News

The Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and Family Depression Center has selected Adrienne Lapidos, Ph.D., to receive the Dr. Michael Louis Smith Scholar Award. Dr. Lapidos is a clinical associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. 

Dr. Lapidos is dedicated to improving mental health care for people with serious mental health conditions. She works in two main areas: the Depression Clinic and the Program for Risk Evaluation and Prevention (PREP) Early Psychosis Clinic. Her clinical practice uses proven therapies and she has played a key role in improving how care is delivered in these clinics. Notably, she helped establish the Depression Clinic practicum, a program designed to train clinical psychology Ph.D. students on better, more innovative approaches to care. She has also introduced the use of digital tools to enhance the patient care experience.

A committed researcher, Dr. Lapidos has a deeply held commitment to increasing access to behavioral health and medical services for underserved communities. She uses creative approaches that increase accessibility in non-traditional settings. This includes investigating solutions to address loneliness in primary care settings and helping facilitate the use of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Her findings have been published in highly respected journals like the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Affective Disorders and Psychiatric Services. One of her most recent publications found in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice showcases her collaborative efforts incorporating digital tools into the depression clinic.

Dr. Lapidos will receive a $10,000 grant to bring a visiting lecturer to the University of Michigan whose area of expertise is related to her research. The remaining portion of the grant will be used to provide support for any related academic expenses. 
 

The Dr. Michael Louis Smith Award and Colloquium is given annually to an EFDC member who is an M.D. or Ph.D., and is working to improve the care of those struggling with depression and related illnesses through the exploration of innovative clinical and research ideas. The award, funded by a generous gift from Edith J. and Michael L. Smith as a tribute to their son Dr. Michael Louis Smith, aims to foster impactful scholarly activity with the goal of improving clinical care. The award recipient is selected by a multidisciplinary committee, chaired by Sagar V. Parikh, M.D.