Speakers

Carla Hay, Christina Howard, Tonya Jernigan, Jennifer Perry

Carla Hay, MSN RN SANE

SANE Pediatric Forensic Nurse
University of Kentucky Department of Pediatrics, Forensic Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky

Registered Nurse for 27 years. MSN Forensic Nurse Graduate from Cleveland State University. Currently employed by the University of Kentucky as a Pediatric Forensic Nurse.

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Christina Howard, MD, FAAP

Child Fatality and Injury Prevention Pediatric Consultant
Maternal and Child Health Division, Department for Public Health
Chief of Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine
Assistant Professor
UK Healthcare Department of Pediatrics
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Howard is a board-certified Child Abuse Pediatrician. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Georgetown College prior to starting medical school training including medical school, residency and fellowship in Child Abuse Pediatrics at the University of Louisville. Upon completion of her training she joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky. She is Division Chief of the Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine that is the program responsible for evaluating and supporting suspected victims of child maltreatment. In addition to these activities, she also serves as faculty with the UK School of Public Health Kentucky Injury Prevention Research Center (KIPRC) and is consultant for the Department of Public Health for Child Fatality Review and Pediatric Injury Prevention.

She received the Kosair Charities' Roger Fox Award, given to a physician whose dedication to children provides hope that all kids can lead a safe and healthy childhood.

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Tonya Jernigan, LCSW

Social Worker Principal
University of Kentucky Department of Pediatrics, Forensic Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky

Tonya Jernigan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine with UK Healthcare Department of Pediatrics. She obtained her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She has experience working with families impacted by substance misuse, intimate partner violence, mental illness and trauma and child maltreatment. Her current work includes serving as part of an interdisciplinary team evaluating child maltreatment as well as grant writing and community engagement to increase awareness of child maltreatment and build resilience in Kentucky’s families.

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Jennifer Perry, LCSW

Social Worker Principal
Adolescent Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Jennifer Perry is a licensed clinical social worker. She has been practicing in the mental health and substance abuse treatment fields in Kentucky for over 10 years. Mrs. Perry has been employed with the University of Kentucky for the last four years, where she has held the position Principal Social Worker in the Department of Adolescent Medicine. She currently serves on the board for Stop Youth Suicide.

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