Nemours Children’s Health appointed Dr. Patrice Harris its executive vice president and chief health impact officer.
“Dr. Harris has deep experience improving children’s health from many angles — as a physician, the public health director for a county of one million residents, and a national advocate at the highest levels of medicine,” Dr. R. Lawrence Moss, president and CEO of Nemours Children’s Health, said in an Aug. 3 news release.
“She understands that a child’s health is shaped by high-quality medical care, but also by many elements in their home, school, and community.”
Nemours said that in her new role, Harris will partner with clinical, operational, financial, strategy and advocacy teams to drive improvements in child and community health outcomes.
“I am deeply inspired by Nemours’ commitment to Whole Child Health and the bold vision this organization holds for the future of pediatric care,” Harris said in the release. “I look forward to partnering across the enterprise to advance health equity, drive meaningful outcomes for children and families, and further establish Nemours as the national model for what children’s health can and should be.”
Before joining Nemours, Harris cofounded eMed, a digital healthcare company where she most recently served as CEO. A board-certified psychiatrist, she has experience as a practicing physician, county public health director, and patient advocate.
Harris was president of the American Medical Association in 2019-20, the first African American woman to hold that position, and has expertise in public policy on legislative and regulatory matters at all levels of government.
Nemours said for six years she was district health director for Fulton County in Georgia, where she advanced improvements in children’s health with focus on integrated care, adverse childhood experiences and barriers to accessing care.
Harris received a medical degree and a master’s in counseling psychology from West Virginia University, where she currently is on the board of governors.