Stephen Patrick

Stephen W. Patrick is the O. Wayne Rollins Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Rollins School of Public Health. A practicing neonatologist and health policy scholar, Patrick brings deep clinical insight and national policy experience to his leadership of the department.

With a focus on improving outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants, Patrick’s NIH-funded research bridges clinical care, public health, and policy. He has served as a White House Senior Policy Advisor, testified before Congress, and published extensively on substance use, maternal and child health, and Medicaid policy.

At Emory, he maintains an active clinical practice at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, co-directs the Emory Health Services Research Center, and leads the Emory Center for Child Health Policy.

Dr. Patrick’s awards include the American Medical Association Foundation Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award, the Nemours Child Health Services Research Award, the Society for Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award and the Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research. He has published more than 140 peer review articles including in leading scientific journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Pediatrics and Health Affairs. He is a frequent contributor to local and national media outlets including the New York Times, PBS News Hour, NBC News, BBC, Washington Post, and more.

Patrick is a dedicated mentor and passionate about ensuring research is shaped by community voices and translated into real-world impact. He believes research should not remain on the shelves of academic journals but instead inform better care, smarter policy, and healthier communities.