Gérard V. Sunnen, M.D.
Gerard Sunnen received his medical degree from the State University of New York Medical School, Downstate Medical Center. Following an internship in surgery and medicine at Bellevue Hospital, New York, he was appointed resident, then chief resident at Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital. He has practiced medicine and psychiatry in general hospital, academic, U.S. Air Force, forensic and hospice settings.
Board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1977, he was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the New York University-Bellevue Medical Center in 1977, and Associate Professor in 1987. In 2017, Dr. Sunnen was presented with the William A. Console, MD, Alumni Achievement Award, by the State University of New York (SUNY), "In Recognition of Significant Achievement in Psychiatry."
Dr. Sunnen was born and raised in Paris, France, and has been an active member in New French-American community. Named official physician for the French Consulate in New York in 1980, he embraced the mission of delivering health care to community constituents. Engaged in crisis intervention, he received commendations for assisting the French families of the TWA flight 800 victims, and for coordinating the 9/11 consular crisis team. For his role in developing mental health services for the French community in the greater New York City area, and for enriching French-American fellowship, he was awarded the title of "Chevalier du Mérite" by the French government in 1991.
Gerard is co-founder and eight-year president of the International Association for Emergency Psychiatry (IAEP), a transcultural association of mental health professionals seeking to develop global emergency psychiatric services. Founded in Paris, the association has held several international congresses, among them in Réunion Island, Amsterdam, Moscow, Lyon, Turin, Quebec, and Brussels.
For years, he has applied medical hypnosis and related techniques to many aspects of patient care. Assistance for medical management, such as controlling pain, preparing patients for operations and dealing with chronic illness are all within the scope of medical hypnosis, as can the treatment of anxiety, depression and to the goals of psychotherapy, namely developing self-knowledge, self-expression and creativity. In his book, co-authored with Barbara DeBetz, MD, "A Primer of Clinical Hypnosis," Dr. Sunnen explores a subject of special interest to him, namely the relationship between hypnotic states and meditative experiences. For these insights, he expresses everlasting gratitude to his late parents who were both students of Paramahansa Yogananda.
Interested in medical research for many years, Dr. Sunnen served as president and director of research for Medizone International, Inc., a publicly held company engaged in the development of ozone-based technologies for diseases caused by viruses and other microbes (from 1997 to 2001). As author of patents relative to the medical use of oxygen/ozone mixtures’ unique antimicrobial properties applied to wound healing, Dr. Sunnen founded Ozonics International, LLC. He currently serves as an independent consultant to guide nascent companies in the R&D of these technologies.
Looking ahead Dr. Sunnen seeks to continue researching and developing mind-body approaches aiming to enhance authentic and lasting personal change in his clients. His practice welcomes inquiries related to any and all above professional endeavors.