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

Hector M. González, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Institute of Gerontology and the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Wayne State University. He is a Faculty Associate at the University of Michigan, Institute of Social Research, Research Center for Group Dynamics, Program for Research on Black Americans. He is clinically trained as a neuropsychologist.

Research Objectives and Interests

Dr. González’ research interests are in the areas of neuroepidemiology, psychiatric epidemiology and health services. Dr. González’ interests are centered on Latino health and identifying modifiable contributors to inequalities in healthcare. He has written on the health of older Mexican Americans and the Latino Health Paradox. His scholarly writing is reshaping current understanding of healthcare inequalities among Latinos. Dr. González is currently funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to examine late-life depression in the United States. He is member of the American Psychological Association’s Task Force to revise the Guidelines for the Evaluation of Dementia and Age-Related Cognitive Change and the Committee on Socioeconomic Status.

Areas of Expertise

Neuropsychology,  neuroepidemiology and psychiatric epidemiology.


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

Post-doctoral Fellow, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Neurology Department and the Center for Neuroscience - Clinical/Research Neuropsychology, 1999

Professional Memberships
American Psychological Association
International Neuropsychological Society
Hispanic Neuropsychological Society
Gerontological Society of America

Professional Service
Member-at-Large and Incoming Membership Committee Chair, Gerontological Society of America
Special Panel on Neuropsychological Assessment of Minorities, National Institute on Aging
American Psychological Association, Dementia Task Force
American Psychological Association, Committee on Socioeconomic Status

Editorial Board
Journal of Aging and Health

Journal Reviewer
American Journal of Public Health
Annals of Epidemiology
Annals of Internal Medicine
New England Journal of Medicine
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Grants:

Current Research Support

R01 MH084994 González (PI)                        07/15/09 - 05/31/2012                         $1.2 million
NIH/NIMH
Epidemiology of late-life depression and ethnicity research study (ELLDERS).
The purpose of this study is to estimate the distribution of late-life depression and characterize depression subtypes among ethnic/racial groups in the United States.
Role: PI

AG 15281 (PI: Jackson)                                   9/30/97-6/30/12
Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Resource Center for Minority Aging.

Research Consultant

AG 10939 (PI: Markides)                              4/30/09-present
Longitudinal Study of Mexican American Elderly Health

MH 80067 (PI: Hinton)                             5/30/09-present
Reducing Disparities in Depression Care for Ethnically Diverse Older Men

Past Research Support

MH 067726 (PI: González)                       4/1/03-3/31/09                                     $834,520
Vascular Depression and Function in Older Latinos.
The purpose of this Mentored Scientist Career Development Award was to examine cognitive and functional changes in older Latinos while developing research skills and knowledge in epidemiology.
Role: PI

AG 15281 (PI: Jackson)                                 9/30/01-8/31/02
Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research, Resource Center for Minority Aging.
This purpose of this Pilot grant was to examine depressive symptoms in older Latinos.
Role: PI of Pilot award

AG008671 (PI: Gilman)                                  8/31/01-7/31/02
Estudio de los Abuelos de Detroit
The purpose of this Administrative Supplement pilot study of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Center was to examine the functional status of older Latinos in the Detroit area.
Role: Co-Investigator

AG 12975 (PI: Haan)                                     6/15/03-6/30/09                                   $8.3 million
NIH/NIA
Epidemiology of Functional Status in Elderly Hispanics (Renewal)
The purpose of this study was to estimate dementia prevalence and to identify pathways and modifying factors that influence the occurrence of dementia in this unique cohort.
Role: Co-Investigator

DK 60753 (PI: Haan)                                    3/15/02-2/28/06                                    $1.42 million
NIH/NIDDK
Diabetes in Older Latinos, Stress and Brain Changes
The purpose of this substudy of the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging was to examine neuroendocrine and cognitive changes in older Latinos.
Role: Co-Investigator

AG 12975 (PI: Haan)                                    5/31/99-4/30/03
NIH/NIA
Long-term Minority Investigator Research Supplement to Parent Grant: Epidemiology of Functional Status in Elderly Hispanics
The purpose of this Minority Investigator Research Supplement (currently referred to as Diversity Supplement) was to provide full salary and research support and training on conducting, analyzing, and interpreting large epidemiologic data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging.
Role: Awardee

Recent Publications

González, H.M., Vega, W.A., Williams, DR, *Tarraf, W., West, B.T., Neighbors, H.W. (2010) Depression care in the United States: Too little for too few. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(1):37-46

González, H.M., Vega, W.A., Rodríguez, M., *Tarraf, W., Sribney, W. (2009, Invited manuscript) Diabetes Awareness and Knowledge Among Latinos: Does a Usual Source for Health Care Matter? Journal of General Internal Medicine Nov;24 Suppl 3:528-33.

González, H.M., Croghan, T., West, B., Williams, D., Nesse, R, Tarraf, W., Taylor, R., Hinton, L., Neighbors, H., Jackson, J. (2008) Antidepressant use by Blacks and Whites in the United States. Psychiatric Services, Oct 2008;59(10):1131-1138.

González, H.M. Ceballos, M. *Bowen, M.E., *Tarraf, W., Vega, W.A. (2009). The Health of Older Mexican American in the Long Run. American Journal of Public Health, Oct;99(10):1879-85.

*Bowen, M.E. & González, H.M. (2009) Childhood socioeconomic position and disability in later life: nationally representative findings from the Health and Retirement Study. American Journal of Public Health, Sept 17 (epub).

González, H.M. Croghan, T.W., *Tarraf, W., West, B.T., Bowen, M.E., Cao, Z., Alegría, M. (2009) Antidepressant Use among Latinos in the United States. Depression and Anxiety, 26(7):674-81.

Williams, D.R., González, H.M., Neighbors, H., Nesse, R., Abelson, J.M., Sweetman, Jackson, J.S. (2007) Prevalence and Distribution of Major Depressive Disorder among African Americans, Caribbean Blacks and Non-Hispanic Whites Archives of General Psychiatry, 64, 305-3