Patricia Harrison-Monroe, PhD

Dr. Harrison-Monroe has been a faculty member and clinical supervisor since 2005. As the chief of behavioral health for the Department of Psychiatry, she oversaw both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, overseeing the construction and program development of the Behavioral Health Pavilion for the Department. She was responsible for the development of educational initiatives to reduce stigma within underserved communities on a local and statewide basis. She also served as director of the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter), where she oversaw clinical services for individuals in the early stages of psychotic illness and their families.

Dr. Harrison-Monroe recently reduced her time, but continues to spearhead departmental diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She leads several diversity initiatives within the College of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry to address underrepresentation of minority students, residents, and faculty, at both the recruitment and retention level. For the past eight years, she has also provided counseling support to enrolled medical students and participates in numerous committees within the College of Medicine. Dr. Harrison-Monroe is an active member of the community and sits on several boards. Named as one of the 25 most influential African Americans in Arizona, her work has been recognized both on a local and national level. She has received numerous awards including from the NAACP for her mental health promotion to underserved communities, the Inclusive Excellence Award from UA College of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and most recently the Frances McClelland Institute Vision Award. Dr. Harrison-Monroe is a frequently invited guest speaker and consultant on topics including multicultural counseling, early intervention and care integration, forensic mental health, as well as public healthcare policy and its effect on at-risk populations. She also maintains a private practice.

Prior to moving to Tucson, she was assistant commissioner with the New York City Department of Mental Health. In that role, her responsibilities included oversight of behavioral health services in two of New York City's boroughs as well as the city's jail system, and the development of culturally and linguistically relevant services to reflect the needs of significantly diverse populations. In 2002, she was honored for her service in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster. Dr. Harrison-Monroe holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Columbia University, New York.