Robert O. Cotes, MD
Dr. Robert O. Cotes is Chief of Psychiatry at Grady and a psychiatrist specializing in the care of people living with psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and early psychosis. He is dedicated to helping patients achieve recovery through compassionate, evidence-based care that supports both mental and physical well-being.
At Grady, Dr. Cotes founded and co-directs the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis, which includes specialized services for individuals with persistent psychosis, people experiencing the early signs of psychosis, and young adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. His team works closely with patients and families to provide coordinated, recovery-focused care tailored to each person’s needs.
In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Cotes is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. His research focuses on improving treatments for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, including the safe use of medications, reducing treatment side effects, and developing innovative approaches to improve long-term mental health outcomes.
Board Certifications
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
- Residency: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Locations and Directions
Behavioral Health Outpatient Center
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Grady Memorial Hospital
Emergency Care: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Outpatient Care: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily
Publications
- The Rise of Medicare Advantage: Implications for Psychiatric Care.
McIntosh BJ, Cotes RO
Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). 2026;
PMID: 42908072 - Outdated Product Labeling and Implications for Contemporary Standards of Care: The Example of Clozapine.
Meyer JM, Ravin L, Carruthers JW, Cotes RO, Ehret M, Love RC, Kelly DL
Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.). 2026;
PMID: 42908070 - Optimizing Clozapine Use Through Therapeutic Drug Monitoring-Integrating Clinical and Laboratory Science Perspectives.
Boyd JM, Das A, McIntosh BJ, Leung JG, Cotes RO
Clinics in laboratory medicine. 2026;46(4):769-783.
PMID: 42907072 - Managing Recurrent Postictal Worsening of Psychosis in Clozapine-Treated Schizophrenia: A Case Report.
Alam R, Cotes RO, Goldsmith DR
Case reports in psychiatry. 2026;
PMID: 41736848 - Are Incretin-Based Therapies Associated With Decreased Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder After Bariatric Surgery?
Cotes RO, Nieto LM, McCord E
JAMA network open. 2025;8(12):e2549006.
PMID: 41632140 - Do We Now Have the Tools to Meaningfully Improve Outcomes for People With Schizophrenia?
Cotes RO
Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing). 2025;23(4):373-374.
PMID: 41613743 - A Call to Action for Starting Clozapine: Increasing Clozapine Use and Safety in a Post-REMS Era.
Leung JG, Cotes RO
Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing). 2025;23(4):375-388.
PMID: 41613742 - Metabolic monitoring and control among patients with type 2 diabetes prescribed second generation antipsychotics.
Guo J, Goldsmith DR, Cotes RO, Varghese JS
Psychiatry research. 2026;
PMID: 41475312 - A neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio higher than 3 may identify infl ammation during clozapine titrations: A re-analysis of five published cases of myocarditis.
de Leon J, Cotes RO, Goldsmith DR, Shelton C, McCollum B
Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica : a Magyar Pszichofarmakologiai Egyesulet lapja = official journal of the Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacology. 2025;27(4):296-311.
PMID: 41454729 - Perceptions, Use, and Barriers of Clozapine Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in the United States: A Multidisciplinary Survey Study.
Leung JG, Gatzlaff M, Leloux MR, Bye KN, Gannon J, Chengappa KNR, Schoretsanitis G, Markota M, Allen ND, Cole KC, Cotes RO
Therapeutic drug monitoring. 2026;48(4):512-523.
PMID: 41373088
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.