Laura Sienas, MD is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Northwest Perinatal Center in Portland, Oregon.
“Most of the time if you’re coming to see me during pregnancy it’s because something isn’t going as expected. The resilience of people in those circumstances—taking in the information we are able to provide and make decisions quickly—is something that never ceases to amaze me. I don’t take the trust people place in me in those situations lightly.”
Dr. Sienas delivered her first baby in Ghana after a year of medical school and fell in love with the magic of being part of that moment where a person’s life changes forever. Drawn to medicine by the combination of science, advocacy and continuous learning, today she finds energy and inspiration through connecting with patients and understanding their stories. It is upon this foundation she is able to provide information about choices that will lead to the most optimal outcomes and support her patients in making decisions that are best for themselves and their families. She appreciates the inherent challenge of maternal-fetal medicine in its consideration of two lives and the continuous evolution of the specialty in ways that improve care and make pregnancy and birth safer for people. Dr. Sienas has particular interest in cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, including hypertension and hemodynamics; pre-term labor; procedural-based care; selective reduction; pregnancy in people with a history of organ transplant; fetal anomalies; and environmental health in pregnancy.
In addition to patient care, Dr. Sienas is active in professional organizations devoted to improving care quality and access. She served on the Washington State maternal mortality review panel and testified at the state and national levels to assure their work in improving care quality received permanent funding. As a the young physician representative for District 8 of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, she participated in the congressional leadership conference expanding access to health care for birthing parents through one year postpartum. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two Labrador retrievers. Some of her favorite things to do include hiking, kayaking, SCUBA diving and cooking—and pursuing her goal to see all the national parks.
Fellowship:
Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, 2020
Residency:
Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Davis, 2017
Medical School:
Doctor of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2013
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Biology (magna cum laude), Loyola University Chicago, 2008
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists