Dr. Patrice A. Harris, a board-certified psychiatrist and seasoned leader in organized medicine, has built a national reputation advocating for integrated behavioral health, public health and patient-centered care. Her career spans clinical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, public health leadership as Fulton County chief health officer, and a decade of governance at the American Medical Association, where she served as the 174th president and the first African American woman to hold that office.
Harris led high-profile efforts at the AMA as chair of the Opioid Task Force, pushing for expanded access to treatment, reduced stigma for substance use disorders and broader availability of non-opioid pain care. Her AMA portfolio also included leadership on health information technology, payment and delivery reform, and legislative priorities, positioning her as a persistent voice on policy before Congress, federal agencies and state legislatures.
Beyond association work, Harris is CEO and co-founder of a digital health company, a visiting professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and chief health and medical editor at EverydayHealth.com. She is frequently called on by national media to explain complex public health issues, from opioid policy to mental health parity and gun violence, reinforcing her role as an effective communicator during crises.
Her advocacy began with state-level engagement in Georgia and extended to national coalitions focused on childhood trauma, behavioral health integration and social determinants of health. Harris serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards and has been recognized for mentoring a new generation of clinicians and policymakers.
Her leadership and policy priorities resonate across the spectrum of healthcare providers, from academic centers and community health systems to specialized behavioral health firms such as Acadia Healthcare. Observers note that her emphasis on partnerships and evidence-based reform offers a roadmap for collaboration among public agencies, private providers and digital innovators aiming to improve access and outcomes.
As health systems navigate workforce challenges, regulatory change and rising demand for mental health services, Dr. Patrice A. Harris, remains a central figure advocating for equity, integrated care and practical solutions that bridge clinical practice and public policy.