Biography
Laura began working intermittently for the Center for Indigenous Health beginning in 1997 and has worked full-time for the Center since 2006. She manages the Center’s Infectious Disease Prevention Team in Whiteriver, AZ. The team consists of 2 nurses, a lab technician, and several paraprofessional Research Program Assistants. The team stays actively engaged in community efforts to decrease infectious diseases across Native lands.
Laura received her MD at the University of New Mexico and completed Family Practice Residencies at the University of AZ in Tucson. She and her husband began their Family Medicine work for the Indian Health Service in 1989 and 3 of their 4 children were born at the Whiteriver USPHS Hospital (the fourth was adopted from Ukraine). Laura has been involved with many of the vaccine trials that have occurred in Whiteriver including PNC-7, RSV, Maternal RSV, PCV-15, and the current Pfizer Covid vaccine. She also works on community bacterial and viral surveillance projects.
When not working, Laura and her husband enjoy hiking, mountain biking, travel, and enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the White Mountains of AZ.