Michael Gatson

Dr. Michael D. Gatson holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern University, a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Grambling State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology from Walden University. His academic preparation supports his formal teaching areas in social work practice, human behavior and the social environment (HBSE), military culture, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and clinical social work with diverse and high-risk populations.

Dr. Gatson brings over 15 years of professional social work and behavioral health experience within the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. During his tenure, he served in clinical and administrative roles including marriage and family therapist, social worker, trauma coordinator, and Director. His direct practice experience includes School Social Work, Crisis and Prevention Services, trauma-informed clinical care, interdisciplinary treatment planning, and program leadership within large healthcare systems. In addition, Dr. Gatson served eight years as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Medical Reserve, providing him with extensive applied knowledge of military systems, organizational culture, and the behavioral health needs of service members, veterans, and their families.

Dr. Gatson has more than a decade of experience teaching in higher education across undergraduate and graduate levels. He has held faculty appointments at Louisiana State University, Wichita State University, The Catholic University of America, and the University of Maryland. His teaching responsibilities have included courses directly aligned with CSWE core competencies, such as Military Culture and Social Work Practice with Military Populations, Field Education, Research I and II, Treatment of Forensic Populations, and Skills Lab I and II.

At Walden University, Dr. Gatson serves as Core Faculty in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. He began teaching as Contributing Faculty in 2017 and transitioned to Core Faculty in April 2023. In this role, he is responsible for course instruction, student mentoring, assessment of professional competencies, and support of programmatic goals related to practice readiness, ethical decision-making, and culturally responsive social work practice.

Dr. Gatson’s primary areas of subject matter expertise and scholarly interest include trauma and resilience, military and veteran mental health, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, ethics in professional practice, and culturally responsive and trauma-informed care. He has served as a clinical consultant and trainer, delivering professional education at state, regional, and national levels with a focus on PTSD, suicide prevention, HIV/AIDS awareness, and evidence-informed clinical interventions. These activities support his ongoing professional development and contribute to the integration of current research and practice knowledge into the curriculum.

Dr. Gatson’s major professional accomplishments include sustained leadership within the VA Healthcare System, military service as a medical officer, extensive experience training multidisciplinary professionals, and long-standing contributions to social work education.

Education

PhD, Walden University

MSW, Grambling State University

BS, Northwestern State University

AS, Northwestern State University