LG Ward

Research Scientist

Biography

LG Ward received a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a BS in Psychology from the College of Charleston. Dr. Ward completed clinical internship at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is currently a postdoctoral research fellow working with Dr. Laura Stroud in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the Centers for Preventive and Behavioral Medicine of the Miriam Hospital which is funded through the Adolescent Biobehavioral/HIV T32 of Rhode Island Hospital under the direction of Dr. Larry Brown.

Dr. Ward’s program of research focuses on the effects of stress, trauma, and sexual violence on perinatal health as well as strategies to reduce risk and promote well-being during the perinatal period. Her prior research focused on the neuromolecular effects of maternal environmental stress and enrichment on neonatal brain injury, mindfulness interventions for discrimination-related stress and enhancing empathy across difference, as well as the effects of early life stress and sexual violence on biomarkers in pregnancy and pregnancy complications. She is currently transitioning to a new area of research focused on strategies to promote trauma-informed assessment and treatment in obstetric care for pregnant individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Dr. Ward's clinical work focuses on women’s behavioral medicine with a particular focus on the perinatal period.