Stephen Patrick MD MPH, MS

Neonat/Perinatology•Atlanta, GA

O Wayne Rollins Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, Emory University Neonatologist, Children's Hospital of Atlanta

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1518 Clifton Rd N EAtlanta, GA 30322

Summary

Stephen W. Patrick, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, is Chair and O. Wayne Rollins Distinguished Professor of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, Co-Director of the Emory Health Services Research Center, a practicing neonatologist at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, and an Adjunct Physician Policy Researcher at RAND Corporation. His NIH-funded research focuses on improving outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants, as well as families involved in the U.S. child welfare system. He previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, where he led the development of a national interagency action plan to improve outcomes for families affected by substance use and contributed to both the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis. He also led Firefly, a multidisciplinary treatment program for pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants in Nashville, Tennessee, supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Dr. Patrick’s work includes policy analysis and public polling to inform child health policy at the state and national levels, with a focus on translating research into action. He currently serves on the NIH Organization and Delivery of Health Services Study Section, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Federal Government Affairs, and the National Academy of Medicine’s Board on Children, Youth, and Families, and has served as a Guest Researcher at the CDC and a voting member on FDA advisory boards focused on pediatric opioid use. He has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Pediatrics, and Health Affairs, and his work has been featured in PBS NewsHour, BBC, The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post.

Education & Training

University of MichiganFellowship, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, 2010 - 2013
University of Michigan-Ann ArborM.S., Health and Health Care Research, 2010 - 2011
University of MichiganResidency, Pediatrics, 2007 - 2010
Harvard School of Public HealthM.P.H., Health Policy and Management, 2005 - 2007
Florida State University College of MedicineClass of 2007
University of FloridaB.S., Microbiology and Cell Science, Highest Honors, 1998 - 2002

Certifications & Licensure

GA State Medical License 2024 - 2025
TN State Medical License 2013 - 2025
MI State Medical License 2007 - 2014
American Board of Pediatrics Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Early Career Physician of the Year Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016
National Finalist – White House Fellows Program 2013
NIH Loan Repayment Award for Pediatric Research National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2013, 2015
Academic Pediatric Association Research Award 2012
Top Presentation, Research Day University of Michigan, 2010
Individual Achievement Award for "commitment to ensuring quality medical care for those most in need." Florida State University College of Medicine, 2007
Florida Medical Foundation Scholarship 2006
Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award American Medical Association Foundation, 2004
Mullen Award for Outstanding Community Service Florida Medical Association, 2004
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Pharmacotherapy research landscape and knowledge gaps of opioids in maternal and pediatric populations.
Aditi Shendre, Xiaofu Liu, ChienWei Chiang, Andrew Goodwin, Samuel-Richard Oteng
Pharmacotherapy. 2025-06-01
Buprenorphine Treatment in Pregnancy and Maternal-Infant Outcomes.
Sunaya R Krishnapura, Elizabeth McNeer, Sarah F Loch, Thomas Reese, Judith Dudley
JAMA Health Forum. 2025-04-27
Parental Perceptions of Tennessee's Mature Minor Doctrine.
Sarah F Loch, Elizabeth McNeer, Michelle Fiscus, William D Dupont, Stephen W Patrick
JAMA Network Open. 2025-04-01

Journal Articles

Medication-Assisted Treatment of Adolescents With Opioid Use Disorders
Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, Pediatrics, 1/22/2016
Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Policy Statement
Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, Pediatrics, 1/20/2016
Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Clinical Report
Levy SJ, Williams JF, Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, Pediatrics, 1/20/2016
Families Affected by Parental Substance Use
Smith VC, Wilson CR, Committee on Substance Use and Prevention, Pediatrics, 1/1/2016
Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Health Policy in the Midst of an Epidemic
Krans EE, Patrick SW, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1/1/2016
Incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in 28 States, 1999-2013
Ko JY, Patrick SW, Tong VT, Patel R, Lind JN, Barfield WD, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 1/1/2016
Implementation Of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Associated With Reductions In Opioid-Related Death Rates
Patrick SW, Fry CE, Jones TF, Buntin MB, Health Affairs, 1/1/2016
Improving Care for Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Horbar JD, Buss-Frank ME, Morrow KA, Ferrelli KR, Picarillo AP, Gupta M, Soll RF, Pediatrics, 1/1/2016
Responding to the Rise in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Newsletter, 1/1/2015
The Triple Aim for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, The Journal of Pediatrics, 1/1/2015
Promise and Peril: Dissemination of Findings from Studies of Drugs Used in Pregnancy and Their Association with Congenital Anomalies
Patrick SW, Cooper WO, Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 1/1/2015
Risk of Hospital Readmission Among Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, Burke JF, Biel TJ, Auger KA, Goyal N, Cooper WO, Hospital Pediatrics, 1/1/2015
Increasing Incidence and Geographic Distribution of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: United States 2009-2012
Patrick SW, Davis MM, Lehmann CU, Cooper WO, Journal of Perinatology, 1/1/2015
Increasing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in US Neonatal Intensive Care Units
Tolia V, Patrick SW, Bennett M, Sousa J, Smith PB, Clark R, Spitzer AR, The New England Journal of Medicine, 1/1/2015
Significant Decreases in Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Hospitalized Children in the US from 2007-2012
Patrick SW, Kawai AT, Kleinman K, Jin R, Vaz L, Gay C, Kassler W, Goldmann D, Lee GM, Pediatrics, 1/1/2014
Variation n Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Among US Children's Hospitals, 2004-2011
Patrick SW, Kaplan HC, Passarella M, Davis MM, Lorch SA, Journal of Perinatology, 1/1/2014
Implementation of a Statewide Surveillance System for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — Tennessee, 2013
Warren MD, Miller AM, Traylor J, Bauer A, Patrick SW, MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 1/1/2013
Accuracy of Hospital Administrative Data in Reporting Central-Line Associated Bloodstream Infections in Newborns
Patrick SW, Davis MM, Meddings JA, Hieber S, Lee GM, Stillwell TL, Chenoweth, CE, Espinosa C, Schumacher RE, Pediatrics, 1/1/2013
Post-Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage in Children with von Willebrand Disease and Hemophilia
Sun GH, Auger KA, Aliu O, Patrick SW, DeMonner S, Davis MM, JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, 1/1/2013
Reformulating the Federal Match as a Key to the Sustainability of Medicaid
Patrick SW, Davis MM, JAMA Pediatrics, 1/1/2013
When Coverage Expands: CHIP as a Natural Experiment in Utilization of Healthcare Services
Haggins A, Patrick SW, Demonner S, Davis MM, Academic Emergency Medicine, 1/1/2013
Methods of Mortality Risk Adjustment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A 20-Year Review
Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Davis MM, Pediatrics, 1/1/2013
Comparison of Administrative Data versus Infection Control Data in Identifying Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections in Children’s Hospitals
Harris MJ, Gay JC, Neef JM, Patrick SW, Sedman, A, Hospital Pediatrics, 1/1/2013
Translating Research Findings to the Press and Policy Makers
Patrick SW, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Human Capital Grantee Network, 1/27/2012
Intergenerational Enrollment and Expenditure Changes in Medicaid: Trends from 1991 to 2005
Patrick SW, Freed GL, BMC Health Services Research, 1/1/2012
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Books/Book Chapters

Avery’s Neonatology: Pathophysiology and Management of the Newborn
Chapter: Chapter 1. The Scope and Organization of Neonatology: North American and Global Comparisons
Aschner JL, Patrick SW, Stark AR, Lee SKEditors: MacDonald MG, Seshia MMK.Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, PAEdition 7th,2016
Manual of Neonatal Care
Chapter: Chapter 12: Maternal Drug Use, Infant Exposure and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SWEditors: Cloherty JP, et al..Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PAEdition 8th,2015

Abstracts/Posters

Infant Sex and Risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Charles MK, Cooper WO, Jansson LJ, Dudley J, Slaughter J, Patrick SW, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 1/1/2016
Higher Dose and Duration of Maternal Prescription Opioid Use Increases Risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, Dudley J, Martin PR, Harrell FE, Warren MD, Hartmann KE, Ely EW, Grijalva GC, Cooper WO, Translational Science, Washington, D.C, 1/1/2015
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Horbar J, Buus-Frank M, Edwards E, Morrow K, Ferrelli K, Soll R, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and Notational Governors Association Webinar; United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Staff Prescription Drug Abuse Working, Washington, DC, 2013; Washington, DC, 2014; San Diego, CA, 2015, 1/1/2015
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths
Patrick SW, Fry CE, Jones TF, Buntin MB, AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 1/1/2015
Risk of Hospital Readmission Among New York Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Patrick SW, Burke J, Cooper WO, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1/1/2014
VON Day Quality Audit / Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Buus-Frank ME, Ferrelli K, Morrow K, Edwards E, Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Horbar JD, Soll RF, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1/1/2014
Variation in Hospital Type in Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in the United States
Patrick SW, Benneyworth BD, Schumacher RE, Davis MM, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., 1/1/2013
Variation in Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in US Children's Hospitals
Patrick SW, Kaplan H, Passarella M, Davis MM, Lorch SA, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., 1/1/2013
Trends in Pediatric Hospital Acquired Infections, 2007-2011
Patrick SW, Tse A, Jin R, Gay C, Kassler W, Lee GM, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., 1/1/2013
Variation in Treatment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in US Children's Hospitals
Patrick SW, Kaplan H, Passarella M, Davis MM, Lorch SA, Vermont Oxford Network Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, 1/1/2013
Lack of Accuracy of Hospital Administrative Data in Reporting Central-Line Associated Bloodstream Infections in Newborns
Patrick, SW, Davis, MM, Meddings JA, Hieber S, Lee GM, Stillwell TL, Chenoweth, CE, Espinosa C, Schumacher RE, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, 1/1/2012
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Associated Healthcare Expenditures – United States, 2000-2009
Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Benneyworth BD, Krans EE, McAllister JM, Davis MM, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, 1/1/2012
Implications of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for Health Care Utilization and Expenditures
Patrick SW, Davis MM, Schumacher RE, Pediatric Research Symposium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1/1/2011
Regional Variation in Lumbar Punctures for Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis
Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Schachinger S, Davis MM, Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 1/1/2011
Implications of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome for Health Care Utilization and Expenditures
Patrick SW, Davis MM, Schumacher RE, American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program National Meeting, Boston, MA, 2011; Washington, DC, 2011, 1/1/2011
The Effect of Federal Financing on Medicaid Enrollment for Children
Patrick SW, Davis MM, Schumacher RE, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program National Meeting, Washington, D.C., 1/1/2011
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Lectures

Newborns Exposed to Substances: Understanding Their Needs and Supporting Their Caregivers
National Conference & Exhibition 2019 - American Academy of Pediatrics - New Orleans, LA - 10/27/2019
Family-Centered Care for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
National Conference & Exhibition 2019 - American Academy of Pediatrics - New Orleans, LA - 10/27/2019
Prevalence of Hepatitis C Among Pregnant Women
Baltimore, MD - 1/1/2016
Patent Ductus Arteriosus Surgical Ligations in the US, 2000 to 2012: Less Frequent, Higher Risk Infants
Baltimore, MD - 1/1/2016
Primary Prevention and Public Health Strategies to Prevent Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Atlanta, GA - 1/1/2016
Public Health Grand Rounds, Beyond the Data
Atlanta, GA - 1/1/2016
Just Say Yes to Improvement! A Workshop Focused on Evidence-Based Practices to Improve Outcomes for Infants and Families Affected by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Palm Springs, CA - 1/1/2016
The Prescription Opioid Epidemic and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Nashville, TN - 1/1/2016
Clinical Guidance for Treating Opioid-Dependent Pregnant and Parenting Women and Their Babies
Baltimore, MD - 1/1/2016
Federal and State Efforts to Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Opioid Abuse
Washington, DC - 1/1/2016
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - A Public Health Approach
Tufts University, Boston, MA - 1/1/2016
Improving Care for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA - 1/1/2016
The Opioid Epidemic and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
European Medicines Agency, London, England, United Kingdom - 1/1/2016
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN - 1/1/2016
Improving the Care of NAS from the Bedside to the Capitol.
Raleigh, NC, 2016; Franklin, TN, 2016 - 1/1/2016
The Emerging Crisis of Opioid Addiction – Implications for Home Visiting
Rockville, MD - 1/1/2016
Improving the Care of NAS from the Bedside to Capitol Hill
Westborough, MA - 1/1/2015
How to Have an Academic Career with Impact
Dartmouth University Geisel School of Medicine,. Hanover, New Hampshire - 1/1/2015
Advocating for Policy Change Locally, Regionally, and Statewide: What Each of Us Can Do
Westborough, MA - 1/1/2015
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Continued Increase and Geographic Variation
Burlington, VT - 1/1/2015
The National Landscape – Trends Toward Legalization of Marijuana
Burlington, VT - 1/1/2015
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths
Seattle, WA - 1/1/2015
Increases in Cigarette Taxes Are Associated With Decreases in Infant Mortality
San Diego, CA - 1/1/2015
The Prescription Opioid Epidemic and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - A Public Health Approach
Multiple Locations, 2015 - 1/1/2015
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Informing Public Health Systems
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN - 1/1/2015
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Other

Congress should act on treatment for drug-dependent newborns
Congresswoman Clark K, Patrick SW, The Boston Globe
1/5/2015
Quality Improvement Toolkit: Controversies in Caring for Infants and Families Impacted By Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Schumacher RE, Patrick SW, Vermont Oxford Network
Burlington, VT - 1/1/2015
Healthcare Reform Law Benefits All Americans
Patrick SW
Annarbor.com
1/28/2010
Underinsured and Fighting for Life in a Broken System
Patrick SW, Daytona Beach News Journal
1/21/2010
The Tragedy of the Underinsured
Patrick SW, USA Today. Op-Ed
1/23/2009
Docs Are Not Props in Health Reform Debate
Patrick SW
Annarbor.com
1/11/2009
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Press Mentions

Back 2 School: Vaccination Rates Keep Declining Among ChildrenAugust 5th, 2025
KU Medical Center Researcher Publishes Study on System to Improve Referrals to Child Protective ServicesJuly 15th, 2025
Buprenorphine Improves Pregnancy Outcomes for OUDMay 7th, 2025
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