Dr. Laura Ward

Biography

Laura Ward is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University and a Research Scientist at the Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine and the Women's Medicine Collaborative at Miriam Hospital. Her research specializes in perinatal mental health and Integrated Behavioral Health. Dr. Ward's current research, funded by a Career Development Award (K23) from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, aims to develop and implement a toolkit to promote trauma-informed care in obstetrics. Dr. Ward earned her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston and completed her psychology internship and NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Adolescent/Young Adult Biobehavioral HIV at the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown Medical School. Her program of research focuses on the effects of stress, trauma, and marginalization on perinatal health, aiming to reduce risks and promote well-being during the perinatal period. Previous research has explored the neuromolecular effects of maternal environmental stress and mindfulness interventions related to early life stress and their impact on pregnancy outcomes.

Research Interests

Experience