Patrice A. Harris

Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA serves as the CEO of eMed, a digital healthcare company. She is a board-certified psychiatrist based in Atlanta and has extensive experience as a private practicing physician, county public health officer, patient advocate, and in policy, legislative, and government affairs. Dr. Harris made history as the 174th President of the American Medical Association and the first African American woman elected to that position. She is a visiting professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and serves as the Medical Editor in Chief for Everyday Health.

Dr. Harris has held leadership positions with the American Psychiatric Association, the Georgia Psychiatric Physicians Association, the Medical Association of Georgia, and The Big Cities Health Coalition. She has been instrumental in leading these organizations and has served on the Boards of Georgia NAMI and the Mental Health Association of Georgia. She has consistently been an active leader in organized medicine, having served on the AMA’s Board of Trustees since 2011, including a term as chair. Dr. Harris also led the AMA’s efforts to confront the opioid epidemic, chairing the AMA Opioid Task Force since its inception in 2014.

Dr. Harris earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA), and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees from West Virginia University. She completed her psychiatry residency and fellowships in child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry at the Emory University School of Medicine. Additionally, she holds roles as an adjunct assistant professor in the Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and as an adjunct clinical assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Dr. Harris is recognized for her commitment to children's mental health and trauma, especially childhood trauma, striving to integrate mental health into overall healthcare and eliminate health disparities. Her ongoing engagement in these areas includes her portrayal in "Your Fantastic Mind Season 2 Episode 4," which highlights her expertise in mental health. Dr. Harris continues to practice privately, maintaining her lifelong passion for improving lives and serving communities.