Atlanta Psychiatrist Named AMA President-elect

The American Medical Association yesterday named as its president-elect Patrice Harris, M.D., a psychiatrist from Atlanta and the first African-American to hold the office. Harris is a private practicing physician, adjunct assistant professor in the Emory Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and consultant to organizations on health service delivery and emerging trends in practice and health policy. She previously served as chief health officer for Fulton County, GA, where she spearheaded efforts to integrate public health, behavioral health and primary care services; and as medical director for the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. As president-elect, she will become president of the AMA next June.