Michelle Gagnon

Michelle Gagnon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, affiliated with the College of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on social and psychological influences in pain experiences across the lifespan, with an emphasis on pediatric pain, menstrual pain, and mental health literacy. She leads the Family Health Lab, collaborating with healthcare systems to improve pain assessment and management. Her work integrates experimental methodologies with real-world applications, such as developing mindfulness-based apps for adolescents with menstrual pain.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (2016), University of Regina
• M.A. in Clinical Psychology (2012), University of Regina
• B.A. Honours in Psychology (2010), University of Ottawa

Research Interests:

• Biopsychosocial models of menstrual pain
• Knowledge translation in healthcare
• Emotion regulation in chronic pain
• Mental health literacy among adolescents and parents
• Pain expression and communication

Publications: Over the past five years, Dr. Gagnon has published extensively on menstrual pain management, pediatric pain interventions, and knowledge translation strategies. Her work spans Journal of Health Psychology, Pain, and Qualitative Health Research, with a focus on translating research into clinical practice.

Teaching & Mentorship: She teaches courses such as Health Psychology and Advanced Child Psychopathology, mentoring students in clinical and research settings. Her lab supports graduate and undergraduate trainees in pain-related and mental health projects.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Family Health Lab, which investigates family dynamics in health decision-making and pain management.