Stephen Patrick MD
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Stephen W. Patrick | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Florida (BS) Florida State University College of Medicine (MD) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (MPH) University of Michigan (MS) |
| Known for | Research on opioid use disorder in pregnancy, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, health policy |
| Awards | Mildred T. Stahlman Award Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research Society for Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Pediatrics, Public Health, Health Policy |
| Institutions | Emory University, Vanderbilt University |
Stephen W. Patrick is an American physician, public health researcher, and health policy expert known for his work on opioid use disorder in pregnancy, neonatal health, and maternal-child health policy. He is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University and a Professor of Pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine. He is board-certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine and practices medicine at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.
Early Life and Education
Patrick earned his BS in Microbiology and Cell Science with highest honors from the University of Florida in 2002. He received his MD from the Florida State University College of Medicine in 2007, followed by an MPH in Health Policy and Management from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He later completed an MS in Health and Health Care Research at the University of Michigan in 2011.
From 2010 to 2012, Patrick was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan, where he focused on neonatal health policy and health disparities research.
Career
Patrick is a leading expert in health policy, focusing on opioid use disorder in pregnant women and racial disparities in healthcare. In 2024, he became the Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. He previously served as a faculty member at Vanderbilt University, where he directed the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy.
From 2010 to 2012, Patrick was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Michigan, where his research examined neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and disparities in treatment for opioid-exposed infants. This experience laid the foundation for his later policy work and federal advisory roles.
Patrick also played a significant role in federal health policy. He served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (2013–2015, 2021–2022). In this role, he helped shape national strategies addressing maternal and child health, opioid use disorder, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. During his second tenure at the White House, he led the development of the administration’s "Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Improving Outcomes for Families" action plan and worked on interagency efforts to reduce stigma and improve care for families affected by substance use disorder.
In addition to his research and policy work, Patrick is a practicing neonatologist at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.
Research and Advocacy
Patrick's research has highlighted racial and geographic disparities in opioid use disorder treatment. His work has shown that Black pregnant women are less likely to receive medications for opioid use disorder than White women, and that methadone clinics are more likely to be located in non-White neighborhoods, while buprenorphine treatment is more accessible in predominantly White areas.[1]
His federally funded studies, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), focus on opioid policy, child welfare systems, and maternal health. His findings have been widely cited in public health policy discussions.
Senate Testimony and Government Work
Patrick has provided expert testimony before the United States Senate on the opioid crisis. In February 2018, he testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions during the hearing "The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Children and Families."[2] His full testimony is available on C-SPAN.[3]
Media Coverage
Patrick's research and policy work have been widely covered in major media outlets, including:
- PBS NewsHour: Featured in multiple segments, including a 2012 report on the rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).[4]
- The New York Times: Covered Patrick’s research on rural disparities in opioid-affected births.[5]
- Scientific American: A 2023 article examined how state drug laws discourage pregnant women from seeking addiction treatment.[6]
- Mother Jones: Investigated legal barriers to opioid treatment for pregnant women, citing Patrick’s research.[7]
Honors and Awards
Patrick has received numerous awards for his contributions to pediatric and public health research, including:
- Mildred T. Stahlman Award for Innovation in Clinical Care
- Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research[8]
- Society for Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award
- Nemours Child Health Services Research Award
- Florida State University Medical Alumni Hall of Fame
Personal Life
Patrick lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Kelly, their two daughters, Ella and Annie, and their dog, Beau.
References
- ↑ Patrick, Stephen W. (2012). "Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Associated Healthcare Expenditures". JAMA. 307 (18): 1934–1940. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.3951.
- ↑ "The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Children and Families". U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. 2018.
- ↑ "The Opioid Crisis: Senate Testimony". C-SPAN. 2018.
- ↑ "Newborns Addicted to Painkillers: Study Finds Troubling Spike in Cases". PBS NewsHour. 2012.
- ↑ "Rise in Infant Drug Dependence in U.S. Is Felt Most in Rural Areas". The New York Times. 2016.
- ↑ "Draconian Laws Deter Pregnant Women from Treating Drug Abuse". Scientific American. 2023.
- ↑ "The Criminalization of Bad Mothers". Mother Jones. 2018.
- ↑ "Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children's Health Research". Weill Cornell Medicine. 2020.
External links
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