Dr. Francis Abueg graduated with honors from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and an emphasis in computer science in 1980. He pursued graduate work in clinical psychology at Binghamton University (State University of New York) where he obtained a Masters (M.A.) and doctorate (Ph.D.) with both clinical and research work in the areas of autism and developmental disorders, adolescents with conduct disorder, adult anxiety and depression, and addictive behavior including smoking cessation in emphysema and lung cancer patients. His dissertation examined the cognitive and emotional effects upon the community of a toxic chemical disaster: the aftermath of fire in a 17-story NewYork State office building creating dioxin contamination.
In 1985, he accepted a psychology internship position at the University of Mississippi Medical Center/Jackson VA Consortium where he deepened his interest and skill in working with anxiety and depressive disorders with combat veterans, especially in the area of posttraumatic stress disorder. He also provided clinical care to hospitalized patients suffering from alcoholism and other substance abuse disorders. He was elected by his peers to serve as Co-Chief Resident of the Psychology Internship.
