The HAVI Welcomes New Advisory Board Members to Strengthen Its Mission

July 2, 2025 - The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) is proud to announce the addition of three new members to its Advisory Board: Dr. James Dodington, Adaora Ezike, and John Torres. These distinguished leaders bring invaluable experience in public health, violence intervention, and racial equity, further strengthening the HAVI’s efforts to advance its mission of reducing violence and healing trauma through hospital-based and community-linked violence intervention programs. 

James Dodington, MD, CPST, FAAP 
Dr. James Dodington, a seasoned expert in pediatric emergency medicine and violence intervention, brings his leadership as the Medical Director of the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at Yale New Haven Hospital. He is also an Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Dodington’s expertise lies in community-partnered research and violence intervention program development, and he is the founding medical director of Yale’s hospital-based violence intervention program, which is a member program of the HAVI. Dr. Dodington has been involved with the HAVI since its early days and has long admired the organization’s collaborative spirit and focus on frontline work in community violence intervention (CVI). 

Reflecting on his appointment, Dr. Dodington shared: “I’m so honored to have the chance to join the Advisory Board at the HAVI. I began attending the national conferences back in the days of National Network of Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (NNHVIP) and was drawn to the collaborative spirit and focus on the frontline of CVI work. I consider the HAVI to be a core organization in my work, and my mentors and academic community have been deeply linked to the organization and its mission.” 

Adaora Ezike 
Adaora Ezike is a public health strategist and social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience advancing racial equity, health justice, and economic opportunity. Currently serving as Development Director for the City of Detroit, Adaora has helped secure over $500 million in grants for public agencies and nonprofit organizations across the country. Her work spans organizing for environmental justice to developing strategies that foster civic literacy, behavioral resilience, and economic mobility. Adaora’s vision for public health centers on addressing systemic violence and ensuring that human dignity, healing, and safety are fundamental to all systems. 

When discussing her appointment, Adaora expressed her gratitude: “I am deeply honored to join the HAVI Advisory Board because I believe it is time to confront not only the structures that produce violence and moral injury, but also the active and passive agents—policies, institutions, practices, and belief systems—that profit from health injustice. Structural violence is not an invisible force; it is sustained and oxygenated by choices, resource distribution, and inaction. Public health has the power and the responsibility to make human rights systemic practice. I look forward to contributing to this collective work of reimagining, designing, and advancing systems where dignity, healing, and safety are not negotiable.” 

John Torres 
A leader in the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) field for over 30 years, John Torres is the Associate Director of Youth ALIVE!, a community-based organization in Oakland. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, John has worked directly with clients affected by violence, and his leadership extends to being a certified trainer for the HAVI faculty. John has been a key advocate in the CVI field and was recently invited to the White House to participate in discussions on addressing gun violence in Latino communities. He has seen the HAVI grow since its inception and remains committed to its mission of supporting individuals affected by community violence. 

When asked about his appointment, John expressed: “Since the HAVI’s origins in 2009, I have witnessed its growth and recognized the far-reaching and deeply impactful role this network would play in supporting individuals affected by community violence. With over 30 years of experience in the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) field—as a front-line worker, program director, and clinician—I am committed to contributing to the continued growth, direction, and national impact of the HAVI.” 

It is with great gratitude that we welcome Dr. James Dodington, Adaora Ezike, and John Torres to the HAVI Advisory Board. Their leadership and expertise will be vital as we continue to advance hospital-based violence intervention programs and foster community-led systems that heal trauma, promote equity, and create lasting, positive change. Together, we will build a future where safety, healing, and justice are accessible to all.