ALEXANDER M. COHEN, M.S.W. 16 Cummings Rd.

, Brighton, MA 02135
Scohen11@bu.edu
(770) 823-0270

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
 Trained in complementary analytic perspectives from education in Public Health, Social Work, Health Policy,
Research Methods, Psychology, and Sociology.
 Five years of experience in diverse public health work, including research and program evaluation, policy
analysis and recommendation, direct clinical services, and health policy in state government.
 Dedicated and cooperative worker with proven ability to work autonomously or collectively, and to
collaborate with academic, political, administrative and health care professionals.
 Well-practiced in communicating information through conference presentations, grant requests, written
reports, and professional manuscripts.

EDUCATION

Masters in Public Health (MPH, In progress), Boston University School of Public Health
Health Policy & Management || Anticipated September 2011
Masters in Social Work (MSW), Boston University School of Social Work
Clinical Social Work Practice || September 2010
B.A., Psychology & B.A., Sociology, Georgia State University
Magna cum Laude || January 2008

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Joint Committee on Mental Health & Substance Abuse, MA State Legislature Boston, MA
Health Policy Analyst Intern 11/2010 – Present
 Assist in reviewing and summarizing mental health and substance abuse bills.
 Track developing state and local news, particularly current events in politics and state health policies.
 Maintain current knowledge of mental health and substance abuse policy through regular research.
 Prepare the House Chair for meetings or public engagements on matters related to the Committee.
 Attend meetings of Committee members, state and local stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and other
legislative offices to gather information and perspectives for developing effective policy.
 Attend meetings of the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention (ICSAP).

Center for Addictions Research and Services, BU School of Social Work Boston, MA
Graduate Research Assistant 09/2008 – Present
 Develop oral and poster presentations delivered at national conferences.
 Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis for program evaluation and research dissemination.
 Co-authored multiple research articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
 Assist in writing proposals for federal addiction treatment and prevention grants, abstracts and content for
presentations at national health science conferences, and regular reports for federal oversight agencies.
 Coordinate evaluation for a SAMHSA/CSAT-funded addiction treatment and HIV prevention project
targeting homeless Latinos with co-occurring mental health disorders.
 Collaborate with academic professionals, program administrators and providers for research and evaluation.
 Review research on effective organizational implementation of evidence-based health care practices.
Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) Boston, MA
Public Education Intern 09/2010 – 12/2010
 Contributed to GLAD’s Storybook Project, interviewing and writing stories for same-sex married couples
about harms stemming from Defense of Marriage Act for public education and human rights advocacy.
 Managed relations with volunteer couples, including all communication, scheduling, and interviewing.

Boston Public Health Commission, South Boston Collaborative Center South Boston, MA
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Counselor, Advanced Social Work Intern 09/2009 – 08/2010
 Conducted comprehensive adult biopsychosocial assessments.
 Developed, reviewed, and regularly updated client treatment plans.
 Provided individual counseling to adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.
 Coordinated client care with medication-assisted treatment providers at local community health center.

Brookline Health Department, Coalition Against Substance Abuse Brookline, MA

Substance Abuse Prevention and Adjustment Counselor, Social Work Intern 01/2009 – 06/2009
 Provided counseling to high school students focusing on reduction of destructive decisions, specifically use of
alcohol and other drugs, school performance, and risky sexual behaviors.
 Co-facilitated student peer leadership meetings and a group for substance use and dropout prevention.

Boston Public Health Commission, Connecting Families to School Boston, MA

Family Case Manager, Social Work Intern 09/2008 – 01/2009
 Provided case management services for urban families with children truant from elementary school focusing
on improving the families’ resource access and child’s school attendance.

Solutions Intensive Outpatient Program Alpharetta, GA

Adolescent & Family Group Facilitator 07/2007 – 08/2008
 Assisted in developing individual and family treatment plans for recovery from addictive disorders.
 Co-facilitated groups with clients and their families utilizing psychoeducation, mutual aid, and cognitive-
behavioral techniques to promote individual and family recovery from addictive disorders.
 Participated in evaluating program process and redesigning the structure, goals, objectives, and behavioral
expectations of this outpatient behavioral health program.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Robert Margolis, Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Alpharetta, GA
Research and Editorial Assistant 11/2006 – 08/2008
 Created and edited manuscript drafts for the 2nd edition of the APA publication, Treating Patients with
Alcohol and other Drug Problems: An Integrated Approach (Margolis & Zweben, in press).
 Performed several literature reviews using health sciences databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science).
 Wrote comprehensive summaries of literature review findings presented to co-author in regular meetings.

Behavioral Science Lab, Georgia State University Atlanta, GA

Student Research Assistant 08/2007 – 12/2007
 Assisted in directing subjects’ participation in a project studying the role of alcohol in the perception of
competitiveness, aggressive respondingd, and measuring subconscious anti-homosexual bias.
 Entered data generated from these analyses using Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

Statewide Prevalence Study of Pathological Gambling, Georgia State University Atlanta, GA

Student Research Assistant 01/2007 – 05/2007
 Recruited participants and conducted quantitative phone interviews on Georgia residents’ gambling practices.
 Entered questionnaire data collected from undergraduate students on gambling attitudes and practices.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
National Association of Social Work (NASW)
Psi Chi (National Honors Society of Psychology)
Golden Key Honors Society
National Society of Collegiate Scholars

ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Computer Program and Word-Processing Skills
 Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office programs: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook
 More than 3 years’ experience with data management and quantitative analysis (including syntax) using SPSS
 Several years of experience performing internet-based literature reviews and other information searches
 Basic understanding of Wordpress website software

Foreign Language Skills

 Intermediate working knowledge of Spanish
 Received 8 years of formal Spanish education
 Participated in 4-week Spanish immersion program in June 2007

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Amodeo, M., Lundgren, L., Cohen, A., Rose, D., Chassler, D., Beltrame, C., & D’Ippolito, M. (In Press). Barriers
to implementing evidence-based practices in addiction treatment programs: Comparing staff reports on
Motivational Interviewing, Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach, Assertive Community
Treatment, and Cognitive-behavioral Therapy. Evaluation and Program Planning.

Lundgren, L., Amodeo, M., Cohen, A., Chassler, D., & Horowitz, A. (2011). Modifications of evidence-based
practice in community-based addiction treatment organizations: A qualitative research study. Addictive
Behaviors, 36, 630-635.

Lundgren, L., Amodeo, M., Krull, I., Chassler, D., Weidenfeld, R., de Saxe Zerden, L., Gowler, R., Lederer, J.,
Cohen, A. & Beltrame, C. (In press). Addiction treatment provider attitudes on staff capacity and
evidence-based clinical training: Results from a national study. The American Journal on Addictions.

A full list of publications and presentations will gladly be supplied upon request.