• Home
• >

Profile

Biography

Davis Patterson, PhD, is a sociologist and Research Professor in the University of Washington (UW) Department of Family Medicine in Seattle, Washington. He is senior advisor and former director of the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center and an investigator in the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies. His research seeks to inform policy to improve rural and under-resourced populations’ access to healthcare. His work focuses on the health workforce, examining educational pathways to prepare, recruit, and retain health care practitioners and innovative workforce models to achieve health equity. He is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Belize), an avid traveler, and fluent in Spanish.

 

RHRC Publications

For full listings, please visit the RHRC website

Andrilla CHA, Peterson L, Patterson DG, Evans DE, Graves JM. Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents Fam Med 07-21-2026

Graves JM, Oster NV, Garberson LA, Patterson DG, Andrilla CHA. Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation Among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion J Rural Health 07-03-2026

Oster NV, Evans DV, Patterson DG, Andrilla CHA, Graves JM. Expanding and Sustaining Rural Clinical Education: Perspectives from Health Professions Education Leaders WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington 06-24-2026

Graves JM, Oster NV, Garberson LA, Patterson DG, Andrilla CHA.. Understanding Changes in the Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Workforces in Rural America Under the New Medicare Reimbursement Policy WWAMI Rural Health Research Center, University of Washington 06-10-2026

Oster NV, Andrilla CHA, Patterson DG, Burchim S, Graves JM. How Do Changes in Medicare Reimbursement for Mental Health Services Impact Access for Rural Older Adults? J Rural Health 05-21-2026

 

RHRC Presentations

For full listings, please visit the RHRC website

Mroz TM, Garberson L, Andrilla CHA, Patterson D.. Home Health Aide and Social Work Visits in Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare by Rurality. Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting

Andrilla CHA, Garberson L, Graves JM, Patterson D, Woolcock SC. Healthcare utilization and transportation burden for mood disorders and opioid use disorder treatment 2024 WA State Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) and Treatment Conference

Burchim SE, Andrilla CHA, Patterson DG. Lessons from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program: Evaluation of Technical Assistance National Rural Health Association Conference, San Diego, CA

Patterson DG. Implementation of the New Rural Emergency Hospital model: potential workforce impacts National Rural Health Association Conference, San Diego, CA

Patterson DG. The Contributions of Geographic Origin vs. Place of Training to Family Physicians’ Practice National Rural Health Association Conference, San Diego, CA

 

CHWS Publications

For full listings, please visit the CHWS website

Shahrir SF, Dahal A, Patterson DG, Frogner BK. Variation in Health Care Resources in Rural and Urban Counties Associated with Differences in COVID-19 Mortality Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 05-15-2026

Sabin J, Guenther GA, Ornelas IJ, Patterson DG, Andrilla CHA, Morales LS, Gujral K, Frogner BK. The Impact of Brief Health Equity/Implicit Bias Education on Patient-Centered Communication Among Clinical Teaching Faculty Adv Med Educ Pract 01-31-2026

Woodward KF, Frogner BK, Patterson DG. The EMS Exodus: Why Clinicians Are Leaving and What It Means for Public Health Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP) Direct 09-17-2025

Woodward KF, Hanson CS, Frogner BK, Patterson DG. Who is Leaving the Emergency Medical Services Workforce? Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP) 05-15-2025

Kett PM, Shahrir SF, Bekemeier B, Schaffer K, Zemmel DJ, Patterson DG. Individual and Organizational Factors Associated With Public Health Workforce Competencies to Advance Health Equity PLOS Global Public Health 01-09-2025

 

CHWS Presentations

For full listings, please visit the CHWS website

Kett PM, Pollack SW, Peterson L, Patterson DG. Factors Associated with Family Physicians’ Provision of Obstetric Services over Time, 2008-2022 AcademyHealth 2026 Annual Research Meeting (ARM), Seattle, WA

Oster NV, Evans DV, Patterson DG, Andrilla CHA, Graves JM. Perspectives from Health Professions Education Leaders on Expanding and Sustaining Rural Clinical Education National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Conference, San Diego, CA

Rogers TB, Dahal A, Frogner BK, Patterson DG. Immigrants in Healthcare Occupations APPAM's 47th Annual Fall Research Conference, Seattle, WA

Woodward KF, Hanson C, Frogner BK, Patterson DG. Who Is Leaving the Emergency Medical Services Workforce? Poster presented at AcademyHealth 2025 Annual Research Meeting (ARM), Minneapolis, MN

Kett PM, Guenther GA, van Eijk MS, Patterson DG, Frogner BK. Low Birthweight Rate Differences Associated With Distinct Perinatal Staffing Models at Federally Funded Health Centers American Public Health Association (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting & Expo, Minneapolis, MN