laura villegas

Provide primary care, gynecologic and prenatal services to underserved population

Provide gynecologic services, family planning, and STI management for women.

* Obtain general health history, perform physical examinations, diagnose, obtain and interpret appropriate diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests relevant to primary care, gynecology and obstetrics. * Provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum management and screen for high risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications and refer or collaborate as appropriate. * Educate and manage women in need of family planning, fertility control, gynecologic conditions, menopausal symptoms, breast health.

* Obtain general health history, perform physical examinations, and obtain and interpret appropriate diagnostic procedures and laboratory tests relevant to primary care, gynecology and obstetrics. * Provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum management. * Screen for high risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications and refer or collaborate as appropriate. * Provide management and education for women in need of family planning, fertility control, gynecologic conditions, menopausal symptoms, breast health. * Procedures: endometrial biopsies, skin biopsies, IUD placements, words catheter.

Assess and manage patients coming to labor and delivery triage after 16 weeks gestation for issues such as preterm labor, vaginal bleeding, decreased fetal movement, and other related obstetric/gynecologic issues. -Daily rounds to the Mother Baby Unit to provide postpartum care and manage discharge planning for a mixed population in a high volume center.

* Provide gynecologic, obstetric and primary care services to women of all age groups. * Conduct well-woman exams; manage contraception, fertility assessment, menstruation problems, pelvic pain, peri/postmenopausal symptoms, breast health and all other women’s health problems. * Skills: family planning, diagnostic tests, endometrial biopsies, pessary management, colposcopy observation

Monitored and supervised clinical trials on depression treatment for Hispanics, women with breast cancer, pathological gamblers, and substance users. -Reviewed, supervised and adviced team members on generating ideas and interpreting data collected from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). -Conducted Spanish and English interviews with participants using SCID, HAM-D, and other assessment interviews required for different studies and perform medical examinations required for intake into studies. -Organized and conduct preventive workshops to middle school and high school students about pathological gambling.

* Prepared grant and ethics applications for local and international agencies and hospitals. * Controlled and organized administrative aspects of up to 8 studies by effectively communicating with various departments of the University of Toronto, CAMH, external sites and study coordinators. * Devised and monitored budget for various grants held in the by the Principal Investigator. * Interviewed, hired and trained new employees and provided guidance during their research tasks. * Coordinated all aspects longitudinal studies with perinatal women including developing strategies to recruit and maintain participants, building relationship with recruitment sites and conducting assessment interviews.

Designed procedure to recruit, track, and recruit patients from the Reproductive Life Stages program and Obstetrics department for postpartum sexuality study. -Conducted database searches including MEDLINE, CINHAL, PsycInfo, EMBASE and others to gather information for literature reviews (submitted and in progress) -Collected, organized and analyzed data using SPSS to present at local or international conferences and to prepare manuscripts for publication.

Assisted consumers having motor disabilities such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and others, with activities of daily living including dressing, bathing, feeding, toileting, and more. -Enhanced the quality of life of people with disabilities through recreation, activities, friendship and social integration. -Organized and lead recreational activities such as canoeing, swimming, hiking, painting, arts and crafts, fishing, and out-trips maintaining group dynamic and safety issues.

* Provide obstetric and gynecologic care to women * Screen, diagnose and manage uncomplicated medical conditions and consult whem complications arise. * Collaborate with other providers and clinic departments to better serve patients with other physical conditions, mental health, emotional, substance abuse or financial needs

1st Prize at ENRS 2011 Conference: http://sklad.cumc.columbia.edu/nursing/news/newsItem.php?newsID=152 Activities and Societies: Sigma Theta Tau, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Eastern Nursing Research Society,

Teacher Assistant - Maternal/Fetal Physiology, Advanced Physiology, Pathophysiology, Evaluation & Application of Research Activities and Societies: Sigma Theta Tau International, Association of Reproductive Health Professionals,

Activities and Societies: President of the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), Current Affairs Forum Exchange (CAFEX), Lets Talk Science