Sheila Patel is an implementation scientist in the Community Health and Implementation Research Program in the Center for Behavioral Health Epidemiology, Implementation, and Evaluation Research at RTI. Dr. Patel applies technical research skills to evaluate health interventions and policies as well as efforts to effectively implement them. She has extensive experience in project leadership roles and in designing and executing mixed methods studies for projects that target the implementation of effective interventions for improving mental and behavioral health outcomes of vulnerable populations.
Currently, Dr. Patel leads the investigation of implementation challenges and strategies across opioid misuse prevention initiatives in the NIDA-funded HEAL Prevention Cooperative. In addition to her work at RTI, Dr. Patel supports the field of implementation science as an active reviewer for Implementation Science Communications and a board member of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration.