Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 275-2972

Fax: (585) 461-3614

A member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group

An Accountable Health Partner

Not Accepting New Patients

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 777
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Professor Emerita - Department of Pediatrics , Neonatology (SMD)

Biography

Dr. Lawrence's major medical practice focuses on Neonatology and Clinical Toxicology.

Professional Background

Ruth A. Lawrence, MD, FAAP, FAACT
Dr. Ruth A. Lawrence, MD, is a graduate of Antioch College and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, is a pediatrician, clinical toxicologist, and neonatologist. She is Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center.

She became the Director of the Poison Center at the University of Rochester in 1958 following its founding as the second center in the country in 1954 at the request of the New York State Health Department. Dr. Charles Lobeck was the first director. It was the first center to answer calls from the public. It closed in 2010 due to budget cuts by the Gov. David Patterson.

In the 1960's, with Dr. Robert J. Haggerty, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and former Director of the Boston Poison Center, she wrote on the management of household poisonings. Plants and herbs are Dr. Lawrence's special interest in toxicology as well as questions of medications during pregnancy and lactation.

Dr. Lawrence has served on a number of American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) committees including the original committee to establish certifying guidelines for centers. She served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology for three terms and was Chair of the Committee on Fellowship during that time.

When the New York State Department of Health established its consulting committee for poison services, she served as its first chair. She has been a member of the New York State Association of Poison Centers since its founding and has served as its President twice.

Dr. Lawrence received the Life Time Achievement Award from the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology in September 2002.

Research

Ruth A. Lawrence's focus in neonatal care has been nutrition. Recently that interest has been predominantly in human milk and breastfeeding. Since human lactation has suffered from considerable neglect, a textbook, "Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession" now in its 8th Edition (2015) has consumed considerable time in researching the current literature and creating a computerized database and developing consensus.
Dr. Lawrence has also been involved in efforts to provide human milk for prematures. A product has been produced exclusively from human milk to be used to supplement a mother's own milk who is feeding a premature. The product was developed in consultation with Dr. Lawrence by Prolacta Bioscience, a human milk bank. The study will be funded by Prolacta. A blinded, randomized study of the supplement will test its impact on the growth of the prematures as well as the incidence of infections compared to breastfeeding prematures who are supplemented with a bovine product.

Credentials

Education

1949
MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

07/01/1956 - 05/30/1958
Residency in Pediatrics at University of Rochester Medical Center

08/01/1950 - 11/30/1951
Residency in Pediatrics at Yale New Haven Hospital Temple Medical Center

07/01/1949 - 06/30/1950
Internship in Pediatrics at Yale New Haven Hospital Temple Medical Center

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Awards

2019
Recipient of Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award, given by Susan B. Anthony Center, Rochester, New York, January 26, 201

2018
Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award, given by University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, May 9, 2018

2017
Recipient of First Award of Recognition by Speech Cradle, LLC, Albany, New York, November 14, 2017

2017
Grand Opening/Dedication of Ruth A. Lawrence, MD Lactation Room, Women's Health Practice, 125 Lattimore Road, Rochester, New Yor

2016
Recipient of First Ruth A. Lawrence, MD "Investigator Award" given by ICHMSI in recognition of lifelong contribution to the fiel

2014
Recipient, Northumberland Trust Chair in Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine

2010 - Present
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsor: Recipient, Anthony L. Jordan Recognition
Location: Anthony L. Jordan Health Center

2010 - Present
Distinguished Alumni Award
Sponsor: University of Rochester School of Medicine

2010
Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Rochester School of Medicine

2009 - Present
Doctor of Divinity (Honorary)
Sponsor: St. Bernard's Scool of Theology and Ministry

2009 - Present
Recipient, Dr. Richard Bayley Award
Sponsor: Richmond University Medical Center

2009 - Present
Recipient, Martha May Eliott Award
Sponsor: American Public Health Association

2008 - Present
Athena Award
Sponsor: Women's Council of the Rochester Business Council

2007 - Present
Health Leadership Award

2006 - Present
Life Time Achievement Award (1st)
Sponsor: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

2006 - Present
Perinatal Award
Sponsor: Perinatal Network of Monro County. community Champion

2005
Life Time Achievement Award, Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley

2004 - 2005
Who's Who in Medicine and Health Care, 5th Edition

2004
Honor, Finger Lakes Regional Poison & Drug Information Center renamed to Ruth A. Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center

2003
Recipient, Leading Breastfeeding National Advocacy Award, Leading Lady

2003
Fellow, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

2003
Recipient, The 2003 Healthy Children Lifetime Achievement Award

2002 - 2003
Recipient, America's Top Pediatricians, Consumers' Research Council of America

2002
Life-time Achievement Award, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology

2002
Recipient, Great Minds of the 21st Century

2002
Member, Honorary Committee, Promoting the Best from the Beginning chaired by Mrs. Laura Bush, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

2001 - 2002
Recipient, Best Doctors List

2001
Recipient, Edward Mott Moore Award, Monroe County Medical Society

2001
Recipient, The Healthy Start Rochester Community Consortium, Community Unity for Healthier Babies Recognition Award
Sponsor: Recipient, The Healthy Start Rochester Community Consortium

2001
Recipient, Edward Mott Moore Award, Monroe County Medical Society

1999
Recipient, Association of American Medical Colleges Humanism in Medicine Award

1999
Recipient, Healthy Children 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award

1998
Recipient, The Jordan Health Center Special Recognition Award

1998
Recipient, Second Annual Susan B. Anthony University Center Lifetime Achievement Award

1997
Recipient, Special Recognition Award from Best Start and USDA, presented at the launching of USDA Breastfeeding Campaign
Sponsor: Washington, D.C.

1996
Recipient, Faculty Service Award, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

1996
Recipient, Civic Health Care Award of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce

1995
Recipient: The AACT Recognition Award, The AAPCC Lifetime Achievement Award, The NYSAPCC Recognition Service Award
Sponsor: Presented by AACT, AAPCC, and NYSAPCC

1995
Recipient, La Leche League International Award of Achievement

1995
Committee on the Status of Women, for outstanding leadership, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence
Sponsor: Commendation: University of Rochester

1993
Recipient, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Award for leaders in the community who have made a significant impact on the quality of life

1992
Recipient, Citation for Outstanding Service, 75th Anniversary of the Health Association

1992
Recipient, George Washington Goler Award presented by the Board of the New York State Public Health Association, Genesee Region

1991 - Present
Honorary Member, Department of Pediatrics, The Genesee Hospital

1991
Recipient, Albert David Kaiser Medal presented by the Rochester Academy of Medicine

1989
Rochester Diocesan Award for Women - St. Bernard's Institute

1987
Career Achievement Award - Girl Scouts of the Genesee Valley

1984
Citation for Civic Contribution - Rochester Safety Council

1982
William Keeler Award for Safety - Rochester Safety Council

1980 - Present
Honorary Fellowship in American Academy of Clinical Toxicology

1979 - Present
Who's Who in America, + Subsequent Editions

1979
Academy of Medicine Citation for Service to the Community

1979
Gold Medal Award: University of Rochester Alumni Association Citation

1979
Hettie Shumway Award for Community Service

1977 - 1978
Faculty Service Award, Department of Pediatrics

1977 - 1978
Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Department of Pediatrics

1973
Outstanding Contribution - World's Who's Who of Women

1972 - Present
Who's Who in the East + Subsequent Edition

1970 - Present
Who's Who in Women, 1st Edition + Subsequent Editions

1968
Woman of the Year, Girl Scouts of Monroe County

1960
Honorary Fellowship in American School Health Association

1949
Secretary to Zeta Chapter AOA

1949
Alpha Omega Alpha

1949
National Highest Place-National Board Examination Part II

1947 - 1947
National Highest Place-National Board Examination Part I

1945 - 1949
Buswell Scholarship

1945
Research Fellowship - Jackson Memorial Research Labs Cancer and Genetics

1941 - 1949
Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarship

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Publications

Journal Articles

5/2013
Dozier AM, Howard CR, Brownell EA, Wissler RN, Glantz JC, Ternullo SR, Thevenet-Morrison KN, Childs CK, Lawrence RA. "Labor epidural anesthesia, obstetric factors and breastfeeding cessation." Maternal and child health journal.. 2013 May; 17(4):689-98.

10/2012
Brownell E, Howard CR, Lawrence RA, Dozier AM. "Delayed onset lactogenesis II predicts the cessation of any or exclusive breastfeeding." The Journal of pediatrics.. 2012 Oct; 161(4):608-14. Epub 2012 May 09.

4/2012
Lawrence RA. "Breastfeeding--a public health issue, not just a matter of choice." Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.. 2012 Apr; 7(2):67-8.

Books & Chapters

2011
Book Title: New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding
Author List: Meek JY, YU W, Lawrence RA, et al
Published By: American Academy of Pediatrics, The Random House Publishing Group 2011

2011
Book Title: Breastfeeding: In: Rudolph CD (Ed) 22nd Edition
Author List: Morton J, Lawrence RA.
Published By: Rudolph's Pediatrics 2011

2010
Book Title: Circulating 25-HydroxVit D Levels in Fully Breastfed Infants on Oral Vit-D Suppl
Author List: Wagner CL, Howard CR, Husley TC, Lawrence RA, Taylor SN, Will H. Ebeling M, Huston J, Hollis BW.
Published By: International Journal of Endocrinology 2010

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