Dr. David Patrick is a physician-scientist in the Divisions of Clinical Pharmacology and Cardiovascular Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He received his MD and PhD at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and performed his dissertation research in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Olson studying the role of small RNAs in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. He then completed his internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine training as a member of the Harrison Society at VUMC. His postdoctoral fellowship was performed in the laboratory of Dr. David Harrison where he studied the role of the immune system in cardiovascular disease and essential hypertension.
Dr. Patrick has received numerous awards for his research including the Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunologists. His research is now focused on the immune mechanisms driving essential hypertension and cardiovascular disease as well as the discovery of novel genes involved in adult cardiac disease.. Current projects in his laboratory include studying the role of reactive oxygen species and antigen presentation in essential hypertension and systemic autoimmunity. Dr. Patrick is a practicing general cardiologist specializing in the care of patients with systemic autoimmune conditions and cardiovascular disease.