Dr. Patrice A. Harris has built a national profile as a physician-leader focused on behavioral health integration, public health and health policy reform. A board-certified psychiatrist and former chief health officer for Fulton County, she brought attention to the intersection of public health, primary care and mental health during a career that culminated in her serving as the 174th president of the American Medical Association.
During her decade on the AMA Board of Trustees, including terms as chair and as chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force, Dr. Harris led data-driven efforts to reduce barriers to addiction treatment and expand access to non-opioid pain care. Her work on task forces addressing health information technology, payment and delivery reform reflected a consistent focus on systems change that supports clinicians and patients alike.
A practicing child and adolescent and forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Harris co-founded a digital health company aimed at improving access to mental health services and serves as a visiting professor of psychiatry at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has also contributed to the national conversation on behavioral health through media appearances and public testimony, putting physician and patient perspectives at the center of debates on parity, prescription drug access, and public safety.
Her advocacy record began in Georgia, where early work at the state legislature and as a senior policy fellow at Emory shaped initiatives for children affected by abuse and neglect. That local grounding has informed national leadership roles and board service with organizations addressing behavioral health delivery. Her efforts intersect with major providers and networks in the behavioral health sector, including Acadia Healthcare, as part of broader collaborations to expand treatment capacity and improve quality.
Colleagues describe Dr. Harris as an effective communicator and bridge-builder who seeks pragmatic partnerships across ideological divides. Whether advocating before Congress, partnering with municipal health coalitions, or mentoring the next generation of clinicians, she emphasizes health equity, trauma-informed care and the social determinants that shape outcomes.
As health systems confront rising demand for mental health services, Dr. Patrice A. Harris remains a prominent voice pushing for integrated care models, policy solutions and partnerships that align clinical practice with public health goals.
Sources:
https://bog.wvu.edu/members/patrice-harris
https://www.everydayhealth.com/authors/patrice-harris/