Rachel Patzer

Rachel Patzer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She holds a joint appointment as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Patzer’s research focuses on health disparities, healthcare access, and quality of care, particularly in kidney transplantation and end-stage renal disease. She leads the Health Services Research (HSR) Center, a collaborative initiative between Emory’s departments of Medicine and Surgery, aiming to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based care delivery.

• Education:
  • PhD, Emory University
  • MPH, Emory University
  • BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests include:

• Disparities in social determinants of health
• Community-based participatory research
• Predictive analytics for transplant outcomes
• Mobile health technology (e.g., iChoose Kidney app)
• Medication adherence and self-management
• Healthcare resource utilization

Recent Publications highlight work on racial/sex disparities in kidney transplant access, predictive modeling for transplant outcomes, and equity-focused interventions. Her studies appear in high-impact journals like JAMA, Am J Kidney Dis, and Health Affairs.

Leadership Roles:

• Director, HSR Center
• Chair, UNOS Data Advisory Committee
• Member, Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
• Co-leader of E-STAR surveillance registry

Advising & Teaching: Dr. Patzer mentors students and residents in the Departments of Surgery and Medicine, and teaches in Emory’s Master’s in Clinical Research (MSCR) Program.