Dr. Natasha Patterson is a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in public health leadership, health education, policy, and maternal and child health, with a focus on helping students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world public health practice.
Her research centers on advancing health equity, with particular attention to Black maternal health, community-based care models, and the policies and systems that shape health outcomes. Over the past several years, her work has explored Black maternal morbidity and mortality in New Jersey, the role of doulas in improving birth outcomes, and the experiences of the state’s doula workforce. She has also conducted research on substance use disorder and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on pregnant and parenting individuals, as well as studies on COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy in Black and Latinx communities.
Dr. Patterson is committed to community-engaged scholarship and regularly collaborates with local partners, policymakers, and organizations to create educational programs, workshops, and public forums that address health disparities and improve access to care. Her work has been supported by grants focused on maternal health equity, doula services, and policy education related to substance use and drug decriminalization.
In 2020, she co-produced the Racial Justice and Recovery Series with the Collegiate Recovery Center, a program that examined how drug policy and enforcement contribute to disparities in care for people with substance use disorders. The series highlighted practical strategies to expand access to recovery services and support pathways to wellness.
Dr. Patterson is the founder of On the Journey to Better, LLC, a consulting practice that supports organizations in strengthening public health education, leadership development, and advocacy. She currently serves as Chair of the Board for Health Spark Foundation and on the Executive Committee for the New Jersey Public Health Association (NJPHA). She is also active in civic and professional organizations, including the National Association of University Women, National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she leads initiatives that advance public health and community well-being.
