Emily Harris, MD, MPH, FAAP

As a pediatrician, I specialize in general outpatient care, primary care, and child and adolescent psychiatry. I am driven to find solutions to problems. I listen to what the family is saying, but also for what they may not know how to articulate. My expertise is associating the mind-body connection, and I believe brain health, along with good nutrition and exercise, is critical to a child‘s development.

I was drawn to pediatrics and child psychiatry through my enjoyment of solving puzzles. I also saw a great opportunity and felt a professional commitment within pediatrics to prevent illness or identify and manage symptoms early.

Children, by nature, are motivated to be healthy and live life to its fullest. A pediatrician's job is to make associations that the child may not have words for yet or recognize signs that the parent does not see that relate to health. I had many role models in medical school who, through modeled patience and careful listening, provided wholistic care to their patients.

Knowing mental health disorders have their roots in childhood, I’m excited by the opportunity to arm pediatricians with tools to prevent, identify, manage or monitor the outcomes for children with psychiatric concerns. These disorders do not present in isolation and usually affect most aspects of a child’s health outcomes. If I don't know the right answer at first, I continue to work with the patient and family to support them in raising healthy children.

I’m a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In my free time, I enjoy puzzles, baking bread and desserts for others, and meeting new people. I also enjoy dinner parties where I forget about the time.