We are excited to debut our newest resource, our Focus on Health video series. We hope that these short videos will keep you informed about relevant health issues facing women today.
Please join us in welcoming Demetria Y. Gordon, M.D. to our Memorial Regional office. Dr. Gordon will deliver babies in the hospital Labor & Delivery unit as well as see VWC patients with obstetrical or gynecologic problems who come to the hospital.
At Virginia Women's Center, we currently have one clinical research study enrolling: an overactive bladder study. For more information, visit our clinical research page.
Most of the time, pregnancy goes the way it should: the mother is healthy, the fetus grows normally and the childbirth is a happy and trouble-free event. Sometimes, however, situations can arise that require special attention. Virginia Women’s Center’s maternal-fetal medicine specialists and genetic counselor are in place to help patients navigate those times.
Genetics is the branch of science that deals with how traits are passed from parent to child through genes. Having genetic tests performed during pregnancy is a personal choice. Some couples choose not to be tested for birth defects. Others find that testing and counseling can help them better plan for the future. The genetics field is expanding exponentially, so new developments—often complex—come to light every day.
Laurie Tams is a genetic counselor. Her role is to work with mothers and couples in explaining the array of prenatal testing options and helping interpret test results. She works closely with our maternal fetal medicine specialists and obstetricians. Laurie is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and the Virginia Association of Genetic Counselors.
Laurie received a bachelor of arts summa cum laude in interdisciplinary studies from University of Richmond. She went on to Virginia Commonwealth University to perform three years of post baccalaureate work and associated laboratories in human anatomy, physiology, chemistry, organic chemistry and physics.
Laurie has worked as a genetic counselor since 1987. During that time, she has also instructed graduate-level students enrolled in the genetic counseling program at VCU. Prior to her work as a genetic counselor, she was a unit assistant on the labor and delivery floor at Medical College of Virginia. And in the 1980s, she worked in a variety of jobs with special-needs children: as student teacher for Canterbury Community Nursery, a hospital intern with Children’s Hospital and camp counselor for United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware.
Laurie and her husband have three children: college-age twins and a preteen. The family shares its home with two cats, a hermit crab, a betta fish and a black bear hamster. In school, Laurie was named “best woman scholar athlete” and still enjoys long-distance running, as well as music, dancing and baking.
Office Location(s):
Henrico Doctors' Forest Medical Plaza
7611 Forest Avenue, Suite 200
Richmond, Virginia 23229
Location Phone: 804-288-4084
Location Fax: 804-288-3567
Memorial Regional Medical Center
8266 Atlee Road, Suite 330
Medical Office Building II
Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116
Location Phone: 804-288-4084
Location Fax: 804-559-2046
St. Mary's Hospital
5875 Bremo Road, Suite 400
Medical Office Building South
Richmond, Virginia 23226
Location Phone: 804-288-4084
Location Fax: 804-282-2601