Larissa A. Guran, MPH, CD(DONA)

(301) 706-6745
Email: larissa@northstarbirth.com


Objective

  • To work with birthing women and their partners to provide the best birth experience possible, using my skills as a certified birth doula and a public health professional.

Doula Experience

Doula Certification Training, with Mona Hartz at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, July 1999 Certified Birth Doula, with Doulas of North America (DONA), March 2000 Birth Doula Experience I have attended births at:
  • Private homes
  • The Maternity Center (birth center)
  • St. Joseph Hospital (Baltimore)
  • Mercy Hospital (Baltimore)
  • George Washington Hospital
  • Georgetown University Hospital
  • Holy Cross Hospital
  • Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
  • Sibley Memorial Hospital
Birth Doula Professional Development
July 2002 Attended the Doulas of North America Annual Meeting in Clearwater, Florida, received continuing education credit
October 2002 Participated in a birth doula certification training run by Kathy McGrath, one of 2 doulas who trains trainers for DONA as co-trainer and observer
March 2003 Recertified as a DONA Birth Doula
April 2004 Advanced Doula Training - topic covered include working with fearful clients, prenatal communications, decision making in labor and advanced coping techniques

Professional Accomplishments

  • Featured in "Helping Hands" and "So You're Having a Baby!" articles in Washingtonian magazine, August 2003
  • Featured in "Doulas Deliver Helping Hand, Know How at Birthing" in Washington Post article specifically about the program I created, June 2003
  • Featured as Manager of Multicultural Services in "Rebirth of Traditions: Maternity Wards Adapt to Immigrants' Needs" in Washington Post, May 2002
  • "Tailoring a health message: Educating pregnant Latinas about the risks of passive smoke", Oral Presentation, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November, 2000
  • "Providing support to laboring women: Culturally specific programs help eliminate health disparities", Poster Presentation, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, November, 2000

Work Experience

Holy Cross Hospital, Manager Perinatal Programs
April 2002 to present
  • Created a hospital-based Birth Doula program
Holy Cross Hospital, Manager Multicultural Services
March 2001 to April 2002
University of Maryland, College Park, graduate teaching assistant
September 1998 to May 2000
United Way of Central Maryland, outcomes coordinator
December 1997 to August 1998
United States Senator, Barbara A. Mikulski, caseworker
September 1996 to December 1997
Centro de la Comunidad, Inc., pregnancy prevention program coordinator
June 1996 to August 1996
Baltimore City Public Schools, teacher & Teach for America corpsmember
August 1994 to September 1996, Spanish grades 6-8

Education

University of Maryland, College Park, Master of Public Health, Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies, 2000 University of Oregon, BA in Spanish, 1994 Instituto Internacional, Seville, Spain, 1993

Academic Experience

University of Maryland, College Park, MPH Program
September 1998 to December 2000
  • Counseled and educated patients in Women's Health Clinic regarding pregnancy options and safer sex
  • Performed a preliminary needs assessment for Hispanic community in Langley Park, MD regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program
  • Specialized projects and term papers on Maternal & Child Health, Cultural and Linguistic Access and Health Disparities issues

Additional Skills

  • Skilled in development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services
  • Fluent in Spanish, verbal and written
  • Certified BLS for Health Care Providers (CPR)