Gerardo Gonzalez, MD
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Associate Professor of Psychiatry Director, Division of Addiction Psychiatry Director, SUD Psychopharmacology Research Director, Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment Services (ACTS) Director, Bridging Clinic of ED MAT Initiation Project |
Dr. González is the Director of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry and Associate Professor in Psychiatry. Dr. Gonzalez is board certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry in Addiction Psychiatry. He is originally from Colombia and after receiving his Medical Degree, he trained in psychiatry at the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, School of Medicine in Bogotá-Colombia. He obtained a Diploma degree in Addiction Behaviour (DAB) at the National Addiction Center, Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. He completed his second residency in psychiatry in the US that was followed by a Substance Abuse Fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. After working as faculty in the Division of Substance Abuse at Yale University, he joined the Department of Psychiatry at UMass in 2008. He led the development of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and he is the former program director. He also is the Director of the Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment Service (ACTS) that is a teaching clinic for medical students, residents and fellows. His research has focused on neurobiology and pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cocaine and opioid dependence. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He has presented at National and International conferences on issues related to treatment of substance use disorders.
Clinical Activity
Dr. Gonzalez is the Director of the Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment Service (ACTS) that provides treatment to a wide range of substance use disorders with and without comorbid psychiatric disorders. In addition, he is the Director of the Bridging Clinic that will have rapid and open access to MAT for opioid use disorder of patients presenting at UMass Emergency Departments with opioid overdose or opioid related problems. He has ample experience treating substance use disorders with and without comorbid psychiatric disorders that started while in Colombia 20 years ago, that was followed by training in State of the Art approach in the United Kingdom and enhanced by his clinical research training and faculty tenure at Yale University. He was the Medical Director of a Methadone Treatment Program in Connecticut where he still sees patients for comorbid psychiatric disorders. His focus has been a comprehensive evaluation and formulation that addresses a broader treatment plan for substance use disorders. He is also staff psychiatrist at the Mental Health Clinic of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System located on University Campus where he treats veterans with mental illness with and without comorbid substance use disorders. He is also the Medical Director of Washburn House, Inc, that is a Substance Use disorder treatment facility located in Worcester that offers acute treatment service (ATS), clinical stabilization service (CSS) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) / partial hospital program (PHP).
Education Activity
Dr. Gonzalez is the coordinator of the Addiction Elective for fourth year medical and students work with him at Washburn House on the Acute Treatment Service (ATS). He hosts MS4 and third year medical students’ for their clerkships at the Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment Service (ACTS). Learners attend the ACTS meeting and spend time with him at the teaching clinic on Monday and Thursdays evenings. He lectures at the fellowship seminars and residents didactics about pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders. He mentors medical students in their Capstone Projects and scholar electives. He is currently helping develop the X-waiver web-base interactive module for medical student and NP students. He is an active participant in the development and supporting faculty of the Opioid Safety Treatment Immersion (OSTI).
Research Interest
Dr. Gonzalez is the Director of Substance Use Disorders Psychopharmacology research. His studies have evaluated the extent that enhancing GABA neurotransmission may have in modifying cocaine and opiate taking behavior. He is interested in assessing the extent to which the modulation of glutamate neurotransmission by NMDA receptor antagonist during opioid agonist treatment may improve treatment outcomes and reduce early relapse in young adults with opiate use disorder. In addition, he is interested in understanding factors in health care delivery associate with reduction in mortality by opioid overdose.
Updated Bibliography
Contact Information
UMass Chan Medical School
55 Lake Avenue North, Office S3-426
Worcester MA 01655
Phone: (508) 856-6480 FAX:(508) 856-6626
Addiction and Comorbidity Treatment Service (ACTS) & Bridging Clinic
100 Century Drive
Worcester MA 01605
Phone: (508)762-5400 FAX: (508)762-5410
Mental Health Clinic, VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System
55 Lake Avenue North, Access Building, 7th Floor, Office AC7-124
Worcester, MA 01655
Phone: (413) 584-4040 Ext 6600 FAX: (774) 530-3029