From Military Medicine to Integrative Psychiatry - with Dr. Matt Gerenz

Join Dr. Jane Gagliardi as she sits down with Dr. Matt Gerenz, a psychiatrist at Happier Living in Los Angeles, to explore his unique journey from North Dakota Army National Guard combat medic to addiction medicine specialist. Dr. Gerenz shares how 12 years of military service shaped his patient-centered approach and why he chose to pursue additional training through the TNT (Train New Trainers) Fellowship in Addiction Medicine.In this compelling conversation, Dr. Gerenz discusses:The critical gap between substance use disorder prevalence and adequate trainingHow motivational interviewing and harm reduction approaches transform patient careThe importance of whole-person, integrative psychiatry beyond symptom managementOvercoming stigma in medication-assisted therapyWhy confidence matters in asking patients the right questionsLearn more about TNT Open Mind Insights: www.tntopenmind.orgInterview Recorded on: January 17th, 2025Timestamped Chapters0:00 Introduction 0:47 From North Dakota to Medicine: An Unconventional Path 1:32 12 Years as a Combat Medic in the North Dakota Army National Guard 2:27 Bringing Healthcare to 4,000+ National Guard Members 3:19 The Mentor Who Changed Everything 4:15 Training at UCI: Witnessing the Substance Use Crisis 6:23 How Patients Suffer from Substance Use Disorders 7:09 The Barriers to Quality Treatment 8:28 Why a Psychiatry Resident Pursued Addiction Medicine Training 10:29 Learning Motivational Interviewing and Harm Reduction 12:21 Building Patient Trust: "You Can Handle the Truth" 14:26 Gaining Confidence in Substance Use Treatment 15:52 Future Vision: Integrative and Functional Psychiatry 17:46 The Need for Holistic, Whole-Person Care 19:44 When Symptoms Don't Tell the Whole Story 21:48 Reducing Stigma in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment 23:38 The Power of Monthly Mentorship with Dr. Steve Delisi 26:36 Sharing Knowledge: The Educational Component 28:02 Key Takeaways for Psychiatry Residents 30:27 Connect with Dr. Gerenz Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series on Soundwise