Board composition changes at Acadia Healthcare reflect broader shifts across behavioral healthcare governance. The appointment of Dr. Patrice A. Harris as an independent director in October 2023 marked a significant addition to the company’s governance structure, bringing board-certified psychiatric expertise and extensive policy experience to the Franklin, Tennessee-based organization.
Harris arrived at Acadia Healthcare with credentials spanning clinical practice, public health administration, and medical association leadership. Her tenure as the 174th president of the American Medical Association from 2019 to 2020 made her the first African American woman to hold that position. Prior AMA work included chairing the organization’s Opioid Task Force, where she led national efforts addressing the substance use disorder crisis.
The behavioral health sector faces mounting workforce challenges, with more than 122 million Americans living in mental health professional shortage areas as of 2024. Acadia Healthcare operates 260 facilities across 40 states, positioning board-level clinical expertise as increasingly relevant for strategic oversight.
Board members with Harris’s background bring direct knowledge of care delivery challenges and regulatory frameworks. Her experience as director of Health Services for Fulton County, Georgia, overseeing countywide behavioral health programs, adds operational perspective to governance discussions. Academic appointments at Columbia University, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine provide ongoing connection to clinical training and research developments.
Acadia Healthcare’s chairman Reeve B. Waud cited Harris’s work integrating public health, behavioral health, and primary care services when announcing the appointment. The company serves approximately 75,000 patients daily through inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential centers, and outpatient clinics.
Harris continues practicing psychiatry privately while serving as co-founder and CEO of eMed Digital Healthcare, a telehealth platform she established in 2020.