Leslie E. Lawrence, MD

Leslie E. Lawrence, M.D. has been the Associate Residency Training Director in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, at Tulane University School of Medicine since July 1, 2008. She has been a National Health and Service Corp. Scholar (NHSC) recipient since 1994, and is currently fulfilling her last two years back as a NHSC scholar in New Orleans, Louisiana.

As an Adult Psychiatrist, her primary interest is in Public Psychiatry. The Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Tulane University School of Medicine, hired Dr. Lawrence as Assistant Clinical Professor on October 1, 2007.

Dr. Lawrence has had several clinical responsibilities in the Metro area of New Orleans. During the past three years, she has been a Staff Psychiatrist for the Assertive Community Treatment Program in Jefferson Parrish. Women’s Space, a Safe Haven Temporary Residential Program for homeless women with chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse, hired Dr. Lawrence in 2007 as their Medical Director. In 2007, she worked at Health Care for the Homeless as the Staff Psychiatrist. Under the same contract, in 2007, Dr. Lawrence was hired as Staff Psychiatrist for the Drop-In Center, a respite for homeless youth who have high risk factors for suicide due to their chronic history of substance abuse and or mental illness. In February, 2008, New Orleans Adolescent Hospital (NOAH) opened up an additional Adult In-patient Unit. Dr. Lawrence was hired as one of the Attendings where she supervises Tulane Residents and is a preceptor to the Tulane medical students during their clinical clerkships. She also has a clinic at Tulane University Behavioral Clinic where she provides psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.

Dr. Lawrence was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She attended Xavier, University of New Orleans, La. and received her B.S. in biology in 1999. She attended Charles R. Drew/UCLA for medical school and received her doctoral degree in medicine in 1999. Dr. Lawrence returned to New Orleans to do her residency in psychiatry and attended Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology. She was Chief Resident the year of Hurricane Katrina, 2005-2006, and was instrumental in providing the residents who transferred to Houston, Texas to continue their residency in psychiatry by finding living accommodations, monitored and supervised their activities. Dr. Lawrence was asked to speak at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) regarding the collaboration of the two departments of psychiatry residency programs Post Katrina: Baylor College of Medicine and Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Lawrence completed her residency program in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Tulane University School of Medicine in 2006.