September 2024. 262: 111403. IF=3.6.
  9. Pro G, Horton H, Tody B, Gu M, Washington T, Williams A,† Gorvine M, Johnson O, Lovelady N, Jackson T, Ray A, Montgomery B, Zaller N. National and state-level trends in the availability of mental health treatment services tailored to individuals ordered to treatment by a court: United States, 2016, 2018, 2020. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. October 2024. 59(10): 1815-1824. IF=3.5.
  10. Norris W,† Shaw-Smith E, Pro G, Curran G, Rojo M. Setting factors with licensed psychotherapists’ interest in the implementation of EEG neurofeedback into practice. Practice Innovations. September 2024. 10(1): 58-75. IF=2.5.
  11. Montgomery B, Crone C, Williams A,† Goodwin B, Borné R, Hokans R, Pro G, Zaller N, Martel I. Home Together: A multi-level community-based health promotion program supporting families experiencing homelessness. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. August 2024. 35(3): 880-902. IF=1.5.
  12. Pro G, Cantor J, Buttram M, Brown C, Gu M, Mancino M, Zaller N. Geographic and racial/ethnic differences in access to methamphetamine detoxification services, United States, 2021. Medical Care. July 2024. 62(7): 464-472. IF=2.8.
  13. Oluwafemi O, Monoharan S, Xie L, Pro G, Patel R, Delclos G, Gelfand A, Mesiah S, Patel J. Assessing the role of asthma on the relationship between neurodevelopmental disabilities and adverse birth outcomes. Pediatric Neurology. July 2024. 156: 131-138. IF=3.1.
  14. Pro G, Richoux C,† Bolt M, Kincade A, White R, Kasper C, Zaller N. Factors associated with self-reported overdose reversals using naloxone in Little Rock, Arkansas: Implications for harm reduction service delivery in the US South. Journal of Drug Issues. March 2024. 55(4): 533-549. IF=1.4.
  15. Pro G, Hayes C, Bona J, Gu M, Richoux C,† Zaller N (2024). HCV medication receipt among individuals with methamphetamine, opioid, and alcohol use disorders in Arkansas, 2018-2022: A long road ahead for HCV elimination in the US South. Journal of Drug Issues. February 2024. 55(3): 434-449. IF=1.4.
  16. Bogulski C, Pro G, Acharya M, Ali MM, Brown CC, Hayes CJ, Eswaran H. The association between rurality, dual Medicare/Medicaid eligibility and chronic conditions with telehealth utilization: An analysis of 2019-2020 national Medicare claims. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. February 2024. 31(6): 842-852. IF=3.2.
  17. Pro G, Brown C, Johnson O, Montgomery B, Zaller N. Comprehensive and integrated services in specialty mental health treatment facilities in the US: Differences by the racial/ethnic composition of the facility’s clientele, 2020. Community Mental Health Journal. February 2024. 60(2): 272-282. IF=1.7.
  18. Levandowski B, Pro G, Camplain R. We are complex beings: Comparison of statistical methods to capture and account for intersectionality. BMJ Open. January 2024. 14(1): e077194. IF=2.3.
  19. Sahker E, Pro G, Poudyal H, Furukawa T. Evaluating the American substance use disorder treatment gap, 2016-2019: A population health observational study. The American Journal of Addictions. January 2024. 33(1): 36-47. IF=1.9.
  20. Pro G, Fairman B, Baloh J, Willis D, Montgomery B. Temporal trends in telehealth availability in mental health treatment settings: Differences in growth by state urbanicity and rurality, 2015-2020. Journal of Urban Health. December 2023. 100(6): 1149-1158. IF=5.8.
  21. Utter J, Ruiz J, Farris M, Lines S, Jorgenson K, Pro G. Integrating primary care services in outpatient mental health treatment facilities: National and state trends, 2015-2020. Practice Innovations. December 2023. 8(4): 296-304. IF=2.5.
  22. Bogulski C, Acharya M, Pro G, Ali M, Rabbani M, Hayes C, Eswaran H. A state profile of disparities in telehealth utilization among Medicare beneficiaries: The intersection of the number of chronic conditions, race/ethnicity, and rurality – Arkansas, 2019. Telemedicine and e-Health. December 2023. 29(12): 1759-1768. IF=2.0.
  23. Pro G, Brown C, Rojo M, Patel J, Flax C,† Haynes T. Downward national trends in mental health treatment offered in Spanish: State differences by proportion of Hispanic residents. Psychiatric Services. November 2022. 73(11): 1232-1238. IF=3.2.
  24. Montgomery B, Pro G, Willis D, Zaller N. County-level jail incarceration, community economic distress, rurality, and preterm birth among women in the US South. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. October 2022. 7(1): e43. IF=2.6.
  25. Pro G, Hayes C, Montgomery B, Zaller N. Demographic and geographic shifts in the preferred route of methamphetamine administration among treatment cases in the US, 2010-2019. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. August 2022. 237: 109535. IF=3.6.
  26. Gu M, Pro G, Zaller N. Surveillance of COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons in the US South: The role of economic distress in the communities surrounding prison facilities. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. August 2022. 6(1): e101. IF=2.6.
  27. Pro G, Camplain R, Lea C. The competing effects of racial discrimination and racial identity on the predicted number of days incarcerated in the US. PLoS One. June 2022. 17(6): e0268987. IF=2.6.
  28. Sahker E, Pro G, Sakata M, Poudyal H, Jordan A, Furukawa TA. Factors supporting substance use improvement for Black Americans: A population health observational study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. May 2022. 234: 109405. IF=3.6.
  29. Pro G, Liebert M, Remiker M, Sabo S, Montgomery B, Zaller N. Homeless opioid treatment clients transitioning to dependent and independent living: Differential outcomes by race/ethnicity. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. March 2022. 57(6): 867-875. IF=1.9.
  30. Pro G, Hayes C, Brown C, Goree J, Zaller N. Individual and health policy factors associated with positive heroin and opioid treatment response: United States, 2018. American Journal of Public Health. February 2022. 112(S1): S66-S76. IF=12.7.
  31. Porter A, Wells S,† Smith C, Zohoori N, Pro G, Smith MR. Deployment of health equity strike teams to address COVID-19 vaccine disparities in Arkansas. American Journal of Public Health. January 2022. 112(1): 29-33. IF=12.7.
  32. Pro G, Tomkins A, Azari S, Zaller N . National trends in testing for hepatitis C virus in licensed opioid treatment programs: Differences by facility ownership and state Medicaid expansion status. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. November 2021. 228: 109092. IF=3.6.
  33. Bryant-Moore K, Pro G, Rojo M, Patel J, Haynes T, McElfish P, Sepulveda M, Hart C. Identifying community needs of the Hispanic faith community to develop a research agenda. Public Health Nursing. September 2021. 39(1): 33-39. IF=1.3.
  34. Pro G, Giano Z, Camplain R, Haberstroh S, Camplain C, Wheeler D, Hubach R, Baldwin J. The role of state Medicaid expansions in integrating comprehensive mental health services into Opioid Treatment Programs: Differences across the rural/urban continuum. Community Mental Health Journal. August 2021. 57(6): 1017-1022. IF=1.7.
  35. Pro G, Schumacher K, Hubach RD, Zaller N, Giano Z,† Camplain R, Camplain C, Haberstroh S, Baldwin JA, Wheeler D. US trends in mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic depend on rurality. Rural and Remote Health. July 2021. 21(3): 6596. IF=2.5.
  36. Brown C, Young S, Pro G. COVID-19 vaccination rates by community vulnerability: A county-level analysis. Vaccine. July 2021. 39(31): 4245-4249. IF=2.2.
  37. Pro G, Montgomery B, Zaller N. Tailoring services in opioid treatment programs for patients involved in America’s criminal justice system: National trends and variation by state and Medicaid expansion status. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention & Policy. June 2021. 16(50): 1-7. IF=3.4.
  38. Sahker E, Pro G, Sukata M, Furukawa TA. Response to Jordan, Nich, Babuscio, Quainoo, and Carroll. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. June 2021. 223: 108676. IF=3.6.
  39. Pro G, Gilbert PA, Baldwin JA, Brown C, Young S, Zaller N. Multilevel modeling of county-level excessive alcohol use, rurality, and COVID-19 case fatality rates in the US. PLoS One. June 2021. 16(6): e0253466. IF=2.6.
  40. Pro G, Camplain R, de Heer B, Chief C,† Teufel-Shone N. A national epidemiologic profile of physical intimate partner violence, adverse childhood experiences, and supportive childhood relationships: Group differences in trends and associations. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. September 2020. 7(4): 660-670. IF=2.4.
  41. Pro G, Giano Z,† Camplain R, Haberstroh S, Camplain C, Wheeler D, Hubach R, Baldwin J. Differences in COVID-19 case rates and case fatality rates across the urban-rural continuum. Rural and Remote Health. August 2020. 20(3): 6074. IF=2.5.
  42. Pro G, Zaller N. Interaction effects in the association between methadone maintenance therapy and experiences of racial discrimination in healthcare settings. PLoS One: Special Issue – Substance Use, Misuse and Dependence: Prevention and Treatment. February 2020. 15(2): 1-13. IF=2.6.
  43. Giano Z,† Camplain R, Camplain C, Pro G, Haberstroh S, Baldwin JA, Wheeler DL, Hubach R. Adverse childhood events in American Indian/Alaska Native populations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. November 2020. 60(2): 213-221. IF=6.6
  44. Pro G, Sahker E, Baldwin J. Incarceration as a barrier to U.S. alcohol and drug treatment completion: A multilevel analysis of racial/ethnic and sex disparities. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. October 2020. 47(4): 464-475. IF=2.0.
  45. Sahker E, Pro G, Sukata M, Furukawa TA. Substance use improvement depends on race/ethnicity: Treatment disparities observed in a large US national sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. August 2020. 24(213): 1-8. IF=3.6.
  46. Pro G, Utter J, Cram J, Baldwin J. Racial/ethnic and gender differences in associations between medication-assisted therapy and reduced opioid use between outpatient treatment admission and discharge. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. April 2020. 52(2): 186-194. IF=2.2.
  47. Pro G, Utter J, Haberstroh, S, Baldwin J. Dual mental health diagnoses predict the receipt of medication-assisted opioid treatment: Associations moderated by state Medicaid expansion status, race/ethnicity and gender, and year. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. March 2020. 209:107952. IF=3.6.
  48. Camplain R, Pinn TA, Williamson HJ, Pro G, Becenti L, Bret J, Luna C, Baldwin J. Adaptation of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) for the measurement of physical activity in jail settings. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. January 2020. 17(349): 1-12. IF=4.6.
  49. Camplain R, Camplain C, Trotter RT, Pro G, Sabo S, Eaves E, Peoples M, Baldwin J. Racial/ethnic differences in drug- and alcohol-related arrest outcomes in a Southwest county from 2008-2018. American Journal of Public Health. January 2020. 110(S1): S85-S92. IF=12.7.
  50. Sahker E, Jones D, Lancianese D, Pro G, Arndt S. Racial/ethnic differences in alcohol and drug outcomes following Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in federally qualified health centers. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. December 2019. 6(6): 1192-1199. IF=2.4.
  51. Pro G, Camplain R, Sabo S, Baldwin J, Gilbert PA. Substance abuse treatment in correctional versus non-correctional settings: Analysis of racial/ethnic and gender disparities. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice. November 2019. 12(3): 1-20. IF=1.1.
  52. Gilbert PA, Pro G, Zemore S, Mulia N, Brown G. Gender differences in use of alcohol treatment services and reasons for non-use in a national sample. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. April 2019. 43(4): 722-731. IF=2.7.
  53. Lam F, Pro G, et al. Effect of one-on-one detailing and mass media on community use of oral rehydration salts and zinc during a scale-up program in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of Global Health. December 2018. 9(1): 010501. IF=5.3.
  54. Pro G, Sahker E, Marzell M. Racial microaggressions and marijuana use in a college student population. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. July 2018. 17(3): 375-387. IF=1.5.
  55. Pro G, Marzell M. Medical parole and geriatric prisoners: A qualitative study. Journal of Correctional Health Care. April 2017. 23(2): 162-172. IF=0.7.
  56. Marzell M, Sahker E, Pro G, Arndt S. A brief report on Hispanic youth marijuana use: Trends in substance abuse treatment admissions in the United States. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse. April 2017. 16(2): 155-164. IF=1.5.
  57. Mwapasa V, Pro G, et al. Mother-infant pair clinic and SMS messaging as innovative strategies for improving access to and retention in eMTCT care and Option B+ in Malawi: A cluster randomized control trial (the PRIME study). Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. November 2014. 67(2): S120. IF=3.6.