Current Scholars & Alumni » Alumni (2004 - 2006)

Biography

Dr. Carlos A. Hernandez-Avila received his M.D. and M.Psych. degree (psychopharmacology) from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. Subsequently, under the guidance of Dr. Benson Ginsburg, he obtained his Ph.D. (behavioral genetics) from the Biobehavioral Sciences program at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs CT.

His dissertation examined the effects of parental history of alcoholism and of the Asn40Asp polymorphism at the m-opioid receptor locus on HPA axis activation.

He underwent training in psychiatry through the residency programs at the National Psychiatric Institute in Mexico City and the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn Health Center (UCHC) in Farmington CT. He also completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry under the mentorship of Dr. Henry R. Kranzler at UCHC.

From 2004 to 2006, he was appointed to the Alcohol Medical Scholar Program under the direction of Dr. Mark A. Schuckit.

Currently, Dr. Hernandez-Avila is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine where he lectures and trains residents, medical students, and other health professionals.

Dr. Hernandez-Avila’s research has focused on the genetics of addictive disorders, and the pharmacotherapy of alcohol dependence and comorbid psychiatric conditions.

More recently, in collaboration with colleagues at UNAM Medical School in Mexico City, he has examined risk factors and treatment strategies for alcohol problems among Mexican adolescents and college students.

As a clinician, he directs a state funded dual diagnosis program in Hartford CT aim at treating patients with severe psychiatric disorders and alcohol and/or drug dependence. This program also focuses in treating pregnant women, and Hispanic and African American patients. Other areas of expertise include alcohol and drug detoxification, opioid agonist treatment, and relapse prevention pharmacotherapy in conjunction with different psychosocial interventions.

In addition of being certified in general and addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Hernandez-Avila is certified in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

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