Dr. Hernández is from Borikén (Puerto Rico), fluent in Spanish and English, and lives in Massachusetts. With more than 38 years of experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS, HCV, Problem Gambling, and related services, Dr. Hernandez leads with a social justice lens and approach grounded in eliminating disparities and building equity. As a public health professional, with experience across the continuum, he embraces and promotes a greater understanding of the Structural Determinants of Health (SDOH) approach, coupled with implementing multiple strategies over multiple domains. Dr. Hernandez also believes that quality public health work cannot be accomplished without true partnerships and engagement with people with lived and living experiences, their families, and formal and meaningful relationships with community based organizations and institutions. Dr. Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Springfield College and a Master of Education with concentrations in Counseling Psychology and Addiction Studies from Cambridge College in Massachusetts. His doctoral degree was earned at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His major was Community Health Education and his minor was Social Justice Education. In addition, Mr. Hernandez holds an advance Certification in Drug and Alcohol Counseling at the reciprocal level, is also licensed in Massachusetts, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist.