Hector A. Garcia, Psy.D.

Education

Doctor of Psychology (Clinical): May 2005

Rutgers University

Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP)

152 Frelinghuysen Road

Piscataway, NJ 08854

2002-2005

Master of Psychology: January 2003

Rutgers University

2000-2002

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, High Honors: May 1999

University of Texas El Paso (UTEP)

500 West University Avenue

El Paso, Texas 79968

1993-1997

Academic Appointments

Assistant Professor: University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio—Department of Psychiatry. February 2009-present

Academic Awards and Honors

NIAAA Alcohol Research Training Fellowship, Rutgers: 2002-2004

Ralph Bunche Excellence Fellowship, Rutgers: 2000-2002

Top Ten Senior Award, UTEP: graduating class of 1999

High Honors, UTEP: 1999

Standard/Flag Bearer, UTEP graduation ceremony: 1999

Texas Senate Resolution Honoring Academic Achievement: 1999

Houston Endowment Honors Scholarship: 1998-1999

National Hispanic Scholarship: 1997-1998

Stevens Scholarship: 1996-1999

University of Texas Land Scholarship, summer: 1997

Ad Hoc Reviewer

Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Psychology of Men and Masculinity

Psychological Services

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

Military Medicine

Burnout Research

British Journal of Guidance and Counseling

Publications

Books

Garcia, H.A. (2019) Sex, Power, and Partisanship: How Evolutionary Science Makes Sense of Our Political Divide. Prometheus Books; Amherst, NY

Garcia, H.A. (2015) Alpha God: The Psychology of Religious Violence and Oppression. Prometheus Books; Amherst, NY

Scientific Journals

29) Song, J., Garcia, H. A., Finley, E. P., & Wiltsey Stirman, S. (2020, May 7). Graduate Training and Provider Concerns About Distress and Comprehension in PTSD Treatment Choice: A Mediation Analysis. Psychological Services. Advance online publication.

28) Garcia, H. A., Mignogna, J., DeBeer, B. R., Song, J., Haro, E. K., & Finley, E. P. (2019, October 10). Provider Factors Predict Use of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies in Veterans Affairs Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Specialty Programs: The Role of Profession, Theoretical Orientation, and Training.Traumatology. Advance online publication.

27) Garcia, H. A., DeBeer, B. R., Mignogna, J., & Finley, E. P. (2019, February 28). Treatments Veterans Health Administration PTSD Specialty Program Providers Report Their Patients Prefer: The Role of Training and Theoretical Orientation. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication.

26) Finley, E. P., Garcia, H. A., Ramirez, V. A., Haro, E. K., Mignogna, J., DeBeer, B., & Wiltsey-Stirman, S. (2019, June 17). Treatment Selection Among Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Specialty Care Providers in the Veterans Health Administration: A Thematic Analysis. Psychological Trauma:Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication.

25) Haro, E.K., Mader, M., Noel, P.H., Garcia, H.A., Vogt, D., Bernardy, N., Bollinger, M., Pugh, M.J., Finley, E.P. (2019) The impact of trust, satisfaction, and perceived quality on preference for setting of future care among veterans with PTSD. Military Medicine. April 20.

24) Garcia, H. A., DeBeer, B. R., Mignogna, J., & Finley, E. P. (2019). Treatments Veterans Health Administration PTSD specialty program providers report their patients prefer: The role of training and theoretical orientation. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

23) Garcia, Hector A., Benzer, Justin K., Haro, Elizabeth, Finley, Erin P. (2018). OccupationaL burnout among PTSD specialty clinic providers in the Veterans Health Administration: Perceptions of bureaucratic and political oversight. Mental Health and Prevention, 12, 42-49

22) Villarosa-Hurlocker, M.C., Cuccurullo, L.A., Garcia, H.A. Finley, E.P. (2018) Professional burnout of psychiatrists in a Veterans Health Administration: exploring the role of the organizational treatment. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Service Research. June, pp1-9, DOI: 10.1007/s10488-018-0879-5

21) Finley, EP, Mader, M, Haro, E., Noel, PH, Bernardy, N, Rosen, CS, Bollinger, M, Garcia, H., Sherrieb, K, Pugh, MJ (2018) Use of guideline-recommended treatments for PTSD among community-based providers in Texas and Vermont: implications for the Veterans Choice Program. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research. doi: 10.1007/s11414-018-9613-z

20) Finley, EP, Mader, M, Haro, E, Noel, PH, Bernardy, N, Rosen ,CS, Bollinger, M, Garcia, H, Sherrieb, K, Pugh, MJ. (2017) Community clinicians and the Veterans Choice Program for PTSD care: Understanding provider interest during early implementation. Medical Care. 55 supl 7.

19) EP Finley, EP, Mader, M. Bollinger, M, Haro, EK, Garcia, HA, Huynh, AK, Pugh, JA, Pugh MJ. (2017) Characteristics associated with utilization of VA and non-VA care among Iraq anD Afghanistan Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Military Medicine, 182(11), e1892-e1903.

18) EP Finley, PH Noel, S Lee, EK Haro, H Garcia, C Rosen, N Bernardy, MJ Pugh, JA Pugh.

(2017) Psychotherapy practices for Veterans with PTSD among community-based providers inTexas. Psychological Services.

17) Garcia, H. A. (2016, June 30). If You’ve Never Been There You Wouldn’t Understand: The Evolutionary Reasons for Veteran Mistrust. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000076

16) Garcia, H.A., McGeary, C., Finley, E.P., Ketchum, N.S., McGeary, D. D., Peterson, A. (2016). Burnout Among Psychiatrists in the Veterans Health Administration. Burnout Research. 2 (4).

15) Garcia, H. A., McGeary, C. A., Finley, E. P., Ketchum, N. S., McGeary, D. D., & Peterson, A. L. (2015). Evidence-based treatments for PTSD and VHA provider burnout: The impact of cognitive processing and prolonged exposure therapies. Traumatology, 21(1), 7-13.

14) E.P. Finley, H.A. Garcia, N.S. Ketchum, D.D. McGeary, C.A. McGeary, Wiltsey Stirman, S.,

Peterson, A.L. (2014) Utilization of evidence-based psychotherapies in Veterans Affairs posttraumatic stress disorder outpatient clinics. Psychological Services.

13) Garcia, H.A., McGeary, C., Finley, E.P., Ketchum, N.S. McGeary, D. D., Peterson, A. (2015). The Influence of Trauma and Patient Characteristics on provider burnout in VA PTSD Specialty Programs. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice

12) Garcia, H.A., McGeary, C., McGeary, D. D., Finley, E.P., Peterson, A. (2014) Burnout in

veterans health administration providers in posttraumatic stress clinics. Psychological Services. 11 (1) 50-59.

11) McGeary, C., Garcia, H.A., McGeary, C., Finley, E., & Peterson, A. (2014). Burnout and

Coping: Veterans Health Administration Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mental Health Providers. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. 6(4) 390-397

10) Garcia, H.A., Finley, E.P., Ketchum, N., Jakupcak, M, Dassori, A., Reyes, S. (2014).

Treatment Adherence among OEF/OIF Veterans: A Survey of Perceived Barriers and Treatment Attitudes in VA Outpatient Care. Military Medicine. 179 (3). 273-278

9) Jeffreys, M., D., Reinfeld, C., Nair, P.V., Garcia, H.A., Mata-Galan, E., & Rentz, T.O. (2013). Evaluating treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure therapy in a VHA specialty clinic. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 28 (1).

8) Finley, E.P., Pugh, M.J., Garcia, H.A., Wang, C.P., Noel. P.H. (2013) Self-efficacy for life tasks in OEF/OIF Veterans: assessing functional concerns in the clinic. Military Behavioral Health Available online September 2013.

7) Jakupcak, M., Blais, R.K., Grossbard, J., Garcia, H.A., Okiishi, J. (2013) Toughness and Its Association with Psychiatric Symptoms and Perceived Barriers to Care Among Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans. Psychology of Men and Masculinity. doi: 10.1037/a0031508

6) Garcia, H.A., Kelley, L.P., Rentz, T.O., & Lee, S. (2011). Pretreatment

Predictors of Dropout from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for PTSD in Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans. Psychological Services. 8 (1) 1-11.

5) Garcia, H. A., Franklin, C. L., & Chambliss, J. L. (2010). Examining MMPI-2 F-family scales in PTSD-diagnosed Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.2 (2).

4) Lorber, W. & Garcia, H.A. (2010) Not Supposed to Feel This: Traditional Masculinity In Psychotherapy With Male Veterans Returning From Afghanistan and Iraq. Psychotherapy

Theory Research Practice and Training. Vol 47 (3) 296-305.

3) Garcia, H. A., Finley, E. P., Lorber, W., & Jakupcak, M. (2010). A Preliminary Study

Of the Association Between Traditional Masculine Behavioral Norms and PTSD Symptoms in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. 12 (1).

2) Garcia H. A. (2008). Targeting Irish-Catholic Rituals as Symptoms of Obsessive

Compulsive Disorder: A Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic Assimilative

Integrationist Approach. Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy. Vol. 4 (2) 1-38 [This paper has been translated into Polish and re-published: Psychiatria i Psychoterapia 2008, Tom 4, Nr 4: artykuł 1.]

1) Garcia, H.A. (2008) Meaning and Pragmatism in OCD Treatment. Response to Commentaries On: Targeting Catholic Rituals as Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy. Vol 4 (2) 63-74

Featured Media

TEDx San Antonio. San Antonio Texas. 11/9/19. Why We Make War

TED Talks Live, War and Peace. New York, Broadway. 11/4/15. We Train Soldiers for War. Let’s Train Them to Come Home Too.

Written Interviews

Garcia, H.A. Researchgate (2016) Protecting the professionals treatment PTSD patients froM burnout: How the Department of Veteans Affairs can take care of providers, so they can take care of patients. https://www.researchgate.net/blog/post/protecting-the-professionals-treating-ptsd-patients-from-burnout

Garcia, H,A. US Medicine (2016) Bureaucracy, not patient factors, cause burnout for VA psychiatrists. http://www.usmedicine.com/agencies/department-of-veterans-affairs/bureaucracy-not-patient-factors-causes-burn-out-for-va-psychiatrists/

Garica, H.A. VA Research Currents (2015). Bureaucracy, not trauma exposure, is cause ofmost mental health provider burnout in VA.

Garcia. HA., Alpha God (Spanish with English Translation). Dios como macho alfa (entrevista a Hector A. García) La nueva Ilustración Evolucionista / The new Evolutionary Enlightenment. May 9, 2015. http://ilevolucionista.blogspot.com/2015/05/dios-como-macho-alfa-entrevista-hector.html

Garcia H.A. (Italian). In nome de Dio: Dietro le stragi dell'ISIS c'è la fede in un dio vendicativo e sanguinario, che secondo il ricercatore statunitense Hector Garcia è comune alle grandi religioni monoteiste. Mente Y Cervello, March 2015. In God's Name: Behind the ISIS massacres is faith in a vengeful and bloody god, which according to US researcher Hector Garcia is common to great monotheistic religions.

Invited Lectures

Hector Garcia (November 15, 2019): Sex, Power, and Partisanship: How Evolutionary Science Makes Sense of Our Political Divide; Texas A&M University, San Antonio

Hector Garcia (October 27, 2019). Predisposed to Vote: The Evolutionary Science of Our Political Divide. Texas Book Festival, Austin.

Hector Garcia (September 24, 2019): The Evolution of Our Gods and Politics: Lecture Series, David Buss Lab: Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.

Hector Garcia—Plenary (September, 2019); The Evolution of PTSD and Evidence Based Psychotherapies. 2nd Batallion, 10 Special Forces Redeployment Conference. Ft Collins,Co.

Hector Garcia—Plenary (July 21, 2019). The Evolution of God and Political Leanings. LOGICAL-LA, Los Angeles, California

Hector Garcia—Plenary (June 7, 2019). Evolution, Sex, Gods, and Politics. American Humanist Associations 78th Annual Conference, Houston, Texas

Hector Garcia (June 23, 2019). Alpha Gods and Chimpanzee Presidents. Houston Oasis, Houston Texas,

Hector Garcia (June 14, 2019). On Alpha Gods and Chimpanzee Presidents. Kansas City Oasis, KC Missouri

Hector Garcia (May 7, 2019). Alpha Gods and Chimpanzee Leaders. Galveston Bay Oasis, Galveston, Texas

Hector Garcia—Plenary (April 19, 2019). Alpha Gods and Political Seduction. American Atheists National Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio

Hector Garcia (April 6, 2019). Sex, Power, and Partisanship. San Antonio Book Festival.

Hector Garcia & Sebastian Junger. (March 2019). Brainwave Series: Sex, Power, and Partisanship: Rubin Museum, NY, NY.

Hector Garcia—Plenary (October, 23 2018). Building the public interface of PTSD science. STRONG STAR PTSD Research Conference. San Antonio, Texas

Hector Garcia (September 2 2018). On the advancement of science in religious warfare and PTSD treatment. Oasis, Kansas City, Missouri

Hector Garcia (2017). A Century of Transformation: UTEP, the Border Experience, and the Science of PTSD. University of Texas at El Paso Centennial Lecture Series.

Garcia, H.A. (2016). KLRN presents film screening and panel discussion featuring TED Talks: War & Peace. Bijou Theater, San Antonio, Texas.

Sebastian Junger, Hector A Garcia, Wallace Lawson. (2016) Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging (Tribalistic Psychology and recovery from PTSD). The Book People. Austin, Texas.

EP Finley, PH Noël, EK Haro, N Bernardy, S Lee, H Garcia, MJ Pugh, J Pugh. Educationpreferences among community mental health and primary care providers treating PTSD. International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Dallas TX , 11/12/2016.

Hector Garcia—Plenary (April 9, 2016) Unmasking the Alpha God. Southwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting: Evolutionary Psychology: The Adapted Mind. Invited Speaker. Dallas, Texas 4/9/2016

Hector Garcia. Alpha God. Freethinkers Association of Central Texas, presentation and book signing. San Antonio, Texas. 2/20/16

Hector Garcia. Alpha God. The Half King Reading Series. New York (NY), 11/2/15.

Hector Garcia, McGeary, C., McGeary, D., Finley, E., & Peterson, A. (2013, November). Organizational Factors and Burnout in VA PTSD Clinical Team Providers. In C. Benight (Chair), Secondary trauma and burnout in military mental health providers. Symposium conducted at the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jeffreys M., Garcia H.A. (July 2011). Vietnam Veterans’ Responsiveness to Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD. VA Mental Health Conference: Baltimore Maryland.

Hector Garcia, Dassori, A. (2011). Building a Practice-Based Research Network at a VAMC Mental Health Outpatient Clinic. 3rd Annual Practice-Based Research Network Convocation.

Jeffreys, M., Rentz, T.O., Garcia, H.A., Mata-Galan, E. (2010, July). Continued Growth and Clinical Challenges of Evidenced Based Treatments in an Outpatient PCT. Presented at the VA Mental Health Conference: Baltimore Maryland.

Jeffreys, M., Garcia, H.A., Rentz, T.O. (2009, July). Are We There Yet? Increasing Patient Use of Evidence Based, Trauma Specific Therapies in an Outpatient PCT. Presented at the VA Conference: Meeting the Diverse Mental Health Needs of Veterans; Implementing the Uniform Services Handbook. Baltimore, Maryland.

Hector Garcia. (2008). Recognizing PTSD. Hallmark Institute for Technology. San Antonio, Texas.

Hector Garcia (2008) Implementing Exposure Therapy with Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD. Invited Address at the Regional Veteran Centers Empirically Supported Treatment Training. San Antonio, Texas.

Hector Garcia (2007, September). Mental adjustment of returning veterans. Invited address at: The National Black Caucus of State Legislators and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators Health Disparities Conference. Omni La Mansion Del Rio—San Antonio, Texas.

Hector Garcia. (2007, December). Recovery and reintegration of veterans. Invited address at: The National Black Caucus of State Legislators Annual Conference: Labor, Military, & Veteran’s Affairs. Little Rock, Arkansas.

Hector Garcia. (2006, October). The price of war: posttraumatic stress disorder. Invited address at: The Presidents Peace Commission; Five years later. St. Mary’s University, San Antonio,Texas.

Hector Garcia. Langenbucher, J. (2003, November). Perceived Alcohol Intoxication on MDMA (Ecstasy); MDMA, Alcohol, and Sexual Risk-Taking. Paper presented at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Intoxication Trainee Workshop.

Presentations/Posters:

Song, J., Garcia, H., Finley, E., & Wiltsey Stirman, S. (2020, November 19-22). Patient characteristics affect providers’ treatment choice [Poster session]. ABCT 54th Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Finley, E.P., Wistley-Stirman, S., Garcia, H.A, (December 4, 2018) Understanding treatment planning among VHA PTSD specialty care providers: Using practice assessment to identify opportunities for expanding reach of evidence-based psychotherapies” 11th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Washington, D.C.

Finley, EP, Haro, EK, Mader, M, Noel, P, Garcia, H Bernardy, N, Rosen, C & Pugh MJ. Availability of guideline-recommended prescribing and psychotherapy for PTSD in community settings: Implications for access and quality. San Antonio Military Health System and Universities Research Forum, San Antonio, June 29, 2018.

EK Haro, M Mader, PH Noel, N Bernardy, CS Rosen, M Bollinger, HA Garcia, K Sherrieb, MJ Pugh, EP Finley. Use of guideline-recommended treatments for PTSD among community-based clinicians in Texas and Vermont. Department of Psychiatry’s Research and Quality Improvement Day, San Antonio, TX, May 2, 2017.

EP Finley, PH Noël, EK Haro, N Bernardy, S Lee, H Garcia, MJ Pugh, J Pugh. Education preferences among community mental health and primary care providers treating PTSD. International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Dallas TX , November 12, 2016.

EP Finley, M Mader, EK Haro, PH Noel, N Bernardy, C Rosen, M Bollinger, H Garcia, K Sherrieb, MJ Pugh. Attitudes to VA and use of recommended PTSD treatment practices by community clinicians: implications for the Veterans Choice Program. Examining the New Landscape of Care in the Community for Veterans. HSR&D/QUERI Field-Based Meeting, August 8, 2016.

EP Finley, M Mader, M Bollinger, EK Haro, HA Garcia, JA Pugh, MJ Pugh. Factors Predicting Utilization of VA, Military, and Community-Based Care among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans with PTSD. Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, San Antonio, December 4,

2015.

M Mader, M Bollinger, EK Haro, MJ Pugh, HA Garcia, JA Pugh, EP Finley. Utilization of VA, Military, and Community-Based Care among OEF and OIF Veterans with PTSD. San Antonio Military Health System and Universities Research Forum, San Antonio, July 24, 2015.

EP Finley, PH Noel, S Lee, MJ Pugh, HA Garcia, JA Pugh. PTSD Care Practices and Education Preferences among Community-Based Prescribers and Psychotherapy Providers in Texas. San Antonio Military Health System and Universities Research Forum, San Antonio, July 24, 2015.

EP Finley, PH Noel, S Lee, MJ Pugh, HA Garcia, JA Pugh. Psychotherapy practices for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among community-based providers in Texas. HSR&D/QUERI 2015 National Conference, Philadelphia, July 8, 2015.

Finley, E.P, Garcia, H.A., Ketchum, NS, McGeary,DD, McGeary, CA, Wiltsey Stirman,S., Peterson, AL. Provider and workplace factors affecting use of Prolonged Exposure and

Cognitive Processing Therapies within VA PTSD Clinical Teams. International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies National Meeting, Miami, FL, November 7, 2014.

Garcia, H.A., Finley, E. P., Ketchum, N., McGeary, C., McGeary, D., Peterson, A. (May 2013) Burnout among Veterans Health Care Administration PTSD Clinical Teams: Emerging Research and Recommendations. Poster presented at the Veterans Affairs Psychology Leadership Conference.

McGeary, D., McGeary, C., & Garcia, H., Finley, E., & Peterson, A. (2013, November). Factors contributing to burnout among VA psychiatrists. Poster session presented at the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Nashville, Tennessee.

Garcia, H.A., Dassori, A., Ketchum, N., Finley, E.P., Jackupcek, M., Reyes, S. (2012) Perceived Barriers to VA Outpatient Mental Health Care. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 28th Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA.

Jeffreys, M., Dassori, A., Garcia, H.A. & Reyes, S. (2012) Expanding Traumatic Stress Treatment Through a Practice Based Research Network. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 28th Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA.

Walton, J. L., C. Laurel Franklin, C.L., Garcia, H.A., Thompson, K.E. (2012) A Comparison of Response Styles Among OEF/OIF and Vietnam Combat Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD. Poster presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 28th Annual Meeting. Los Angeles, CA.

EP Finley, MJ Pugh, HA Garcia, PH Noel, CP Wang. PTSD and self-efficacy for life tasks in OEF/OIF Veterans: assessing functional concerns in the clinic. UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Medicine Research Day, May 17, 2011. (Winner of Health Services Research Prize.)

Chambliss, J., Garcia, H. A., & Franklin, C. L. (2009). Examining MMPI-2 fake bad validity scales in OEF/OIF veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Poster presented at the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Atlanta, GA.

Garcia, H.A., Rentz, T.O, (2008, July). Predictors of Treatment Outcome and Dropout Among OEF/OIF Veterans in an Outpatient VA PTSD Clinic. Poster presented at Continuing the Transformation of VA Mental Health Service, Bridging the Gaps. Washington, D.C.