Dr. Flaherty is a clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of varied practice. Seeking to align science, service and policy, in 1999 he founded the Institute for Research, Education and Training in the Addictions (IRETA); and became the Principle Investigator of its HHS/SAMHSA/CSAT funded Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) for 12 years. Dr. Flaherty was previously the Vice President for Behavioral Care at the St. Francis Health System in Pittsburgh and Director of its Institute for Psychiatry and Addiction Services. He has authored over 30 Federal and Foundational grants and more than 45 published articles, chapters and monographs on topics ranging from the science of recovery focused care to workforce development. In 2014-15 he served as an adviser to the White House Office National Drug Control and the National Heroin Task Force for OD prevention. He also served as subject matter expert for HHS/SAMHSA’s Military, Veterans and Families Substance Use Technical Assistance Center; and past invited adviser to the Betty Ford Institute initial definition of "recovery." Since 2015 he has served as a clinical advisor to U.S. Attorney’s Plan to address O.D. in W. Pa. and nationally. He is a recipient of the Pittsburgh Psychological Association 2016 Legacy Award for lifetime contributions to the W. Pa. community.

Dr. Flaherty is also a retired Captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve with 27 years' service on active and reserve duty including service begun in the Vietnam era to other assignments in Bosnia, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He holds B.A. degrees in Philosophy and Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Duquesne University.