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Next spring, the faculty of psychology at UTSC will welcome into
their ranks one of Canada’s most influential and respected
psychologists in clinical and personality psychology.
Dr. Michael Bagby, who is currently director of clinical research and
senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
in downtown Toronto, will assume the position of professor of
psychology at UTSC beginning May 1, 2011 on a full-time basis. One of
his main objectives will be to take a strong leadership role in
UTSC’s proposed new doctoral program in clinical
psychology.
Since completing his PhD at York University in 1986, Bagby has
published nearly 300 peer-reviewed articles. He has also written three
books and copyrighted four psychological tests. Collectively, his work
has been cited in the scientific literature more than 8,000 times; 13
of his articles have been cited in more than 100 papers.
In recognition of the remarkable reach and impact of his research,
Bagby has been named an Institute of Scientific Information (ISI)
‘highly cited scientist,’ a distinction held only by the
top one per cent of scientists worldwide.
“We are delighted to have Michael Bagby join our psychology
department,” says Rick Halpern, dean and vice-principal
(academic) of UTSC. “His arrival signals a major step forward
for our clinical psychology program and our efforts to forge
connections between Scarborough and a number of partner institutions
in the mental health community. He rounds out a group of world-class
faculty members who are putting UTSC psychology on the map, both as
educators and researchers.”
Bagby’s main research focus is on the relationship between
personality and psychopathology, with particular attention to anxiety
disorders, affective disorders and pathological gambling. He is also
interested in personality disorders, dimensional models of personality
and the effect personality has on individual response to different
modes of treatment for major depression (such as cognitive therapy and
pharmacotherapy).
Bagby has held operating grants, contracts or investigator awards from
OMHF, OPGRC, MRC, CIHR, SSHRC and NIA. He was recently appointed as
the editor-in-chief of Assessment, one of the world’s
leading journals on psychological assessment, and he is an editorial
board member at the Journal of Personality Assessment,
Psychological Assessment and the Journal of Personality
Disorders.
At UTSC, Bagby will be instrumental in leading a proposed new doctoral
program in clinical psychology. John Bassili, chair of the department
of psychology at UTSC, says the hiring of Dr. Bagby signals the
importance that the department gives to creating a preeminent program
in clinical psychology.
“Dr. Bagby’s outstanding scholarship, along with his vast
experience with clinical practice at a leading mental health
institution such as CAMH, will set the tone for the style of
mentorship that is essential to a successful scientist-practitioner
model of education.”
“I am excited to join the UTSC psychology department,” says Dr. Bagby. “One aspect that attracted me to this position is the fine collection of psychologists in the department as a whole and the strong core of psychology faculty with clinical and scientific training. I was also impressed with the administration and leadership at UTSC and the departmental commitment to developing a new clinical program at the University of Toronto.”