Dr. Donald (Donny) GerkeDr. Gerke was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver where he taught in the Graduate School of Social Work.  His scholarship centers community-academic partnerships to advance health equity and health promotion for marginalized communities, with a focus on LGBTQ+ people and those living with and/or at risk for HIV. Dr. Gerke is also active in the field of implementation science, which seeks to improve health outcomes by understanding and addressing the research-practice gap. His research is informed by nearly 10 years of social work practice with LGBTQ+ populations, including positions in which he provided mental health and sexual risk counseling, supervised a peer-driven HIV and substance use prevention program for youth, and managed a portfolio of HIV prevention programs for one of the largest AIDS services organizations in the country. Recent research projects include a mixed-methods study of health literacy and health care access for transgender and nonbinary Coloradans using the capabilities framework, and a qualitative examination of the factors associated with PrEP uptake and sustainment among young men who have sex with men and young transgender and nonbinary individuals in Colorado, using group model building.

Outside of work, Dr. Gerke enjoys leading an active lifestyle. He enjoys hiking and walking his dog Mya, and regularly attends Orangetheory. He is also a coffee aficionado and welcomes suggestions for where to get the best coffee in Birmingham.