About Dr. Block

Thank you for taking the time to visit my website and learn more about me, my practice philosophy, and services I offer.  While I had always wanted to be a doctor, I was drawn to psychiatry because it is one of the few areas of medicine where you can spend significant time with another person who is struggling or suffering, work with them over a period of time, and bear witness as someone changes, grows, and recovers.  I have been fortunate to see many people I have worked with go through this transformation to live a happier, healthier, and more productive life.

I am originally from the East Coast and moved to California in 2008.  I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biomedical Ethics and Biology from Brown University, with honors; a Master of Medical Management degree from the University of Southern California; and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine.  I completed psychiatric residency training at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, which has been recognized as having one of the top psychiatric departments in the United States.  During my post-graduate training, I received comprehensive education in psychopharmacology, various forms of psychotherapy (including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and family/couples), and worked in a variety of clinical settings.  I have held board certification in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2009 and board certification in addiction medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine since 2019.  In January 2014, I was elected to become a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

In my professional career, I have worked extensively in college mental health, managed health care, community treatment settings with severely and persistently mentally ill individuals, and as an independent medical examiner.  I spent a year as a fellow at the Institute for Ethics at the American Medical Association.  I have also written several articles in the psychiatric literature and taught seminars and lectures to students training in the mental health professions.

The diversity of my training and my professional experiences enable me to provide you with the best mental health care available.

Please click here for Dr. Block’s LinkedIn CV.