Polly Gipson, Ph.D.
Polly Gipson, Ph.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Child/Adolescent Section, at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gipson is a licensed clinical psychologist. She serves as the Director of Child and Adolescent Psychology Training, Director of the Frankel Psychotherapy Program and Director of the Trauma and Grief Clinic. She is a member of the Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Research Program. Dr. Gipson’s expertise is in evidence-based clinical practices, suicide risk assessment and intervention and community-based participatory research. Presently, she is a co-investigator and project coordinator of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded randomized controlled community-based effectiveness trial. This community-based project implemented in Flint, MI, is designed to prevent the initial occurrence of suicidal behavior in adolescents at elevated risk due to a recent history of peer victimization (as either a bully victim, bully perpetrator or both) and/or social disconnectedness. A mentorship strategy is employed with the primary aim to increase youths’ sense of community connectedness and enhance their overall adaptive functioning. Dr. Gipson’s line of research will continue to focus on community-based prevention and intervention strategies for underserved ethnic minority adolescents at elevated risk for suicidal and other adverse psychological outcomes.
