Dr. Myrna Weissman is a preeminent leader in psychiatric epidemiology whose pioneering work has fundamentally shaped the understanding of mood disorders across generations. She currently serves as the Diane Goldman Kemper Family Professor of Epidemiology in Psychiatry at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mailman School of Public Health while leading the Division of Translational Epidemiology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. After earning her Ph.D. in chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University in 1974 she established herself as a groundbreaking researcher during her tenure at Yale University School of Medicine where she served as Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology and Director of the Depression Research Unit until 1987. Her transition to Columbia University marked a pivotal moment in the field as she brought with her a vision for integrating epidemiological methods with clinical psychiatry that has since influenced mental health research globally.
Dr. Weissman's most transformative contribution was co-developing Interpersonal Psychotherapy IPT with her late husband Gerald Klerman which has become one of the most extensively validated treatments for depression worldwide. Supported by over 140 clinical trials IPT has been translated into numerous languages and is recommended by the World Health Organization and the US Preventive Services Task Force as a leading evidence-based psychotherapy treatment. Her seminal longitudinal research on the transmission of depression across generations has established critical frameworks for understanding the interplay between genetic neurobiological and environmental factors in mood disorders. This research has catalyzed a paradigm shift in mental health approaches particularly through her implementation of evidence-based psychotherapies in low-income countries and underserved populations significantly expanding access to effective mental health care.
Beyond her research achievements Dr. Weissman has authored or co-authored over 600 scientific articles and chapters along with 12 influential books including the seminal Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy maintaining an impressive H-index of 182 that reflects her profound scholarly impact. As a member of the National Academy of Medicine she serves as a trusted advisor to major institutions including the World Health Organization and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy shaping global mental health policy and research agendas. Her current work focuses on identifying biomarkers of depression transmission and treatment response directing a landmark three-generation study of families at high and low risk for depression that has been ongoing for nearly 40 years. This translational research positions her at the forefront of precision psychiatry approaches while her continued dedication to implementing psychotherapy in resource-limited settings exemplifies her enduring commitment to mental health equity worldwide.
