Anthony A. Cernera, M.Ed., has dedicated his life to understanding how humans learn, grow, change, and heal. You may recognize him from Good Morning America or read his story in Men’s Health Magazine. Anthony is a three-time living organ donor, public speaker, consultant, and psychotherapist-in-training. He holds a Master’s in Education and a certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Currently, he practices as a mental health counselor-in-training at Lift Wellness in Westport, CT. In addition to his extensive training in clinical mental health counseling, Anthony is also a doctoral candidate in Human Development, focusing his research on behavior change and habit formation.

Before transitioning into psychotherapy, Anthony spent over 16 years leading high-performing development teams. He has held leadership roles in campaigns ranging from $25M to $600M, with a strong track record of securing transformative, seven-figure gifts. His most recent positions include Associate Vice President of Development for Connecticut Children’s and Chief Development Officer for St. Vincent’s Medical Center at Hartford Healthcare. As a senior leader in health systems during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anthony witnessed firsthand the critical importance of combining emotionally intelligent leadership and psychological safety with an unwavering commitment to innovation, change, and growth.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Anthony volunteers in hospice care, teaches meditation, and is a competitive skydiver with gold and silver medals from the USPA National Skydiving Championships. He resides in Fairfield, Connecticut.