Patricia Espe-Pfeifer PhD
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, patricia-espepfeifer@uiowa.edu, University of Iowa Health Care
Patricia Espe-Pfeifer, PhD is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at University of Iowa Health Care and a nationally recognized expert in pediatric neuropsychology, brain injury, and athlete mental health. She directs the Pediatric Neuropsychology Service at UIHC and serves as Director of Sport Psychology and Student-Athlete Mental Health Services for University of Iowa Athletics.
Dr. Espe-Pfeifer specializes in the evaluation and treatment of complex neurological and psychiatric conditions, including traumatic brain injury, concussion, epilepsy, stroke, and Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. Her research interests include athlete mental health, sports-related concussion and traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Her work bridges medicine and performance, with a particular focus on the mental health and cognitive well-being of collegiate athletes.
She is a core provider for the UIHC Stead Family Children’s Hospital Neurocritical Care and Surgical Epilepsy teams and collaborates closely with the UI Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. Dr. Espe-Pfeifer is frequently sought for her expertise on the intersection of brain health, mental health, and athlete performance in high-level competitive environments.