Dionne Smith Coker-Appiah, PhD, MAED

Dionne Smith Coker-Appiah, PhD, MAED, is an Associate Professor and Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at GUMC. She also serves as a departmental Co-Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and as the Director of Research for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division. She provides clinical care for adolescents and emerging adults. Dr. Coker-Appiah’s research program focuses on Rural Adolescent Dating Violence Prevention and Rural Adolescent Mental Health, with a specific focus on African American youth and communities. She has dedicated her career to engaging in clinical care and innovative research designed to promote the mental health of African Americans. She is passionate about using her clinical skills and research and prevention efforts to ensure that all adolescents and emerging adults are mentally healthy and able to live healthy, violence-free lives.