About

About Dr. Thomas Gratzer

Thomas Gratzer is a board-certified psychiatrist with more than 30 years of experience in general and forensic psychiatry in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. He has worked at various St. Paul and Minneapolis hospitals, including Psych Recovery, Regions Hospital, United Hospital, and Fairview University Medical Center.  He typically had 100 patient visits a week in addition to conducting several forensic evaluations a week.

Dr. Thomas Gratzer’s Distinguished Medical Profession

Dr. Gratzer’s professional journey includes several prominent roles in psychiatry. He served as a Senior Forensic Psychiatrist at the Minnesota Security Hospital from 1995 to 2002. At the same time, he was a consulting psychiatrist for the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the Juvenile Detention Center, a role he held from 1999 to 2015. He provided psychiatric care to incarcerated youth, a population often in need of specialized mental health services.

Thomas Gratzer’s clinical expertise extended to his role as an attending psychiatrist at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1995 until 2016, where he played a pivotal role in caring for patients with severe psychiatric disorders.

His leadership skills were recognized when he served as the medical staff president at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center in 1997, where he contributed to policy-making at the institution.

Served as Adjunct Assistant Professor

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Thomas Gratzer has made significant contributions to the academic field of psychiatry. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School from 2002 to 2021, he was instrumental in shaping the next generation of psychiatrists. His teaching experience is extensive, lecturing to medical students, psychiatry residents, and law students across various institutions, including the University of Manitoba, Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, DePaul Law School, and Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

A Member of Several Professional Organizations

Dr. Gratzer is a respected member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, and the Minnesota Psychiatric Association. His involvement in these organizations reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing the field of psychiatry and contributing to the development of best practices in forensic psychiatry. His work on various committees, such as the Sex Offender Committee and the Psychopharmacology Committee of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, highlights his dedication to addressing some of the most pressing mental health and criminal justice issues.

Computer Science Experience and Talent

Dr. Gratzer’s knowledge extends beyond psychiatry to computer science. In 1991, he received first prize for a computer program at the Manitoba Science Fair. He also participated in Prince Philip’s International Science Fortnight in London, England. In college, Thomas Gratzer co-authored a book on the TRS-80 computer, FAST BASIC: Beyond TRS-80 BASIC. Ten thousand copies of the book were sold.

From 1984 to 1990, Gratzer participated in developing and designing VP-Info, a database programming language for the IBM PC. The program was published by Paperback Software International, Berkeley, CA, and has sold over 100,000 copies. 

An Accomplished Author in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Dr. Thomas Gratzer has also published several influential papers in peer-reviewed journals, contributing valuable insights to forensic psychiatry. His work has explored a range of topics, including the treatment of paraphilia and impulse control disorders, the impact of legal frameworks on mental health practices, and innovative approaches to managing compulsive sexual behavior. His publications have not only advanced academic understanding but have also had practical implications for the treatment of mentally disordered offenders.

He won two research awards: the Merrell Dow Psychiatric Research Award for the best scientific paper presented by a resident in psychiatry in June 1994 and the S. W. Prowse Memorial Award for Clinical Research at the University of Manitoba in 1994.  He also won 2 national awards in research: Rappeport Fellow of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 1983-1984 and Honorable Mention (2nd prize) for best paper by a fellow in forensic sciences by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences January 1994.

Academic Background

Dr. Gratzer’s education began at Saint John’s Ravenscourt School, an independent, co-educational, university-preparatory school located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he graduated with distinction and earned the prestigious Governor General medal.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Manitoba. He also did his postgraduate work and Residency in Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Gratzer did his Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at Rush-Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Center in Chicago.

Additionally, Thomas Gratzer did several clinical rotations, including in Adult Outpatient, Chronic Care, Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensics, Research and Clinical Forensics, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and Geriatric Psychiatry.

On the Personal Side

Born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Thomas Gratzer’s family are academics and physicians. His father was a professor of mathematics at Penn State before moving to Winnipeg. His mother is a retired dentist, and his brother and sister-in-law are practicing physicians in Toronto, Ontario.

Dr. Gratzer is married to Denise, a marketing professor who owns a marketing agency. His stepdaughter, Tanya, is in the Navy’s JAG corps.

Although retired, Dr. Gratzer remains interested in mental health and ensuring that individuals receive appropriate treatment. He is a regular donor to his university’s foundation.

His hobbies vary, including tennis, skiing, exercising, and traveling. He also enjoys good food.