معرفی
Zachary Harvanek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, where he practices as a board-certified Consultation-Liaison Psychiatrist. His academic and clinical work bridges psychiatry, neuroscience, and internal medicine, with a focus on the biological pathways linking mental health to long-term physical outcomes.
- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine
- Board-Certified in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
- Affiliated with the Janeway Society and Yale Stress Center
Education:
- PhD, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan (2018)
- MD, University of Michigan (2018)
- BEngSci, Biomedical Engineering & Biology, Duke University (2010)
- Residency and Fellowship, Yale University
Dr. Harvanek’s research centers on the neurobiological and epigenetic mechanisms through which psychological stress, adversity, and resilience impact aging and metabolic health. His work investigates how emotion regulation and trauma exposure contribute to accelerated epigenetic aging, particularly across racial and sex-based disparities. He employs longitudinal designs and molecular biomarkers, including DNA methylation (e.g., GrimAge), to understand predictors of obesity and metabolic dysfunction.
His recent publications reveal trends in sex-specific stress responses, neurohormonal disruptions in alcohol use disorder, and the role of assaultive trauma in mediating racial differences in aging. These studies are published in high-impact journals such as Biological Psychiatry, Diabetes, and Psychological Trauma.
Scientific Awards & Honors:
- Yale Physician-Scientist Development Award (2023)
- APA Research Colloquium (2023)
- William Webb Fellowship, Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (2022)
- Seymour Lustman Resident Research Award - 2nd Place (2022)
- Honors Scholars Program, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (2022)
Dr. Harvanek actively mentors and collaborates within interdisciplinary research teams. He has received grant support, including from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, and contributes to peer review for journals such as eLife, Psychoneuroendocrinology, and Developmental Psychology. He is a member of the ACLP Guidelines & Evidence-Based Medicine Subcommittee, reflecting his commitment to advancing clinical standards in consultation-liaison psychiatry.
His work is embedded in collaborative initiatives like the Yale Stress Center and the Janeway Society, fostering integration between clinical care and translational science. Future research directions include developing biomarker-informed interventions to reverse accelerated aging in psychiatric populations.