Marsha Gerdes PhD
Marsha Gerdes (she/her) retired from PolicyLab in 2024. While at PolicyLab, she was a senior psychologist with a specialty in early childhood development. She is also a former clinical professor of pediatrics in the associated faculty at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr. Gerdes’ clinical and research interests include neurodevelopmental outcome of infants with preterm birth and congenital abnormalities. Her focus also includes universal early childhood developmental and behavioral screening, including children of immigrant and refugee families, expanding the focus of screening to ensure that early identification leads to services, working to improve access to Early Intervention and behavioral health services and encouraging a preschool experience for all children to support school readiness.
Dr. Gerdes received her PhD in school psychology at University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. Her undergraduate degree was completed at Albion College in Michigan.