Lauren grew up on the Florida coast. She moved to the Northwest to attend Reed College for her undergraduate degree in Psychology, and subsequently fell in love with Portland and the practice of midwifery. After college, she pursued graduate training in nurse midwifery at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, which is where she met and became friends with fellow WHA midwives Christine Barlow and Jody Lindwall. While at Vanderbilt, Lauren won the American College of Nurse Midwives Foundation Scholarship, which is awarded annually to an outstanding midwifery student. Before joining WHA, Lauren practiced full-scope midwifery at a clinic for low-income women. She also worked as a registered nurse on labor and delivery and as a medical examiner for a sexual assault center.
Lauren loves midwifery because it allows her to help women understand the changes they undergo during very important times in their lives. She enjoys being a resource of information and experience, and hopes for all her patients to feel empowered enough to decide which path is right for them. Her special interests include working with teens, with a focus on family planning and healthy choices, and working with underserved populations. She has volunteered internationally with Doctors Without Borders as well as locally with the Opening Doors and Project Network programs.
Lauren is married to her high school sweetheart. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, music, traveling, and loves the outdoors.
Read articles in our Wellness Journal written by Lauren.