Lauren R Smith-Leed, MD, FACOG

Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

I don't remember a time when I didn't want to be a doctor. From the very first time anyone ever asked me "what do you want to be when you grow up," the only answer was "doctor." As I went through my schooling, I explored other career avenues, but nothing every felt right, and I always circled back to medicine. I love kids, and thought I might be a pediatrician. But after I delivered my first baby in medical school, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life. Turns out, OB/GYN was also the best fit for me in many other ways, too. I am a passionate advocate of women's/maternal health.

What I want my patients to know about me:

I'm very committed to practicing evidenced based medicine, and following best-practice guidelines that have been established by ACOG and other expert societies. But I also do my very best to approach every patient with empathy and understanding, and recognize that not all patients are the same. In almost any situation, there is room to consider both guidelines and patient preference. I'm also a pretty straightforward person and and honest doctor. If I think something is unsafe or unwise, I will let you know. And if I think I'm not the best doctor for your needs, I will let you know, too!

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I'm married with two beautiful sons, and spend as much time with them as possible when I'm not working. I also grew up in York County, and still have lots of family (parents, in-laws, brothers, nephews) in this area and in Maryland. It seems like there's always some type of family event with either my family or my husband's family going on! We all love spending time out on the water, and go boating on the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay as often as we can in the summer. I'm a committed Baltimore Orioles fan, and spend lots of time at Camden Yards, as well.