Geriatric Psychiatry Research

The best clinical care and education begins with innovative and clinically relevant scientific research. The University of Michigan Geriatric Psychiatry hosts the powerful combination of clinicians identifying patient-relevant questions and researchers discovering the answers.

U-M has one of the nation’s largest concentrations of researchers studying aging and mental health related issues. Geriatric Psychiatry faculty members are currently working on projects funded by a broad range of sources such as the National Institutes of Health, The Department of Veterans Affairs, private foundations and internal U-M sources.  Our research related to older adults includes foci on: later-life depression, racial disparities in mental health care, neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, integration of medical and mental health care, care for the seriously mental ill population in nursing homes and health policy.

Our research faculty mentor promising trainees to identify and develop research growth opportunities that complement their interest levels. In addition, trainees are able to reap the benefits of access to national administrative and planned clinical databases to answer important questions of interest to mental health and aging. We also offer an NIMH-funded (T-32) post-doctoral training program in geriatric mental health services research.  

Geriatric Psychiatry Research Faculty

Donovan Maust, M.D.

Associate Professor
Associate Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Program
Research Scientist, Ann Arbor VA Center for Clinical Management Research

Frederic C. Blow, Ph.D.

Director, U-M Addiction Center
Director, Substance Abuse Program
T-32 Program Director
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychology
Senior Research Scientist, Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System

Courtney A. Polenick, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Faculty Associate, Aging & Biopsychosocial Innovations Program, Institute for Social Research

Kara Zivin, Ph.D.

Marcia A. Valenstein, M.D., Collegiate Professor of Psychiatry, U-M Medical School
Professor, Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health
Faculty Associate, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Research Career Scientist, Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System