Hector M. González, PhD
hmgonzalez@med.wayne.edu

Hector M. González is a clinical neuropsychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences with a joint appointment in the Institute of Gerontology. He has research interests in neuroepidemiology, including psychiatric epidemiology.

Dr. González is involved in several ongoing research projects, including:

Vascular Depression and Function in Older Latinos (PI: González, Wayne State University)
Epidemiology of Functional Status in Elderly Hispanics (PI: Haan, University of Michigan)
National Latino Asian American Survey (PI: Alegria, Harvard University)



Research Objectives and Interests

Dr. González’ primary research objectives are to determine modifiable risk factors for disability and to develop and implement cost-effect methods for reducing public health burdens, particularly in disadvantaged populations. Since his clinical and research fellowship at the University of California, Davis, Department of Neurology and later as faculty in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, he has been a co-investigator of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA). Work in this prospective cohort study of Aging in older Mexican Americans formed his research objectives into research foci on the leading determinants of morbidity facing the U.S. and global populations, vascular disease and depression. Dr. González is pursuing his research agenda as Principal Investigator of a National Institute of Mental Health funded study to examine Vascular Depression and Function in Older Latinos. In addition, he is co-investigator of the NIMH sponsored National Latino Asian American Survey, which is a cross-sectional, psychiatric epidemiologic study in a nationally representative sample of Latinos and Asian Americans.



Education


Bachelor of Science, University of New Mexico – Psychology, 1982
Doctor of Philosophy, California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego – Clinical Psychology, Behavioral Medicine/Health Psychology, 1998


Training and Experience

Post-doctoral Fellow, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Neurology Department and the Center for Neuroscience - Clinical/Research Neuropsychology, 1999
Assistant Research Neuroepidemiologist, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, 1999-2000
Research Investigator, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 2000-2002
Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 2003-2005
Assistant Professor, Wayne State University, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences and Institute of Gerontology, 2005-present


Major Research Interests

Neuropsychology and neuroepidemiology, including psychiatric epidemiology, and ethnic minority health.


Professional Membership

American Psychological Association
International Neuropsychological Society
Hispanic Neuropsychological Society
Gerontological Society of America
American Public Health Association
International Society for Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders


Professional Service

Member-at-Large and Incoming Membership Committee Chair, Gerontological Society of America
Incoming Chair, Membership Committee, Gerontological Society of America
Special Panel on Neuropsychological Assessment of Minorities, National Institute on Aging


Recent Publications

Weiss, C.O., González, H.M., Kabeto, M.U., Langa, K.M. (2005) Differences in Amount of Informal Care Received By Non-Hispanic Whites and Latinos in a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Americans, Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 53(1), 146-151.

González H.M., Mungas, D.M., Haan, M.N. (2005) A Semantic Verbal Fluency Test for English- and Spanish-speaking Older Mexican-Americans. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 20(2), 199-208.

González H.M., West B., Underwood, W. (2005) PSA Testing: Are We Testing As Much As We Think? J Am Coll Surg; 201:906–912

González, H. M., L. Hinton, et al. (2006). "Antidepressant class and dosing among older Mexican Americans: Application of geropsychiatric treatment guidelines." Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 14(1): 79-83.

Hinton, L., Chambers, D. González, H.M., Haan, M.N. Dementia neuropsychiatric symptoms: Frequency and patterns of help-seeking and unmet needs in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA). In press: Clinical Gerontologist.




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