Gary Cunha

About Gary Cunha

Gary H. Cunha, MSW, LCSW is a Marine combat veteran who then became a social worker. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1980 to 1988 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. His academic career started in 1989 when he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (Magna Cum Laude) and in 1992 he completed his Master’s Degree in Social Work; both degrees are from East Carolina University. He did a social work internship at the Readjustment Counseling Service’s Greenville Vet Center in Greenville, NC. He did another social work internship at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center inpatient psychiatric unit. In 1992, he became the social worker for the PTSD Clinical Team at the Durham VA Medical Center. It was there that he assessed and treated combat veterans diagnosed as PTSD. He also served as the Ex-POW Coordinator and Employee Assistance Coordinator. He joined others in being awarded the “1994 Mental Health and Behavioral Science Director’s Award”. At that time, Mr. Cunha had academic appointments at Duke University, Campbell University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1995, Mr. Cunha became a clinical social worker with Readjustment Counseling Service’s Fayetteville Vet Center. In 2003, he established an academic affiliation between Fayetteville State University Graduate School of Social Work and the Fayetteville Vet Center for a graduate level social work student internship program. In 2004, he became a part-time lecturer at Fayetteville State University. In 2007, Mr. Cunha became the Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Durham VA Medical Center, and, in this capacity is responsible for implementation of suicide prevention strategies within the medical center and as a clinical point of contact, educator, and liaison with community organizations and the public private partnerships across the catchment area of the Durham VA Health Care System. Mr. Cunha identifies Veterans at elevated risk for suicide, coordinates enhanced level of care when needed, trains staff, and provides community education and outreach. Mr. Cunha is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Association of Suicidology. He is a Life Member of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Experience

1. Suicide Prevention Coordinator

   Durham Va Health Care System

   Oct 2007 — Present · Durham, NC, US

Education

• East Carolina University

  Master of Social Work - MSW

  1990 — 1992