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Thomas Elliott, MD, MSHPM


  • Attending Physician, Division of General and Community Pediatrics
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

About

Biography

As a pediatric primary care provider, I approach patient care through a strengths-based lens, recognizing that patients and families are the experts on their own lives. Every child, family and community brings unique strengths and experiences to the care journey, and I strive to partner with patients and caregivers to elevate those strengths within treatment plans while centering their goals as a priority for healing and well-being.

I was inspired to become a pediatrician after witnessing the tremendous impact my own pediatrician had on the children, families and communities he served. His passion extended beyond the clinic and into the community, where he worked to support families in meaningful ways. That example continues to shape my approach to medicine and the kind of physician I hope to be.

My research focuses on preventing adolescent and young adult mental health disorders. Adolescence is a period of remarkable growth and possibility, but it can also be a time of emotional and mental health challenges. I am interested in developing innovative ways to identify these challenges early and connect young people with clinical and community resources before they become more serious concerns. Through this work, I hope to help build systems of care that enable all adolescents, regardless of their background or circumstances, to develop the skills and support they need to pursue their goals and thrive.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis, attending concerts and spending time with friends and family.

MD: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Residency: Johns Hopkins Hospital

Fellowship: National Clinician Scholars Program, University of California Los Angeles

Interests

General pediatrics

Services and Specialties

Interests

Community based approaches to promoting youth mental and emotional wellness

Publications

Prevalence, predictors, and moderators of transfer in primary care. Murphy, BN; Lang, AC; Mara, CA; Hinojosa, JT; Smith, EM; Elliott, T; Burkhardt, MC; Jones, MN; Crosby, LE. Health Care Transitions. 2026; 4:100126.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Receipt of Pediatric Mental Health Care. Elliott, TR; Choi, KR; Elmore, JG; Dudovitz, R. Academic Pediatrics. 2024; 24(6):987-994.

Parental Legal System Involvement, Positive Childhood Experiences, and Suicide Risk. Bravo, LG; Meza, J; Schiff, SJ; Ahmed, C; Elliot, T; La Charite, J; Choi, K. Pediatrics. 2024; 153(6).

Associations between Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), Discrimination, and Internalizing/Externalizing in Pre-Adolescents. Choi, KR; Bravo, L; La Charite, J; Cardona, E; Elliott, T; James, KF; Wisk, LE; Dunn, EC; Saadi, A. Academic Pediatrics. 2024; 24(8):1236-1245.

Structural Factors in Health Care Associated With the Mental Health Needs of Black Women in California During the Perinatal Period. James, KF; Klomhaus, AM; Elliott, T; Mensah, M; Jeffers, KS; Choi, KR. JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2023; 52(6):481-490.

Engagement, Use, and Impact of Digital Mental Health Resources for Diverse Populations in COVID-19: Community-Partnered Evaluation. Wells, K; Thames, AD; Young, AS; Zhang, L; Heilemann, MV; Romero, DF; Oliva, A; Jones, F; Tang, L; Brymer, M; Elliott, T; Arevian, A. JMIR Formative Research. 2022; 6(12):e42031.

Cross-sectional Comparison of Disparities by Race Using White vs Hispanic as Reference Among Children and Youths With Developmental Disabilities Referred for Speech Therapy. Elliott, T; Floyd James, K; Coleman, KJ; Skrine Jeffers, K; Nau, CL; Choi, K. JAMA Network Open. 2022; 5(10):e2234453.

Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Building Community for Underrepresented in Medicine Graduate Medical Education Trainees. Usoro, A; Hirpa, M; Daniel, M; Harris, V; Ware, A; Kernodle, A; Elliott, T; Piggott, DA; Bienstock, JL. Journal of Graduate Medical Education. 2021; 13(1):33-36.