Dr. Hernández is from Borikén (Puerto Rico), fluent in Spanish and English, lives in Massachusetts, and has over 39 years of experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS, HCV, Problem Gambling, and related services.  As a public health professional, with experience across the continuum, he embraces and promotes a greater understanding of the multiple strategies over multiple domains and multiple pathways of wellness and recovery.   

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 PhD in Public Health at the University of Massachusetts, Amhurst and holds a GED (high school equivalence), which he earned in prison. As a person in long-term recovery from Substance Use Disorder, Haner is also deeply committed to uplifting the voices and experiences of people in wellness and recovery processes.