Forte is delighted to announce the addition of Gina Touch Mercer, PhD, to our Lifestyle Team to provide marriage counseling and individual counseling to Forte patients. Dr. Touch Mercer is a Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Touch Mercer is the director of the Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. Her interests include promoting physician and patient resilience, family health and healthy aging, and cultivating healing patient-physician relationships. She is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Family, Community, and Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry, and in the BUMC Women’s Institute IOP for Pregnant and Parenting Women with Substance Use Disorder.
She has been in private practice and healthcare education for 15 years, and currently provides training and coaching in motivational interviewing and emotional intelligence skills to medical students, residents, and physicians. She received her degrees from the University of Houston, Texas in Family Dynamics and Social Support as Predictors of Health and Mental Health Outcomes. She completed her residency at Abrazo Family Medicine Residency program from 2015 to 2017. She received the Gold Humanism Society Award, UACOM-P Chapter, in Spring 2021.
“I’m honored to join Forte’s Lifestyle Team and partner with patients in their journeys toward healthier relationships and stronger emotional well-being. My passion is helping individuals and families build resilience and find balance, and I’m excited to bring that focus to such an innovative, patient-centered model of care.” -Dr. Touch Mercer
The team at Forte-Well Being is equally excited to welcome her:
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Touch Mercer to Forte. Her expertise in psychology, family health, and physician-patient resilience is a tremendous asset to our integrated care model. She brings not only knowledge, but also compassion and creativity that will deeply benefit our patients and our team.” -Doug Maready, MD, CMO
“Dr. Touch Mercer’s work reflects exactly what Forte is about—supporting the whole person, not just treating conditions. Her experience in counseling, education, and coaching will help patients and providers alike thrive, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.” -Hilary Hellman, CEO