ABOUT DR. GERTNER
Dr. Gertner completed his undergraduate education in anthropology at Princeton University. He completed medical training at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and psychiatry residency at the University of North Carolina Hospitals. He holds a PhD from the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Gertner was motivated to become a psychiatrist after working for several years in human rights advocacy, noting the paucity of person-centered mental healthcare. He’s a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Gertner has experience working with clients with varied sexual orientations and gender identities. He understand that developing, understanding, and communicating these orientations and identities can be a long and evolving process. Dr. Gertner has specific experience working with trans individuals and coordinating with gender-affirming care specialists such as endocrinologists.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
Person-centered: valuing human dignity and agency, responsive to priorities and values of clients
Evidence-informed: critically considering best available research
Trauma-informed: mindful of lasting impact of trauma and focused on creating safe, supportive spaces
Gender-affirming: employing accepting and affirming orientation to gender identities
Liberatory: cognizant of and responsive to mental health harms of systems of oppression (racism, sexism, colonialism, LGBTQ+ discrimination), including how these have shaped psychiatric practices
A.I.-free: human care for humans

SERVICES:
Psychiatric medication management: guided by careful consideration of risk and benefits of medications, acknowledging individualized needs and experiences, and employing shared decision-making

Psychodynamic psychotherapy: aimed at personal growth, meaning, and realization in addition to symptom relief