Emerick honored for work on perinatal psychiatry hotline
Kathryn Emerick, MD, co-director of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s Arizona Perinatal Psychiatry Access Line, was honored with the Innovative Approach to Women’s Health Award at the 9th Annual Rural Women’s Health Symposium.
Kathryn Emerick, MD
The statewide access line was launched in June 2023. Perinatal psychiatrists are available to help medical providers care for pregnant and postpartum patients with mental health and substance use disorders.
Emerick’s nominating letter credits her for implementing a model that uses real-time consulting to provide specialized mental health support to women, especially those in rural and underserved areas.
“Her contributions have transformed the landscape of perinatal mental health care in Arizona,” the letter stated.
Emerick, who completed medical school and her psychiatry residency at the U of A, joined the university faculty in 2019.
She said the award is an honor and a testament to the dedicated efforts of the APAL team.
“It affirms the importance of our mission to support the mental health of birthing people during one of the most critical and vulnerable phases of their lives,” Emerick said. “To me, this award highlights the value of innovative thinking in addressing the unique challenges faced not just by perinatal persons statewide but particularly those in rural communities whose ability to access care is even more limited.”
Emerick said that early in her career, she encountered many mothers struggling with mental health challenges during pregnancy and postpartum.
“I also saw how difficult it was for people to get mental health treatment during that time,” she said. “I’ve had some moms who waited months to get into my clinic, and moms do not have months to spare in the perinatal time period. Too much is happening developmentally and in terms of attachment. I wanted to be part of the solution and wanted to help bridge that gap.”
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, funded APAL for its first year, but funding ends in October. Emerick said the team is working to secure additional funding.
She said APAL has supported hundreds of mothers through the access line as well as educated hundreds of people, from medical providers to community groups to family law attorneys, on perinatal topics.
“Maternal mortality in Arizona is most commonly related to mental illness, and I am so proud to be part of the movement to change the trajectory of the maternal mortality rate in our state,” Emerick said. “My goal is to improve the lives of moms in our state and, through improving the lives of moms, strengthen our families and communities.”