Dr. Patrick Gibbons, an adjunct clinical instructor in the Department of Psychiatry as well as a widely known and respected addiction psychiatrist, died March 26 after a brief illness.
His loss is being felt not only by faculty, staff, trainees and patients in the psychiatry department and its addiction treatment program, but also in the U-M Health System’s Office of Clinical Affairs, where he served for many years in a consultant role.
He is being remembered as a physician’s physician in the sense that he brought keen empathy and extraordinary insight to his role as an advocate for his colleagues. His humble manner and soft-spoken demeanor belied his intense passion for identifying behavior causality and focusing on the solution via a practical path of recovery.
Gibbons also will be missed by the State of Michigan’s Health Professionals Recovery Program and Dawn Farm, a recovery-oriented addiction treatment center, both of which he served as medical director. He was dedicated to providing, for those who acknowledged their disease of addiction, the framework for a return to healthy living.
Fellowship-trained in addiction psychiatry at U-M, Gibbons received his D.O. degree at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, participated in residency training in family medicine at the Mayo Clinic and completed residency training in psychiatry at U-M. Prior to medical school, Gibbons received his master’s degree from the School of Social Work.
“For me, among the words that best describe Patrick was tireless,” says Dr. Gregory Dalack, chair of psychiatry. “He worked in many settings treating patients, and assisting colleagues in the care of some of the most challenging patients seen in the health system and community. Patrick was a strong advocate and champion for the hope of recovery.
“He was a seemingly ever-available, always-affable caring presence to those who sought his input. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, patients and colleagues who have lost someone very special.”
In addition to treating patients at U-M Addiction Treatment Services at the Rachel Upjohn Building, Gibbons also worked with the Washtenaw County Health Organization as medical director of the Community Crisis Response Team, and supervised U-M psychiatry residents and addiction psychiatry fellows. In addition, he was a consultant in private practice with Pain Recovery Solutions in Ypsilanti.
Gibbons is survived by six children.
A vigil will take place from 4-9 p.m. Thursday at Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor. A funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 530 Elizabeth St., Ann Arbor, with a luncheon to follow. He will be buried that afternoon at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Southfield.
Philip Margolis
A wonderful human being, empathic and caring, respectful of others, and, yes, human ! Our community will miss him for a long time, and so will I.
Elizabeth Cheslak
I knew Dr Gibbons as a professional colleague. He was a wonderful resource for nurses, social workers, and doctors at the University of Michigan’s Von Voightlander Birth Center. Pat was always available to us, and often worked beside us at the bedside, providing education, support and insight when caring for our addicted pregnant patients. He was a true role model, working with empathy and compassion, exemplifying an open-hearted, non-judgmental model of care. He graced us all with his acceptance, hope, humor and humanity. We will be sorely missed.
Drorit Gelbard
I just learnt today the terrible news about the death of Dr. Gibbons.
I am still in a total shock. I cannot express my sorrow and pain of losing such a capable and talented physician, who has so much knowledge and insight in the addiction field. Dr. Gibbons was not only a unique individual but also a very unique psychiatrist who does not dismiss his patients after a few minutes with a pill. I realize it more today after a desperate search for a decent psychiatrist in my area (Grand Haven)
I met Dr. Gibbons in 2009 when he was treating our family.
We knew then what a great potential and capabilities this wonderful Dr. has. He had so much to give. He gave us not only his knowledge, but also a compassion and care.
Unfortunately, at that point we were not ready for the treatment.
Recently, there was a positive progress in the condition where Dr. Gibbons treatment would have been very effective. I was waiting for the weakened to end to make a call to resume our contact when I heard the terrible news.
He was our hope in the very difficult journey we had.
This is indeed a terrible loss. A terrible loss not only to his family, but also to his patients.
We will remember him and miss him as he was part of our lives for years.
Drorit Gelbard
I just learnt today the terrible news about the death of Dr. Gibbons.
I am still in a total shock. I cannot express my sorrow and pain of losing such a capable and talented physician, who has so much knowledge and insight in the addiction field. Dr. Gibbons was not only a unique individual but also a very unique psychiatrist who does not dismiss his patients after a few minutes with a pill. I realize it more today after a desperate search for a decent psychiatrist in my area (Grand Haven)
I met Dr. Gibbons in 2009 when he was treating our family.
We knew then what a great potential and capabilities this wonderful Dr. has. He had so much to give. He gave us not only his knowledge, but also a compassion and care.
Unfortunately, at that point we were not ready for the treatment.
Recently, there was a positive progress in the condition where Dr. Gibbons treatment would have been very effective. I was waiting for the weakened to end to make a call to resume our contact when I heard the terrible news.
He was our hope in the very difficult journey we had.
This is indeed a terrible loss. A terrible loss not only to his family, but also to his patients.
We will remember him and miss him as he was part of our lives for years.