Jennifer Lawrence, MD

	Joined Oct, 2004 Department: Hospital Based Specialists Family Medicine Services [Map] Title: Physician Degree: MD Interests: I love spending time with my daughters and family, gardening, running, reading, family trips and our chickens. Music has always been a big part of my life and now I love going to live music and making music at home. Languages: Rudimentary Spanish Physician Homepage
Bio Thank you for choosing me as your and/or your family's personal physician. I am trained as a family physician and enjoy treating the entire family, pediatrics, women's medicine, adult care and geriatrics. I believe my role as your physician is to promote wellness in addition to treating illness. I am locally grown, having attended middle and high school here in Santa Rosa. I went to UC Davis for undergraduate work, receiving a degree in Nutrition Science, and then moving to Boston for a few years where I worked in various research laboratories. I ended up at UCLA in a Masters of Public Health program being inspired by some work I did on health issues in the Appalachians. I subsequently stayed at UCLA and attended medical school there, graduating in 1993. I then returned to Santa Rosa with my then infant daughter and started the Family Practice Residency at the Community Hospital (now Sutter). I had another daughter at the end of my residency and have worked at a community health center for the past eight years in Petaluma. I started with Kaiser Permanente in October 2004 and have been impressed with my colleagues, services and classes available for patients, and the high quality of medicine practiced here.
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: I choose family medicine because I enjoy treating the whole person and being involved in all aspects of his or her health care. I also selected family medicine because it is very rewarding to be involved in the health care of a family from the grandparent (or great-grandparents) to the newest family members! My specialty interests and affiliations within my field: I particularly enjoy women's health and geriatrics. In my last job, I attended many births and still enjoy newborn care, although I no longer deliver babies. Current projects or research: I currently serve on the Breast Care Committee and have recently joined the Osteoporosis Committee. Great health resources that I refer to: AAFP.org
Interests
We have 4 backyard chickens we first bought as 2 day old chicks from Western Farm Supply. No roosters, just hens (much to our neighbors relief). Last year, for fun, we entered them in the county fair where they took home 4 blue ribbons and 1 purple best of breed. They have been strutting around the yard ever since. They are the most beautiful (and only) chickens in the neighborhood. Currently reading: Besides medical journals, I read the New Yorker regularly and just finished reading the seventh Harry Potter book. I try to read many of the books my daughters are reading, as well as books for my book club. My favorite book or author: I enjoy reading all kinds of fiction. Great movie: Strictly Ballroom	Hobby Photos & Links: My daugter sharing a cucumber from the garden with the lovely hens, Ginger and Queenie.
Family & Friends
People in my life: I live with my 2 school-age daughters in Santa Rosa, very near where I grew up and where my parents still live. I feel very fortunate to have been able to move back here and live in this very beautiful community. My children and people I care about: I am privileged to be raising two wonderful daughters. They are creative, interesting and fine girls (who require a lot of driving around!). My girls both like to be in costume and this Halloween, my youngest was a very convincing Queen Elizabeth the 1st.	Photos of my Family & Friends: My daughters and myself in Sedona, Arizona enjoying the beautiful view The girls at summer camp together The Queen
My pets: We have a cat (a stray my daughter adopted which she named Lucky), a cockatiel named Sunny (we thought he was a male until after five years he layed an egg!), a bunny named Bunny, and four chickens named Ginger, Queenie, Titus and Daisy.	Pet Photos: This is another one of our hens, Daisy. She thinks she is in charge of the other ladies.
Travel
An adventure I've had: I lived in Belize in Central America for a summer when I was in graduate school getting my Masters of Public Health. I lived in the bush and traveled around interviewing different ethnic groups about health-seeking behaviors. It was a great adventure and I learned a lot about other cultures. Favorite place in the world: I love hiking or running in Annadel on a hot day and ending up at Lake Alsanjo for a swim. One of my recent trips: This past summer my family and friends went to the northwest side of Vancouver Island. It was very beautiful. We hiked, kayaked, climbed rocks and climbed a very tall Douglas Fir tree (named Doug) and picked amazing berries. On one of our hikes, we were joined by a local bear for about 45 minutes of the walk. We kept a respectful distance (no one wanted to be a bear snack!) and finally the bear headed off the trail for better berries.	Trip Photos: The bear from a distance We finally reached the top!