Dr. Thomas Gratzer@drthomasgratzer
Dr. Thomas Gratzer is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in general and forensic psychiatry in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Throughout his career, he has been associated with various St. Paul and Minneapolis hospitals, including Psych Recovery, Regions Hospital, United Hospital, and Fairview University Medical Center. During his time in practice, he maintained a busy schedule with around 100 patient visits per week and conducting forensic evaluations.
Dr. Gratzer's career has included significant roles in psychiatry. From 1995 to 2002, he was a Senior Forensic Psychiatrist at the Minnesota Security Hospital. Concurrently, he served as a consulting psychiatrist for the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the Juvenile Detention Center from 1999 to 2015, providing care to incarcerated youth with specialized mental health needs. His contributions continued at United Hospital in St. Paul, where he worked as an attending psychiatrist from 1995 until 2016, caring for patients with severe psychiatric conditions.
Dr. Gratzer's leadership was evident when he served as the medical staff president at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center in 1997, contributing to critical institutional policies. His academic involvement has also been notable. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School from 2002 to 2021, he played a crucial role in educating future psychiatrists. Dr. Gratzer lectured extensively, sharing his knowledge with medical students, psychiatry residents, and law students at institutions such as the University of Manitoba, Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center, DePaul Law School, and Regions Hospital.
Dr. Thomas Gratzer has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and the Minnesota Psychiatric Association. His participation in these groups reflects his commitment to advancing the field of psychiatry, particularly forensic psychiatry. His work on committees such as the Sex Offender Committee and the Psychopharmacology Committee further highlights his dedication to addressing complex mental health issues.
Beyond psychiatry, Dr. Gratzer has a background in computer science. He won first prize for a computer program at the Manitoba Science Fair in 1991 and participated in Prince Philip's International Science Fortnight in London. He also co-authored a book on the TRS-80 computer, with over 10,000 copies sold, and contributed to developing VP-Info, a programming language for IBM PCs.
Dr. Gratzer's academic contributions include several published papers in peer-reviewed journals, where he has provided valuable insights on topics such as the treatment of paraphilia, impulse control disorders, and the intersection of law and mental health. His research earned him recognition, including the Merrell Dow Psychiatric Research Award and the S.W. Prowse Memorial Award 1994.
Dr. Thomas Gratzer remains committed to mental health and supports related causes even after retirement. He enjoys activities such as tennis, skiing, and traveling and is a regular donor to his university's foundation.