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INFORMATION FOR

    Thomas Fernandez, MD

    Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry
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    Additional Titles

    Vice Chair for Research, Child Study Center

    Co-Director of the Tic and OCD Program, Child Study Center

    Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    About

    Titles

    Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry

    Vice Chair for Research, Child Study Center; Co-Director of the Tic and OCD Program, Child Study Center; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

    Biography

    Dr. Fernandez is a child psychiatrist and psychiatric geneticist who has an active clinical practice and research laboratory. Tom is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale School of Medicine, with additional research training at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He completed residency training in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry in the Solnit Integrated Residency Program at Yale. As a faculty member in Yale Child Study Center and the Department of Psychiatry, Tom's research efforts include the following investigations into developmental neuropsychiatric disorders: (1) discovering genetic mutations in Tourette syndrome, motor stereotypies, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and anxiety disorders using next generation DNA sequencing (whole genome and exome), and using these discoveries to identify treatment targets; (2) discovering epigenetic marker variation in these disorders; and (3) clinical trials of new behavioral and medication treatments. Tom has received research funding from the NIMH (K08, R01), Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD), Simons Foundation, and Allison Family Foundation. Additionally, Tom works clinically as an attending in the Tourette/OCD/ADHD Clinic at Yale Child Study Center.

    Appointments

    Other Departments & Organizations

    Education & Training

    Fellowship
    Yale Child Study Center (2012)
    Residency
    Yale-New Haven Hospital (2011)
    Residency
    Yale-New Haven Hospital (2010)
    MD
    Yale University School of Medicine (2005)
    BA
    Princeton University, Psychology (1997)

    Research

    Overview

    Dr. Fernandez's current focus is to discover which combinations of genes are underlying risk for these disorders in individuals and extended families. There are multiple pathways to this type of discovery, including identification of discrete genetic sequence changes in those with disease (using whole-exome and whole-genome DNA sequencing), detecting deletions and duplications that encompass larger regions of human chromosomes (using DNA sequencing and microarray technologies), and finding markers on DNA that regulate gene expression but do not alter the genetic sequence or structure (i.e. epigenetic markers that are dynamic throughout development). The end goal of this research is to identify networks of genes that increase risk for illness and teach us larger lessons about underlying disease biology that can be leveraged for improving diagnosis and treatment.

    Medical Research Interests

    Anxiety Disorders; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Psychiatry; Compulsive Behavior; Genetics; Genetics, Behavioral; Obsessive Behavior; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Psychiatry; Stereotyped Behavior; Stereotypic Movement Disorder; Tic Disorders; Tourette Syndrome; Trichotillomania

    Public Health Interests

    Behavioral Health; Bioinformatics; Clinical Trials; Genetics, Genomics, Epigenetics; Mental Health; Child/Adolescent Health

    Research at a Glance

    Yale Co-Authors

    Frequent collaborators of Thomas Fernandez's published research.

    Publications

    2025

    2024

    2023

    Clinical Trials

    Current Trials

    Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

    • activity

      American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

    • activity

      American College of Neuropsychopharmacology

    • activity

      International College of Neuropsychopharmacology

    • activity

      American Society of Human Genetics

    • activity

      Yale School of Medicine, Office of Physician-Scientist and Scientist Development (OPSSD) Advisory Council

    Clinical Care

    Overview

    Clinical Specialties

    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Psychiatry

    Board Certifications

    • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

      Certification Organization
      AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
      Latest Certification Date
      2019
      Original Certification Date
      2012
    • Psychiatry

      Certification Organization
      AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
      Latest Certification Date
      2022
      Original Certification Date
      2011

    Get In Touch

    Contacts

    Academic Office Number
    Appointment Number
    Office Fax Number
    Clinic Fax Number

    Locations

    • Neison Irving Harris Building

      Academic Office

      230 South Frontage Road

      New Haven, CT 06519

    • Patient Care Locations

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