Wilfred R. Pigeon, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Pigeon is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center where he directs the Sleep & Neurophysiology Research Lab; he is also the Executive Director for the VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center. He completed a pre-doctoral internship and a subsequent post-doctoral fellowship in Behavioral Medicine & Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and an Individual National Research Service Award at the University of Rochester. Dr. Pigeon's primary clinical and research focus is on the mechanisms, consequences and treatment of sleep disturbance especially as they co-occur with common medical and mental health conditions. This work is conducted with emphases on: (1) identifying suicide risk and informing suicide prevention; (2) adapting evidence-based interventions for primary care and mental health integration; (3) combining sleep and other treatments to enhance overall care; and (4) collaborating with dissemination and implementation scientists to bring this work to bear on population health. He has adapted and tested behavioral sleep interventions in a variety of patient populations including those with chronic pain, depression, interpersonal violence, and combat-related PTSD and trains students and clinicians in these approaches. Dr. Pigeon has received funding from National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the VA, private foundations, and industry sources.