On How Personal Loss Sparked a Career in Trauma-Informed Care with Dr. Megan Gerber

In this episode, Dr. Megan (pronounced “Meegan”) Gerber shares personal experiences of trauma and loss that shaped her career path, ultimately leading her to focus on improving the health and well-being of trauma-exposed women. The conversation highlights the importance of flexibility in medicine and how moments of crisis can become turning points for both personal and professional growth.

Dr. Gerber graduated from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital. She also earned an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in women’s health, serving in various leadership roles within the Veterans Health Administration, including as a Senior Consultant for the VA Central Office in Washington, DC.

In 2021, Dr. Gerber co-chaired the National Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Task Force, leading to the creation of the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP), now the largest IPV program within the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network.

A dedicated medical educator, Dr. Gerber currently serves as Division Chief of General Internal Medicine, Vice Chair of Medicine for Faculty Development, Advising Dean, and Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and is the editor of Trauma-Informed Healthcare Approaches: A Guide for Primary Care (Springer).

Beyond medicine, Dr. Gerber is an avid abstract painter who explores the use of visual arts to promote healing for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Book Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-04342-1

Dr. Gerber´s website link:https://megangerbermd.net/