![Photo of Dr. Patrick Bordnick](/sites/default/files/styles/listings_page_square/public/Bordnick%2C%20Patrick%20Headshot%20New.png?itok=_pYIIAd3)
Biography
Patrick Bordnick, PhD, MPH, LCSW envisions a world where people interact seamlessly with technology to improve health and behavioral health clinically to increase knowledge in teaching and research settings. He is a pioneer in the use of virtual reality and other disruptive technologies (e.g., tech that changes current methods) for substance abuse and behavioral disorders assessment and intervention and is continuing to examine ways this innovative technology can empower people to make long-term changes in their health and wellbeing.
Dr. Bordnick has over twenty years of experience in clinical and laboratory research on cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, amphetamine, heroin, and nicotine addiction, published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, and received $4.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health. From 2007-2016, he was the founding director of the Virtual Reality Clinical Research Lab (VRCRL) at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. This state-of-the-art facility uses the latest technology to study human behavior for the assessment and treatment of addictions along with eating and other behavioral health disorders. He served as the Dean of the Tulane School of Social Work from 2016-2024 and continues his research there across disciplines. His goal for the school is to blend its mission, research, and programs with the community’s needs to create a better quality of life for New Orleanians and beyond.
In 2018, as part of the Not Impossible Awards, Dr. Bordnick was awarded the Vitality Award for Innovation in Healthcare sponsored by Blue Cross-Blue Shield. for VR-Project Δ (Delta) and VR-Qualis Est Vita (Quality of Life). VR-Project Δ will put patients into realistic virtual worlds using smartphone-based virtual reality and recreate situations that identify and trigger cravings akin to drug and alcohol addiction. This tool allows for individualized patient diagnostics and aids in treatment by teaching coping mechanisms to avoid relapse. The other application, VR-Qualis Est Vita, uses virtual reality to help people with autism develop interpersonal skills. Dr. Bordnick received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Madonna University (Livonia, Michigan), a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia School of Social Work. Dr. Bordnick also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of South Florida. He currently resides in New Orleans with his spouse, Dr. Allison Stock, and three daughters.
Find Dr. Bordnick with @bordnick on Instagram and Twitter.
Areas of Expertise
- Clinical Social Work
- Developmental Disabilities
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Research
- Substance Use and Substance Use Treatment
Education
- PhD from the University of Georgia School of Social Work
- MSW Clinical Social Work from the University of Michigan
- MPH from the University of South Florida
- BS in Psychology from Madonna University in Livonia Michigan
Highlights, Honors & Awards
- 1.2 million dollar 5-year center grant from NIH/NIDA to support drug abuse research
- Awarded over 4.2 million dollars in Federal/NIH grants
- 50 publications in top tier scientific journals
- TEDx Talk in 2015: “How can virtual reality help us deal with reality?”
- VR-Project Delta - Vitality Award - 2018 Not Impossible Awards
Selected Publications
- Saltzman, L., Hansel, T., & Bordnick, P. (2020). Loneliness, Isolation, and Social Support Factors in Post-COVID-19 Mental Health. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12. https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-43457-001.html.
- Hansel, T., Saltzman, L., & Bordnick, P. (2020). Behavioral Health and Response for COVID-19. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 14, 1-23. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/behavioral-health-and-response-for-covid19/E0B44CB513D6E3675591A5FC66C4D943.
- Saltzman, L. Y., Hansel, T. C., & Bordnick, P. S. (2020). Loneliness, isolation, and social support factors in post-COVID-19 mental health. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), S55-S57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000703.
- Hansel, T., Saltzman, L., & Bordnick, P. (2020). Behavioral Health and Response for COVID-19. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 1-7.
- Bordnick, P.S. & Washburn, M. (2019) Virtual Environments for Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment. In Rizzo A., Bouchard S. (eds) Virtual Reality for Psychological and Neurocognitive Interventions. Virtual Reality Technologies for Health and Clinical Applications. Springer, New York, NY.
For more publications, see Dr. Bordnick's page on ResearchGate.
Selected News & Media
- First Black graduates from Tulane School of Social Work will be honored in 'Trailblazers' painting. (2021). NOLA.com.
- Tulane University honors three trailblazers in the School of Social Work. (2021). WDSU-TV.
- As vaccines reach more people, some lucky folks feel guilty getting a shot, but should they? (2021) NOLA.com.
- Dealing with post-election anxiety and stress. (2020). WGNO-TV.
- People struggling with addiction are turning to telehealth during the pandemic - for better and for worse. (2020). In The Know.
- Tulane launches online Doctorate in Social Work with Noodle Partners. (2019) Tulane Today.
- This is how virtual reality treats mental health. (2018). Verizon Communications.
- Skill-Building in Virtual Reality: A Talk With Patrick Bordnick. (2018) ENDPAIN podcast.
- Social work dean honored for ‘visionary’ addiction recovery research. (2018). Tulane Today.
- How virtual reality is being used to treat mental health issues. (2018). Financial Times.
- How VR is Helping Children With Autism Navigate the World Around Them. (2018). VR Fitness Insider.
- Virtual reality could open a new world for recovering addicts. (2018). WWL-TV.
- Technology: Using Virtual Reality to Treat Addiction. (2018). The Fix.
- Tapping virtual reality to treat addiction and autism. (2018). BlueCross BlueShield.
- Virtual reality could be a powerful tool to fight addiction, Tulane dean says. (2018). The Times-Picayune.
- Tulane dean recognized for work in virtual reality for addiction and autism. (2018). Tulane Today.
- Tulane dean expands virtual reality technology to aid those with autism, addiction. (2018). Tulane Hullabaloo.
- The Ultimate Escapism. (2017). Slate.
- School of Social Work introduces street-level health care. (2017). Tulane Hullabaloo.
- School of Social Work offers street-level health care. (2017) Tulane Today.
- Tulane to launch new online MSW program. (2017). Tulane Today.
- How virtual reality could help heroin addicts. (2016). BBC Radio 5 live.
- Wellness Wednesday: Baseball Pitching Injuries, Virtual Reality Therapy for Addiction and The Arnold. (2016). WOSU Public Radio.
- Virtual reality 'heroin cave' aimed at helping addicts kick habit. (2016). Reuters.
- Virtual reality's promise, risk loom large for health researchers. (2016). USA Today.
Community Involvement
- Ursuline Academy Board of Trustees
- Vice-Chair Liberty’s Kitchen Board of Directors
- Roots of Music Board of Directors