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How Early Screening Helps Primary Care Clinicians Uncover Youth Substance Use

Ninety percent of people addicted to substances started drugs before they were 18, and anxiety, depression and even suicide are often linked with addiction. That’s why early detection is crucial, said Caitlyn Johnson and Kim Shuler, licensed social workers with Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network.

They presented evidence-based adolescent substance use screening tools such as the SBIRT model (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) at the UAMS 29th Annual Family Medicine Update Oct. 29, 2025.

The event was sponsored by the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine’s Community Health and Education division. Arkansas Children’s National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness sponsored the first day, “Opioids and the Young.”

Speakers Caitlyn Johnson and Kim Shuler, both social workers with the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network — *Caitlyn Johnson and Kim Shuler with Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network*

Trends in Teen Substance Use: Alcohol Still Leads

The social workers surprised the primary care audience by revealing that alcohol trumps nicotine and THC as adolescents’ most used substance because it is readily accessible and culturally accepted. But the good news is that binge drinking is trending down, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, even though it’s still a contributor to 74% of premature deaths among teens.

“Substance use can contribute to feeling more uninhibited and having suicidal thoughts,” said Shuler. “Suicide is something that we need to have in the forefront of our minds.”

How SBIRT Works in Primary Care

“The key is to be as preventative as possible and provide education and tools for these teens,” Johnson added, referring to SBIRT, which stands for screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment. SBIRT screening tools often take five minutes or less to administer. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends starting at age 12, but children as young as 10 are using substances

“Think about using universal screening for substances, meaning at every visit, use a screener. One of the things we know is that sometimes, when we’re asking someone (about their substance use), they may not tell us the first time. So, it’s important to continually bring this up,” said Shuler.

SBIRT - The 35,000 Foot View
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is one of the leading ways to reduce the impact of alcohol and substance use. Screening - Identifying adolescents who are at risk of negative consequences due to their substance use, including risk of a substance use disorder.
Brief Intervention - A conversation that is intended to either prevent, stop or reduce substance use disorder.
Referral to Treatment and Follow-up -- Linking the adolescent to substance use disorder treatment and other services, resources and supports and regularly checking in to facilitate sustained access.

The CRAFFT is one of the more common screening tools. There are others such as anxiety screener Generalized Anxiety Disorder, called GAD, and the PHQ-9A which screens for depression.

Whatever tool is chosen, it’s important to let the teen know that the provider is asking everyone about substance use and not singling them out. The provider must establish confidentiality, that the patient can be honest and trust them.

Clinicians should talk with the parent or caregiver first, conveying the importance of the screening and the need for confidentiality. This will settle the parent’s mind when asked if the teen can step out for a few minutes to speak privately.

Once that confidentiality is set, what if the young patient answers “yes” to any of the questions on the screener? Johnson said many providers feel they don’t have the tools to take the next step of intervention. One solution is to hire behavioral health consultants in the clinic, but providers have been hesitant to move to integrated care because of financial, training and space issues. Video on Arkansas providers who are taking the step toward behavioral health integration.

Brief Intervention Steps

teen boy talking to provider in office visit — Chances of developing an addiction are six times higher for teens who began using before age 15 than those who delay use until they’re 21.

Johnson and Shuler walked through the conversational steps for brief intervention when a behavioral health professional isn’t available.

If the CRAFFT screening score is low (0-2), the intervention may require only one to three minutes since the patient is low risk. If moderate to high risk, the intervention will take 15 – 30 minutes. Johnson said to allot enough time to complete the intervention.

“There are barriers to seeing the doctor, such as missing school and insurance being able to pay and things like that. So you want to make sure you give as much as you can in one session,” said Johnson. She added that the intervention can be extended to several sessions with either the provider or medical team. “If you run into an adolescent or young adult that is not ready to make behavior change, that is OK. That’s to be expected. Their brains are still developing, and they are learning how to make those educated decisions,” said Johnson.

The social workers covered a step-by-step example of brief intervention called the Brief Negotiated Interview model, created by the Boston University School of Public Health. It has six stages.

Build engagement and rapport – Show interest in them as a person, the things they’re putting in their body and the risks. “Would it be OK if we spent a few minutes talking about your alcohol or drug use?” If “yes,” go to question two, but if the answer is “no,” offer to be available to talk if needed.
Pros and Cons – Ask what is enjoyable about using the substance and what’s difficult. “What else comes to mind when you think about how using the drug may impact your life, goals or wellbeing?”
Feedback – Ask if they mind some education or thoughts on the situation. If “yes,” share one or two facts and ask their thoughts. If “no,” emphasize autonomy by saying the patient knows what’s best for them regarding the drug use.
Readiness Ruler – Gauge their motivation for change, whether it’s low on the scale or high, and what can be done about it. “If you were to place yourself on a scale of 1 – 10 regarding how important it feels to make any change in your use of the drug, where would you be?” If the answer is four or above, ask why they chose that number and not a lower one. If the answer is 1 – 3, probe with the question, “What would have to happen to feel like making a change?”
Negotiate Action Plan – Formulate goals with them. “So, now that we’ve had a few minutes to talk, what would you like to do, if anything? Would it be OK if I share some options?” Have them write down their goals and next steps. Focus on one to two short-term goals with specific steps.
Summarize and Thank – They took a chance on being vulnerable with the provider, which can be painful. Ask, “Is this what you agree we went over? How do you feel about these goals that we set?”

Shuler noted that one powerful preface to a question is, “I’m curious,” because curiosity invites openness and doesn’t equal judgment.

When to Refer for Substance Use Treatment

If the brief intervention reveals a need for more intensive care, Johnson said the referral needs to be to a licensed substance use professional at a treatment facility. Cost, insurance, school or parents’ work schedule are some potential barriers.“It’s not going to be the smoothest process,” said Johnson, “but it is worth a try to see if we can overcome those barriers through conversations or connections to resources.”

The Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health oversees prevention, treatment and recovery programs in the state and can help locate providers by area.

An educational video from Dr. Aaron Weiner on youth substance use and mental health.

Kim Shuler, LCSW, has more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice and leadership within integrated behavioral health. As CEO of ABHIN and project director for several HRSA-funded initiatives, she leads statewide efforts to advance access and quality. She is a certified behavioral health consultant with expertise in workforce training, coalition-building and strategic planning.

Caitlyn Johnson, LCSW, has 10 years of experience in integrated behavioral health, care coordination and medical social work. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and serves as a project manager on multiple grants for the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network. Johnson specializes in program development, brief intervention, harm/stigma reduction and suicide prevention.

Family Medicine Update Oct. 29 – 31 offers 12 hours of virtual content for primary care

The 29th Annual Family Medicine Update: Fueling the Front Line will offer up to 12 hours of online continuing education Oct. 29 – 31 for primary care physicians, advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurses, pharmacists, physician associates, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, certified health educators, social workers and substance abuse counselors.

The virtual annual conference compiles the latest advances impacting family medicine, with a bonus of flexible, on-demand viewing through November 28, 2025.

The first day – Opioids and the Young – offers four hours of content for only $25. The Thursday and Friday two-hour blocks are $40 each.

To register, visit this link.

Day 1

The first day is Opioids and the Young, sponsored by Arkansas Children’s National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness. The day will include a talk on opioid use disorder in moms and children with Shona Ray-Griffith, M.D., an associate professor in the UAMS Depts. of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and mandated reporting laws with Jessica Coker, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Dept. of Psychiatry. Other topics include behavioral health screening and intervention for adolescents with Kim Shuler, LCSW, and Caitlyn Johnson, LCSW, both with the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network. The last session will be “Opioids Off the Table? Now What?” with Teresa Hudson, Pharm.D., Ph.D., a professor in the UAMS Dept. of Psychiatry.

Caitlyn Johnson and Kim Shuler, social workers — Caitlyn Johnson and Kim Shuler

Day 2

Talks on the second day will feature UAMS providers: sniffles, chills and fever in kids with Rachel Ekdahl, M.D., and Satvika Mikkilineni, D.O.; “Naloxone Know-How for Saving Lives” with Leah Tobey-Moore, DPT, MBA, and Meghan Breckling, Pharm.D.; and a fresh look at hypertension medications with Michelle Hernandez, Pharm.D. Alexis White, M.D., also will speak on menopause.

Day 3

The last morning of the virtual conference will focus on cancer screening in Arkansas, presented by Daniele Ramirez-Aguilar, MPH, with the Arkansas Central Cancer Registry, and “Mending a Child’s Heart: Pediatric Cardiology from a Nurse Practitioner Perspective” with Leslie Lewis, APRN, who works at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The two afternoon sessions will feature Robert Hopkins Jr., M.D., who will update attendees on immunization essentials for the fall. He is the division director for the UAMS Dept. of Internal Medicine. Next will be “Spotlight on LADA: The Hybrid Diabetes of Adulthood” with Hadeel Al Fares, M.D., an endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism fellow at UAMS.

New Offices and New Roles in the DFPM and the Service Line

Dr. Shashank Kraleti, DFPM Chair and Director of the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line, is announcing new structure to the DFPM, including new offices and directors to lead the way. Dr. Kraleti himself has acquired another title, that of Senior Vice-President for UAMS Health. New offices, positions, and leadership are outlined below, with more details to come.

Vice-Chair for Community Health and Engagement
Dr. Julea Garner

Dr. Garner is the inaugural Program Director of the Baptist Health-UAMS Family Medicine residency program. Her experience in Family Medicine education goes back to the early 1990s, and she has held multiple roles in the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Garner was honored with the Ben Saltzman MD Professorship in Rural Family Medicine and was in private practice in Hardy, Arkansas, for almost 20 years.

Vice-Chair for Research and Faculty Affairs
Nikki Edge PhD

Dr. Edge has been on the faculty of the DFPM Research and Evaluation Division (RED) since 2011 and is now the Director of RED. Her research focuses on factors that place children at risk for poor social and emotional outcomes. She has held leadership positions in grant projects that have brought millions of dollars to UAMS and better health to children and adults around Arkansas. She has dozens of peer-reviewed publications and extensive experience in promotion and tenure processes.

Vice-Chair and Assistant Service Line Director for Clinical Operations
Dr. Scott Dickson

Dr. Dickson has been Program Director of the UAMS Northeast Family Medicine residency program since 2009. He graduated from the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors’ National Institute for Program Director Development Fellowship in 2008 and has won several teaching awards. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, George K. Mitchell MD Endowed Chair in Primary Care. He has been significantly involved with the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians by serving on the Board in several officer roles.

Assistant Service Line Director for Clinical Quality
Dr. Tabasum Imran

Dr. Imran began work at UAMS West in 2011. Since 2014, she has been the Associate Program Director and Medical Director. As an Epic Super User and trainer for end users, she has contributed significantly working with other Epic team members at UAMS to train clinic employees and physicians in the Epic healthcare record system. Her distinctions in quality improvement initiatives are numerous, as are her wide-ranging achievements in patient safety. Her leadership and participation in grant-funded projects and activities pertaining to value-based participation have been impressive, and she has won awards for teaching and scholarship.

Director, DFPM Division of Medical Student Education
Dr. David Kelley

Dr. Kelley joined the DFPM faculty in 2022, but he is not a newcomer to medical education. For eight years, he was Director of the Clerkship Program at the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He has developed curricula and mentored Family Medicine residents, medical students, and other learners. Dr. Kelley has won multiple teaching awards and has received superior evaluations not only from learners but also from patients.

Director, DFPM Office of Communication and Departmental Relations
Diane Jarrett EdD, MA

Dr. Jarrett joined the UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine residency program in 2008. After 15 years of serving as an educator, she has transitioned to being a communicator for the DFPM statewide. Her doctorate is in higher education, and her master’s degree is in journalism/mass communications. In 2023, she was named as the AAFP Fellow for the History of Family Medicine, and she also won the UAMS Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award.

Director, DFPM Office of Digital Health
Dr. Stephen Foster

Dr. Foster is an Assistant Professor at the UAMS Northeast Regional Campus, an ambulatory physician builder in clinical informatics, and an ambulatory quality officer in the Primary Care and Population Health Service Line. His awards and honors include a Digital Health Fellowship from Doximity, an Emerging Leaders Fellowship from the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, and acceptance to the Implementation Sciences Scholars Program from the UAMS Translational Research Institute. He holds many certifications in Epic Systems.

Co-Directors, DFPM Office of Leadership and Professional Development
Dr. Julea Garner and Dr. Diane Jarrett

Their biosketches are above.

Director, DFPM Office of Wellness
Kathy Emans LCSW

Ms. Emans is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in working with mental health and substance use issues. She has a master’s degree in social work from the Indiana University School of Social Work.

Courtney Hampton Named “Ally of the Year.”

DFPM-RED’s Courtney Hampton was recently named “Ally of the Year” by The Strilite Foundation. Courtney is Research Program Manager for DFPM-RED’s HIV Education and Prevention team. Her team works on a variety of projects throughout the state to educate and reduce stigma related to HIV. The team also provides multiple points of access to free HIV testing for Arkansans.

The Strilite Foundation’s recent announcement:

The organization would like to announce and congratulate, Ms. Courtney Hampton as the entity’s “2023 Ally of the Year,” award winner.
The presentation will take place during the Red Dress Fest Gala, Dec. 1, 6 pm, at the Junior League building, 401 Scott Street in downtown Little Rock.
The organization cited, Ms. Hampton’s decades long commitment to addressing the HIV continuum of care and her laser focused efforts to ensure that available resources were directed into communities most impacted by the pandemic.
In her tenure with the Arkansa Department of Health, she championed for innovative programming, increased communications and supported numerous community driven projects including the genesis of the first Black gay men’s support group named,”Strilite.”
Throughout her career, she’s been a national conference presenter, worked to develop the UAMS Gap Services in two locations, served as chairperson for H4H Health & Wellness Fair and been an invaluable support to her family, friends and community.
The Strilite Foundation

Nicola Edge Named Vice-Chair

Nicola Edge, Ph.D., was recently named Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM).

Dr. Edge joined the UAMS faculty in 2000 in the Department of Pediatrics. In 2010, her primary academic appointment was moved to the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, where she was promoted to Professor in 2018 on the basic scientist track. She has served as the Associate Director of the Research and Evaluation Division (RED) and has most recently supported the DFPM as Vice-Chair of Faculty Affairs. In 2019, she was honored to receive the UAMS College of Medicine Faculty Award for Excellence in Research.

Physician Wins Award for High Colorectal Cancer Screening Rate

Dr. Clinton Smith with 1^st Choice Healthcare was named the Arkansas Cancer Coalition Healthcare Provider of the Year at the Arkansas Cancer Summit March 7 for his 75 percent rate of colorectal cancer screening with his patients.

The family physician has participated in the UAMS Partnerships in Colorectal Cancer Screening for Arkansas (PiCS-AR!) since 2020, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant that seeks to raise colorectal cancer screening rates in the state. His 75 percent rate is closing in on the national goal of 80 percent set by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.

Clinton Smith, DO, physician with 1st Choice Healthcare in Corning, Arkansas

Smith’s first year with the PiCS-AR! grant showed a screening rate of 65 percent. His rate grew to 70 percent in 2021 and has escalated in one year to 75 percent. He said the reasons for his higher screening rate stem from frequently reminding the patients of screening, making it easy for them to screen, and relaying the facts.

“Each time I have a checkup with a patient (not even necessarily a wellness checkup), I try to mention (screening) and see if they’re due for anything. And if they are, we try to go ahead and facilitate that and get it set up,” said Smith. “The best time to (mention) it, in my opinion, is when you see them. Sometimes people are non-compliant and you may not see them for a while. Now, it does take extra time, and sometimes I get behind, but I feel that prevention is the key. It’s better to prevent a problem than to have to treat it later.”

Smith gives his patients several screening options: stool-based tests and a colonoscopy. The stool-based tests (FIT or Cologuard) require that the patient send a sample of their stool in the mail, which takes minutes and is not invasive and requires no dieting, fasting or anesthesia. The colonoscopy is considered the most accurate for colorectal cancer screening, but with his rural patient population in northeast Arkansas, arranging a colonoscopy can be cost- and time-prohibitive.

“I tell them about the options and let them decide. I think the FIT tests have helped a lot. We’re rural, so to get a colonoscopy, you not only have to take a day off of work, you have to drive 30 miles outside of town,” said Smith.

Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer for Americans, and it’s on the rise with younger age groups, according to the American Cancer Society. The rate of new colorectal cancer cases among Americans younger than 55 increased from 11 percent of all cases in 1995 to 20 percent in 2019. The recommended screening age for those with average risk is 45, which the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered from age 50 two years ago because of this new trend. Screening at an earlier age means cancer will be caught in its first stage and is highly treatable if detected early.

Smith also credits his employer, 1^st Choice Healthcare, for allowing him to spend more time with his patients who are often chronically ill and require more than the suggested 15 minutes many physicians are tethered to. 1^st Choice is one of two healthcare partners working with the PiCS-AR! five-year grant. Mid-Delta Healthcare System in eastern Arkansas is the latest system to join.

$420,000 Gift Realizes Alumnus’ Longtime Wish to Support Education and Training of Family Physicians

By Benjamin Waldrum

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has received a $420,000 gift from the estate of Jack T. Steele, M.D., to finalize the creation of the Jack T. Steele, M.D. Endowed Chair in Family and Preventive Medicine in the College of Medicine.

Jack T. Steel, M.D.

Endowed chairs allow UAMS to recruit and retain top leaders in the medical field who can provide the best care for patients. A chair is established with gifts of at least $1 million, which are invested and the interest proceeds used to support the educational, research and clinical activities of the chair holder. An endowed chair is among the highest academic honors a university can bestow on a faculty member. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians and professors in their fields. UAMS will announce a professor to the Steele Chair at a later time.

Steele, a 1952 College of Medicine graduate and longtime supporter of UAMS, died March 6. Over several years, he gave more than $620,000 toward the creation of an endowed chair. Together with the $420,000 estate gift, Steele’s combined lifetime giving to UAMS exceeds $1million.

“We are grateful for the late Dr. Steele’s generosity and longtime support for our university and college,” said Christopher T. Westfall, M.D., executive vice chancellor of UAMS and dean of the College of Medicine. “As a family physician, Dr. Steele understood how important primary care physicians are for our patients and communities, and this has never been more true than today. The Jack T. Steele, M.D., Endowed Chair in Family and Preventive Medicine will support outstanding education and training of family physicians for generations to come.”

“Practicing medicine was integral to my dad’s identity,” said son Jeffrey Scott Steele, M.D. “He had a difficult time retiring completely from his practice and continued to work at least part-time, well beyond the age when most would have retired. Even after retiring he maintained his state medical license and satisfied the required continuing medical education.”

Steele was born in 1926 in Lynn, Arkansas, and moved to Walnut Ridge at age 3. He was a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1945-1946, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1948 with degrees in psychology and philosophy. In 1952, he graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine (now UAMS), and completed an internship with the St. Louis City Hospital. He then served as a Navy physician from 1954-1956. Steele had a longtime medical practice in the greater St. Louis area, including Ferguson and Bridgeton. Four of his sons are physicians.

William Ventres, M.D., Invested in Ben Saltzman, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Rural Family Medicine

Sept. 19, 2018 | William “Bill” Ventres, M.D., M.A., assistant professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), was invested Sept. 17 as the holder of the Ben Saltzman, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Rural Family Medicine.

Ventres, who joined UAMS in 2017, is a family physician and medical anthropologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience working with disadvantaged patients. He is known as a leader in developing family medicine internationally, researching doctor-patient communication using qualitative methods, and studying the social history of family medicine in the United States. He plans to encourage students and residents to practice in rural and underserved areas in Arkansas to improve health outcomes.

Westfall and Knight presented Ventres with a commemorative medallion.

“It is a great honor to receive the Saltzman Chair, with its emphasis on rural and underserved family medicine,” Ventres said. “When I was in medical school and residency, I saw that lots of patients felt left out. Sometimes they were poor or uneducated, sometimes it was because of where they lived, and sometimes it was because of the color of their skin or the language they spoke. I didn’t see that medicine was doing a very good job helping these people, so I found my small niche in working to try and change things in this area.”

An endowed chair is among the highest academic honors a university can bestow on a faculty member. A distinguished chair is a $1.5 million endowment established to support the educational, research and clinical activities of the chair holder who will lead future innovations in medicine and health care. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians and professors in their fields.

“The choice of Dr. Ventres to assume this chair is a very wise decision, and that’s because of his passion for the very highest quality of medicine and for his passion for taking care of his fellow man, which he has demonstrated throughout a long career and all parts of the world,” said Christopher T. Westfall, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine. “I am absolutely convinced that he is the right holder for this chair.”

The chair is named in honor of Ben Saltzman, M.D., who has been called the father of rural family medicine in Arkansas. Saltzman joined UAMS in 1974 as the first professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. During his seven-year tenure, he served as director of rural medicine development and the flexible internship program. In 1981, he was appointed director of the Arkansas Department of Health and served until his retirement in 1987. Saltzman died in 2003.

Saltzman built the first hospital in Mountain Home and helped establish others across the state. He is remembered as a champion of rural health and an international leader in helping eradicate polio. Saltzman made health care more widely available and worked as a traveling doctor who owned a twin-engine plane for his work.

Saltzman was past president of numerous statewide health organizations, including the Arkansas Lung Association, what is now The Arc Arkansas, the Arkansas division of the American Cancer Society and the Arkansas Board of Health. He served as chairman of the American Medical Association’s Council on Rural Health, as a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Health Project Review Committee, and as a member of the National Advisory Health Services Council.

“Dr. Saltzman was quite a leader in our state, and this endowment is to help those who follow his example as we expand our programs for the underserved and in rural medicine,” said Daniel Knight, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. “In his short tenure here, Dr. Ventres has made quite a difference, and we’re excited to see the difference he’ll make going forward.”

Ventres with his wife, Estella and daughter, Cory.

Ventres was presented with a commemorative medallion by Westfall and Knight. He thanked Saltzman and recognized Julea Garner, M.D., the previous chair holder. Ventres reserved special thanks for his wife, Estella and his children, Roby and Cory, who were in attendance.

“With all the technologies that are supposed to make things smoother, we are sometimes prone to overlook what is most important in our work – the people we serve,” Ventres said. “I commit to you to learning from the people of Arkansas, as I am able, to see them as full of worth and dignity; to appreciate their presence; and to engage with them in a way that invites conversation, collaboration and compassion.”

“The work of improving the health of all Arkansans, wherever they may be, is not the task of one person – it is a responsibility we all share,” Ventres said. “And we are all enriched by the labor we invest to fulfill it.”

Ventres received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed his residency and fellowship training in family medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. He has received two Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards and has taught family medicine residents at the National Experimental University of Táchira in San Cristobal, Venezuela, and public health students at the University of El Salvador in San Salvador. Prior to his arrival at UAMS, he was a research associate for five years in the Institute for Studies in History, Anthropology and Archeology at the University of El Salvador.

Ventres has served as visiting professor at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and scholar-in-residence at both the Brocher Institute in Geneva, Switzerland and the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.