Lauren (Keller) Baldwin

From Missouri to California to Georgia, see how Lauren (Keller) Baldwin's studies have kept her moving and brought her closer to her dream.

Questions

Favorite High School Memory: Each year, a bunch of my friends would get together and TP houses during the junior/senior rivalry week. One year, my mom drove us to each of the houses to TP. Well, that year, one of the parents heard us TP'ing their house and ran out screaming. My mom, in a panic, put the car in reverse as my friends all jumped in and sped away backwards. Needless to say, I was left behind to run like crazy!

Favorite High School Class: AP Lit with Mr. Willard or AP Psychology.

Favorite High School Activity: Running track, hockey games were always fun to attend!

In 2002, I spent my weekends: Hanging out with friends, driving around; I also worked part time for a veterinary office, which I loved.

In 2011, I spend my weekends: Studying! Also hanging out with my husband and dogs, volunteering, hiking, being outdoors, hanging out with friends, seeing movies, yoga, meditation, farmer's markets.

What You're Up To Now

I received my BA in both Psychology and Sociology at Mizzou, then moved to Santa Monica, CA and attended Pepperdine University, where I received my master's degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. I now live in Atlanta, GA and am attending Emory University to become double board certified as a family nurse practitioner and a nurse-midwife and will finally be done with school in 2013! My dream is to work to improve the worsening maternal/fetal outcomes in this country by providing low intervention, empathic care to all laboring women! I am especially interested in working in rural areas and those that have a critical shortage in primary health care providers. I am also passionate about providing prenatal care and midwifery education to developing countries that desperately need it. I recently returned from Eleuthra, Bahamas after a medical mission trip to provide medical care to those in need and hope to continue participating in those important trips.

While at Mizzou, I met my husband, and he has followed me from Missouri to California to Georgia! We were married in May 2009 and he looks forward to the day that I am no longer in school :) He is truly my rock and supports me through everything. We have three dogs together (all rescues) and have fostered for rescue groups in the area. We are both very passionate about buying organic, local food and living as green as humanly possible!