Dr. Harris focused her career on those with serious mental health conditions who were incarcerated or involuntarily detained for psychiatric care. She spent years providing care, leadership and conducting clinical research in Washington state jails, prisons and federal institutions. Dr. Harris was on faculty with the University of Washington, and part of a multi-disciplinary Department of Corrections / University of Washington team.

More recently, when almost 60 years old, Dr. Harris experienced a catastrophic psychotic break caused by a medication toxicity. Before the cause of her unusual behaviour could be determined, she was arrested and left for weeks in solitary confinement, in a small rural American jail. Dr. Harris brings forth the combination of her personal and professional experiences, as an agent of education, hope and change. She serves on the NAMI National and Jefferson County, WA boards. Dr. Harris can be reached at pnwdragonfly@gmail.com.