Rather than getting career inspiration from her family and friends, Dr. Patrice Harris’ interest in the medical field was sparked from watching a television show.
Marcus Welby, M.D. was a fictional medical drama that featured a family practitioner.
“What intrigued me about Dr. Welby was that he not only took care of his patients inside the exam room, but he also had a broader platform and commitment to caring for the larger community to improve the health of his community,” said Harris, the new president of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the first Black woman to lead the 172-year-old professional organization.
When arriving at West Virginia University (WVU) as a first-year student, Harris knew she wanted to be a physician but was unsure about which steps to take. After initially choosing to major in medical technology and facing challenges along the way, Harris eventually found her passion in psychiatry.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Harris stayed at WVU for her masters in counseling psychology as well as her medical degree.
“I absolutely fell in love with psychiatry during my third year of medical school,” she said. “I knew that I could combine my love of the brain and my love of psychiatry with my passion for helping children. So I decided to do my specialty training in child and adolescent psychiatry.”
Upon completion of her psychiatry residency at Emory University School of Medicine, Harris’ career began at her own private practice, where she continues to work to this day.
