Robert M. Anthenelli, M.D. • Director
Robert M. Anthenelli, MD is Professor and Executive Vice Chair in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine where he directs the Pacific Treatment and Research Center. He previously served as the Associate Chief of Staff for Mental Health at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Vice Chair for Veterans Affairs. He was formerly a Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine and Cincinnati VA Medical Center where he founded and directed the Center for Treatment, Research & Education in Addictive Disorders, Addiction Sciences Division, and nationally acclaimed Cincinnati VA Substance Dependence Program.
Dr. Anthenelli earned his baccalaureate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and his MD degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After graduating medical school, he completed his internship in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Anthenelli did residency training in psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Additional post-doctoral training included a 2-year fellowship in addiction psychiatry research that was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The overarching theme of Dr. Anthenelli’s research is to develop improved treatments for tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and comorbid psychiatric disorders by better understanding the neurobiology of these disorders. He has authored or co-authored over 200 published research articles, book chapters, and abstracts published in major journals including The Lancet, JAMA Internal Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and The American Journal of Psychiatry. Funding for his research is provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and various industry sponsors. He has lectured widely across the globe and is the Principal Investigator and Steering Committee Chair for the EAGLES trial – the largest placebo-controlled smoking cessation pharmacotherapy trial conducted to date.
Dr. Anthenelli earned his baccalaureate degree from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and his MD degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After graduating medical school, he completed his internship in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Anthenelli did residency training in psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Additional post-doctoral training included a 2-year fellowship in addiction psychiatry research that was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The overarching theme of Dr. Anthenelli’s research is to develop improved treatments for tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and comorbid psychiatric disorders by better understanding the neurobiology of these disorders. He has authored or co-authored over 200 published research articles, book chapters, and abstracts published in major journals including The Lancet, JAMA Internal Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and The American Journal of Psychiatry. Funding for his research is provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and various industry sponsors. He has lectured widely across the globe and is the Principal Investigator and Steering Committee Chair for the EAGLES trial – the largest placebo-controlled smoking cessation pharmacotherapy trial conducted to date.
Benjamin McKenna, Ph.D. • Clinical Psychologist
Dr. McKenna received his B.S. in psychology from the University of Arizona. In 2011, he earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a specialization in neuropsychology from the SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and completed a predoctoral internship at the University of Arizona University Medical Center. Following his Ph.D. Dr. McKenna completed a Veteran’s Affairs Advanced Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment before joining the Translational Methamphetamine and AIDS Research Center on a NIDA-funded T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship for Training in Research on Addictions in Interdisciplinary NeuroAIDS. Dr. McKenna’s primary research interests aim to better understand neurobiological changes in mental illnesses and addictions. Within PAC-TARC, he is interested in examining treatments for patients who have co-morbid mental illness and addiction. 
Belinda Daniel, M.D • Study Physician
Belinda Daniel, M.D. earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, and her medical degree from University of Illinois College of Medicine. During medical school, she joined our lab and became one of our research coordinators. Her work was particularly focused on patients with both Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is currently completing her psychiatry residency training at the University of California, San Diego and hopes to pursue a career in addiction medicine. Dr. Daniel has a strong interest in research and is excited to continue working with Pac-TARC team! Tracy Bittner, B.A. • Clinical Research Coordinator
Tracy received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. As an undergraduate student, she completed an internship at The Scripps Institute of Research under Dr. George Koob. Ms. Bittner has been working at Pac-TARC since and advanced from a student intern to study coordinator.
Emily Johnson, M.S. • Regulatory Affairs Consultant
Emily Johnson is our Regulatory Affairs consultant. Ms. Johnson completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at UCSD, and her Master of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of London. She has advanced training in clinical trials and experience as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Clinical Monitor. Ms. Johnson is a member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) and the Association for Clinical Research Professionals. She is also a Certified Clinical Research Professional (SoCRA). Neil Beluso • Student Intern
Neil Beluso is a 3rd-year undergraduate pursuing a major in Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Science Education. He has interests in educational neuroscience and mental health and plans to apply to graduate programs during his fourth year.
|
Natassia Gaznick, M.D., Ph.D. • Study Physician
Natassia Gaznick, MD, PhD, is an NIMH-funded research-track resident in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University where she studied Biology before embarking on a two-year research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic under the NIH-sponsored Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program geared at increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in the sciences. Dr. Gaznick graduated medical school from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program with an MD and PhD. She obtained a PhD in Neuroscience where she focused on the neurobiology of addiction as well as general impulsivity with special interest in the basal ganglia and insula. During that time she was awarded an NIH-sponsored Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research. Her academic interests include integration of psychotherapy into the current climate of psychiatric practice, promotion of underrepresented minorities in medicine and the sciences, wellness, physician mental health, and the neurobiology and treatment of addictions.
Esther Wong, B.A. • Clinical Research Coordinator
Esther Wong earned her baccalaureate degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine. Upon graduation, she joined Dr. Robert Anthenelli’s research team at the University of California, San Diego, working with patients diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and alcohol and drug dependence. More recently, she has been involved with philanthropic organizations such as Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, various groups supporting autism research and treatment, and Grace Home Orphanage in India. She is excited to rejoin Dr. Anthenelli and the Pac-TARC team.
Aishwarya Bhadada • Student Intern
Aishwarya Bhadada is a 4th year undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Human Biology and Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience. She has a strong interest in neuroscience and plans to apply to graduate programs during her post-baccalaureate year."
|