Laurel Spence M.S. PA-C
Laurel Spence graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University in 1993 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communication Disorders. Based on her interest in audiology, Baylor College of Medicine recruited her for the pilot program offering the first Doctorate in Audiology. During her three years of study in the audiology program, Ms. Spence worked with innovative technology such as digitally programmable hearing aids and cochlear implants. She served on a research team that investigated sound localization and auditory attention.
Through courses taken with physician assistant and medical students to meet the requirements of the audiology curriculum, Laurel acquired more knowledge about the scope of practice and training of physician assistants. She transferred to Baylor College of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program from which she graduated with a Master’s of Science degree in 1999.
She has five years clinical experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology and coordinated the Women’s Health Course as an adjunct faculty member during Spring 2005. She later joined the academic faculty of the School of Allied Health and Physician Assistant program at Baylor College of Medicine July 2005. As the Maternal Child Health director, Laurel coordinates both the Women’s Health and Pediatric courses and serves as co-director of the Prevention course during the didactic year of study. In addition, she coordinates the clinical rotations in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics.
She volunteers her time with the Mental Health Association of Houston in an effort to further understanding among health care professionals and the public regarding mental illnesses in women. Research interests include fetal growth parameters and ultrasound, psychotropic medication usage in pregnancy, and mood disorders in women.