Employment History [Academic Appointments]

1988-1991: Honorary Senior Registrar (equivalent to Instructor in General/Forensic Psychiatry) at the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London.

1991-1993: Wellcome Research Fellow & Honorary Senior Registrar (equivalent to Assistant Professor in Addiction Psychiatry) at Oxford University.

1993-1997: Assistant Professor & Teaching Fellow of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center.

1997-1998: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center.

1998-2000: Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology; Deputy Chairman for Research; Chief of Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

2000-2004: Wurzbach Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Pharmacology (Tenured); Deputy Chairman for Research; Chief of Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

2004-2013: Alumni Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences and Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia.

2006-2013: Neuroscience; Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia.

2013-2014: Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Professor of Pharmacology and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

2014 March - March 2019: The Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychiatry, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Professor of Pharmacology, Professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Feb - Dec 2019: Director, Brain Science Research Consortium Unit; Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Pharmacology, Neurology, Medicine, and Psychiatry; Director of the Brain Consortium Research Unit.

Jan 2020 - Present: Founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Privé Clinics, Miami, Florida; Founder, Chief Medical Officer (previously Chairman), Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Other Employment

1982-1983: House Physician, Stonehouse Hospital, Scotland.

1983: House Surgeon, Western Infirmary, Scotland.

1983-1984: Senior House Physician, Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Monklands Teaching Hospital, Scotland.

Professional Society Memberships

1986-present: Member, British Association of Psychopharmacologists.

1989-present: Member, British Neuropsychiatry Association.

1989-2005, 2010-present: Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine.

1994-present: Active Member, New York Academy of Sciences.

1995-present: Member, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology.

1995-present: Member, Research Society on Alcoholism.

1996-present: Member, Society for Neuroscience.

1998-present: Member, The College on Problems of Drug Dependence.

2001-present: Fellow, Collegium Internationale Neuro-psychopharmacologicum.

2001-present: Member, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Diplomate Member, The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute.

2000-2006: Member, Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians.

2001-present: Member, American Psychiatric Association.

2002-present: Member, Society of Biological Psychiatry.

2003-present: Member, International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism.

2007-present: Member, Old Dominion Medical Society.

2007-present: Member, National Academy of Neuropsychology.

2008-present: Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association.

2010-present: Member, Association for Psychological Science.

2010-present: Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

2013-present: Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners Institute.

2014-present: Member, Association for Academic Minority Physicians.

2018-present: Member, Council on Research, American Psychiatric Association.

2024-present: Member, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Honors and Awards

1974 - Received Prizes in French and English Literature.

1976 - Won Prizes for Biology and Chemistry.

1978 - Earned Distinction in Biology from the University of Glasgow.

1979 - Awarded Distinction for Series of Psychiatric Case Studies of Schizophrenic Families at the University of Glasgow.

1980-1982 - Received a National Scholarship.

1989-1993 - Awarded the Wellcome Research Scientist Development Award, United Kingdom.

1991-1998 - Practiced in the United Kingdom.

1993 - Won First Place at the XXIst Collegium Internationale Neuro-psychopharmacologicum Congress Young Psychopharmacologist Award.

1998-2002 - Served as Member of the NIAAA Clinical and Treatment Research Study Section (AA-3).

1999 - Served as U.S. OWHI/NIAAA representative to establish bi-national collaborative research links with South Africa.

2001 - Received Dan Anderson Research Award from Hazelden Foundation.

2002 - Chairperson of the NIAAA Alcohol Research Center Applications (ZAA1 BB, 73).

2002 - Became Senior Scholar of Distinction at the National Medical Association.

2003-present - Examiner for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

2003 - Inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame for Science, Mathematics and Technology and the Faces of the Medical Community.

2003 - Received the Adolf Meyer Research Award from the Third Annual Bexar County Family Support Conference.

2004-2007 - Appointed to the National Advisory Council for NIH/NIDA.

2004-2007 - Member of the Medications Development Support Subcommittee of NIDA's Advisory Council on Drug Abuse.

2004-present - Member of the Extramural Advisory Board for NIH/NIAAA.

2005-2009 - Member of the Medications Development Scientific Advisory Board for NIH/NIDA.

2005 - Awarded the American Psychiatric Association Distinguished Psychiatrist Lecturer Award for outstanding achievement in psychiatry as an educator, researcher, and clinician.

2006-present - Member of the NIH Roadmap Consultant Panel.

2007-present - Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych.).

2007, 2009-2010 - Listed in “Best Doctors in America” (Best Doctors, Inc.).

2008-present - Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

2009 - Received the Solomon Carter Fuller Award from the American Psychiatric Association, honoring individuals who have significantly improved the quality of life for Black people.

2010-present - Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

2013 - Awarded the Jack Mendelson Award by NIAAA.

2017 - Received the Governor's Citation from the Maryland Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force.

2018 - Honored with the Dean Reece Cup Award for best performing department in the UMSOM.

2019 - Awarded the R. Brinkley Smithers Distinguished Scientist Award by the American Society for Addiction Medicine, for advancing the scientific understanding of addiction.

Brief Overview of Clinical Research

My research focuses on the neuropsychopharmacology of addiction. I combine neuroscience and behavioral science to better understand drug-seeking behavior and to develop effective treatments. My work includes clinical trials, human laboratory research, brain imaging studies and molecular genetics.

Inpatient

1993-1998 - University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center:
I supervised volunteer subjects who participated in specific research protocols at the NIH-sponsored University Clinical Research Center.

1998-2004 - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio:
I continued inpatient research at the University Clinical Psychopharmacology Laboratory, focusing on the NIAAA-sponsored Project COMBINE Pilot 1 study.

Outpatient

1993-1998: University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center
I was responsible for the treatment and care of all outpatients and human laboratory subjects at the Clinical Laboratory and Experimental Alcohol Research Center. My work primarily focused on individuals with substance dependence and related mental health issues.

1998-2004: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
I continued supervising outpatient services at the Treatment Research Center. During this time, over 300 substance-dependent individuals received care under my supervision.

2005-2013: University of Virginia Center for Addiction Research and Education
At this new outpatient facility, which was funded by NIH, I led efforts to bring clinical research to the Charlottesville, Virginia community. The primary objective was to identify pharmacological treatments for addiction to substances such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine. Additionally, we aimed to promote education in the addiction sciences. A key component of this work was the transfer of scientific knowledge to the community, helping to bridge the gap between research and practice.

2014-Dec 2019: Clinical Neurobehavioral Center (CNC)
As Director of this advanced inpatient facility, I led efforts to research and treat a wide range of addiction and impulse control disorders. The CNC focused on patients with alcohol use disorders, exploring genetic markers and pharmacological treatments. Beyond clinical research, the CNC also served as a primary referral center for VIP patients seeking evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorders.

The facility also housed the award-winning Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, a key resource providing a referral network for gambling counselors and service providers. The center trained counselors, educators, prevention specialists, and healthcare and social service providers. Additionally, it developed and managed numerous prevention and community outreach programs.

Administrative Service

1998-2004 Deputy Chairman for Research, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
I collaborated with division chiefs within the Department to advance research. My responsibilities included coordinating the development of research infrastructure, identifying funding opportunities, developing a research curriculum for faculty, and organizing research-based educational initiatives within the Department.

1998-2004 Chief, Division of Alcohol and Drug Addiction in the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
I oversaw clinical and administrative operations for this Division. I was responsible for the clinical supervision of all physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals affiliated with the Division.

2004-2013 Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia
I led efforts to grow and strengthen the department, which included 50 faculty members and 75 affiliated faculty. My role involved faculty recruitment and promoting a culture of high-quality teaching. Under my leadership, the Department was renamed to reflect its expanded focus on clinical work, research, and education. I fostered an environment that encouraged individual responsibility and entrepreneurial innovation. The outcomes were substantial: the faculty doubled in size, research productivity and national presentations increased significantly, and NIH RO1 grant funding grew. These accomplishments enabled the Department to improve its financial position and build a healthy capital reserve.

2013-present The Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine
As the Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair, I oversee one of the largest Departments within the School of Medicine, which includes 117 part- and full-time faculty members.

My clinical expertise lies in the field of addiction. My research integrates neuroimaging evaluations into drug interaction studies to determine the site-specific effects of abused substances. This allows me to assess the effectiveness of potential medications for treating addiction. With a strong foundation in both clinical care and research, I have been able to promote interdisciplinary collaboration across the Department and the School of Medicine.

I currently lead the newly formed Research Steering Committee and the Brain Science Research Consortium Unit (BSRCU). Under my direction, the Clinical Neurobehavioral Center (CNC) was also developed. The CNC plays a critical role in uniting experts in impulse control disorders and provides services for individuals dealing with issues ranging from alcohol use to problem gambling and more.

Finally, I am overseeing the development of a pioneering Office of Special Projects. This initiative focuses on addressing urban conflict through outreach programs that foster community relationships and support impactful, community-driven interventions.

Institutional Service

1993-1998
Member, Research Planning Committee, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (Dept. of Psychiatry)

1993-1995
Member, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (Dept. of Psychiatry)

1993-1995
Chairman, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (Dept. of Psychiatry)

1994-1996
Member, Residency Training Committee, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (Dept. of Psychiatry)

1994-1996
Chairman, Didactic Curriculum Committee for the Residency Program, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center (Dept. of Psychiatry)

1996-1998
Member, University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center Local Area Networks & Information Technology Manager. Oversaw planning and supervision of all computer-based technology implementation on-campus. Participated in the Web-Site Committee.

1999-2004
Member and Senior Consultant, Research Program Oversight Group

1999-2004
Director, Center for Addictions, Mental Illness and Psychoactive Drugs (CAMP) Research Consortium

1999-2004
Member, Maas/Maddux Intramural Research Fellowship Review Committee

1999-2004
Member, Friends of Psychiatry Intramural Research Fellowship Review Committee

1999-2004
Chairman, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Space Committee

1999-2004
Chairman, Patient Care Space Subcommittee, Research Space Subcommittee

1999-2001
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Search Committee for Director of the Institute for Drug Development of the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (IDR)

1999-2004
Member, Presidential Distinguished Scholars Award Committee

1999-2004
Member, Virtual Health Research Center Review Committee

1999-2004
Member, Continuing Studies Think Tank Group. This group participated in the strategic planning and development of a virtual campus for research collaboration made possible by a $5 million grant.

1999-2001
Member, Review Committee for the Competitive Research Enhancement Fund. This grant-funded program supported new research initiatives by faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

1999-2004
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Search Committee for Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

2000
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Search Committee for Associate Dean for Research

2000-2004
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio / University of Texas at San Antonio Collaborative Educational and Research Activities Committee - Neurosciences Working Group

2001-2004
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Institutional Strategic Planning Committee

2001-2004
Member, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Faculty Promotions, Tenure, and Appointments Committee

2001-2004
Member, University of Virginia - Dean's Department of Internal Medicine Chair Search Committee

2005-2013
Member, University of Virginia - Neuroscience Institute Development Committee

2005-2013
Chairman, University of Virginia School of Medicine - Indigent Care and Uninsured Patients Task Force

2005-2013
Member, University of Virginia - Review Committee for the Reappointment of the Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery

2007-2013
Captain, University of Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (Disaster Response)

National and Local Service

Positions Held in Professional Organizations

1986
Junior doctors' representative, Chief Resident & Mess President

1987
Students' representative, University of Glasgow

1986-1987
British Medical Association place of work representative for doctors in training

1999
Research Society on Alcoholism Program Committee for the Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in 2000

2000-2003
College on Problems of Drug Dependence - Media Relations Committee

2005-2009
World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry - Task Force on Addiction Disorders

2006-2009
American Psychiatric Association - Council on Addiction Psychiatry

2009-2010
American Psychiatric Association - Council on Adult Psychiatry

2009-present
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology - Alcohol Clinical Trials Initiative (ACTIVE) Workgroup

2011-2013
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology - Education & Training Committee

2013
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology - Minority Task Force

2015
Governor's Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force, resulting in the publication of the Interim and Final Reports

Editorial Boards and Other Editorial Positions

1993-present
Reviewer for peer-reviewed national and international scientific journals including: Addiction; Addiction Biology; Addictive Behaviors; Alcohol; Alcohol and Alcoholism; Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research; American Family Physician; The American Journal of Managed Care; American Journal of Psychiatry; The American Journal on Addictions; Archives of General Psychiatry (now JAMA Psychiatry); Archives of Internal Medicine (now JAMA Internal Medicine); BMJ (Point of Care monograph); Biological Psychiatry; Bipolar Disorders; CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets; CNS Drugs; Critical Care Medicine; Current Drugs - Drug Reviews; Drug and Alcohol Dependence; European Psychiatry; Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy; Human Brain Mapping; Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental; The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology; JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association; The Lancet; Nature Medicine; Nature Reviews Neuroscience; Neuropsychopharmacology; New England Journal of Medicine; Nordic Journal of Psychiatry; Peptides; Pharmacopsychiatry; Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry; Psychological Medicine; Psychology of Addictive Behaviors; Psychopharmacology; and Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria

1996-1997
Editorial Board of Internet Medicine

1997-2005
Editorial Board of The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

1999-2006
Editorial Advisory Board of Alcohol Research & Health

2003-present
Editorial Board of Medscape Mental Health

2004-present
Editorial Board of Current Psychiatry Reports

2005-present
Editorial Board of Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment

2006-present
Managing Editorial Board of Frontiers in Bioscience

2007-present
Executive Guest Editor on Editorial Board of Current Pharmaceutical Design

2008-present
Editorial Board of American Journal of Translational Research

2009-2016
Associate Editor of the Editorial Board of The American Journal of Psychiatry

2010-2011
Field Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Psychiatry

2011-present
Board of Field Editors of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

2011-present
Editorial Board of World Journal of Methodology

2012-2017
Editorial Board of Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

2012-present
Editorial Board of The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Service on National Grant Review Panels, Study Sections and Committees

1993-1997
National Institutes of Health Special Review Committee

1996-present
Scientific Merit reviewer for grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs

1997-present
National Steering Committee for Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) in the treatment of Alcoholism Project (NIAAA-sponsored multi-site study)

1997-2002
Psychopharmacology Intervention subcommittee for Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) in the treatment of Alcoholism Project (NIAAA-sponsored multi-site study)

1997-present
Publications subcommittee for Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) in the treatment of Alcoholism Project (NIAAA-sponsored multi-site study)

1998-2002
NIAAA Clinical and Treatment Research Review Committee - IRB Study Section (AA)

1998
NIAAA Special Emphasis Study Section on alcohol and HIV-related disorders

1998
NIAAA Special Emphasis Study Section on alcoholism and adolescents

1998
NIAAA/FDA Workshop on developing medications for the treatment of alcoholism

1998
NIDA/VA Medications Development Workshop on the use of alpha2-adrenergic mechanisms in the treatment of opiate dependence

1998
Member of Workshop on Potential Medications for Cocaine Dependence

1998
Member of the Search committee for the Head of the Clinical Laboratories at NIAAA

1999-2001
NIAAA SBIR/STTR Special Emphasis IRG study section - Phase II Proposal Review

1999
NIAAA representative for collaborative research with the University of the Orange Free State, South Africa

1999
External reviewer, alcohol studies program section for the rank of professor - University of Texas - Dallas

1999
NIAAA ICATAB Scholarship Committee

1999
NIH ad hoc Reviewer for the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Committee

1999
University of Texas - Dallas Faculty Promotion Review Committee

1999
Member of the Review Board for the College of Humanities

1999
University of Texas - Dallas Panel (SEP) Review Group cooperative agreement applications in response to NIDA RFA “Strategic Program for Innovative Research on Cocaine and Other Psychostimulant Addiction”

1999
Member, NIH Special Emphasis Committee ZDA1 KKAA-M1BJ

1999-2001
NIDA Research in Residence Program - Research Collaboration

2000-present
Texas A&M Health Science Center, MD/PhD Member

2001
Chair, NIAAA Clinical and Treatment IRG Council ZAA1 BB01 1 NIH Study Section Special Review Panel

July 2001
Action Chair, NIMH Special Emphasis IRG Review Panel

2001
CSAT & NIDA Expert Panel on Drug Abuse Drug Demand Reduction

2001-present
Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin - Consultant

2002
NIAAA Clinical and Treatment Science Center Applications Reviewer

2002
NIH Loan repayment program IRG, April 29, 2002

2002
NIAAA (DESPR) Clinical and Prevention Research Workshop on Self-directed Change

2005-present
Reviewer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program

2006-present
NIAAA Special Emphasis Panel Member (Scientific Review Board)

2012-present
Contributed to: Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Brief Guide. Source: http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA15-4907/SMA15-4907.pdf

Consultantships

1997-2000
Consultant/collaborative relationship with DesArc (Chicago) to develop co-registration and brain mapping software for SPECT imaging

1998-2013
Consultant for biotechnology companies in the field of addiction neuroscience (e.g., Scheer and Company, Connecticut)

1999-2013
Consultant for Investigational Drugs Weekly Highlights

1999-2013
Consultant and Scientific Advisory Board to the Medical University of South Carolina on NIAAA application for RFP AA-99-005 Alcohol Research Center Grants

2000-2005
Consultant for Alkermes, Inc. to develop research protocols for the treatment of alcoholism

2003-2008
Consultant for Johnson & Johnson (Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. / Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC) to develop strategies for pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence

2005
Consultant for GlaxoSmithKline

2006
Consultant for Sanofi-Aventis

2006-2009
Consultant for TransOral Pharmaceuticals, Inc. / Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2007-2010
Consultant for Organon

2008-present
Founder and Chairman for ADial Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a NASDAQ company

2009-2010
Consultant for Eli Lilly and Company

2009-present
Founder & CEO, Psychological Education Publishing Company (PEPCo), LLC

Regular Continuing Education Lectures Presented

1996-2001
Quarterly presentations for the Compass Medical Education Network (part of the Rush/Presbyterian Medical Education System) to prepare physicians and students for the USMLE.
Approx. 140 Category A CMEs/annum

Local Community Activities

1993-2013
Local church community outreach worker

1996-2013
Substance abuse and HIV counseling presentations at health fairs

1999-2004
Member, San Antonio Fighting Back Management Board

Management Courses Taken

1992
Regional meetings on managed care within the National Health Service, Oxford

1992
Oxford Region Management course on managed health care, Oxford