If you live in San Francisco and you’ve ever had a conversation about the best OB/GYN in the city, the name Laurie Green has definitely come up. Honestly, she’s kind of a legend around here. It isn't just because she’s delivered two generations of San Franciscans—though that’s a pretty wild stat on its own. It’s because she basically rewrote the playbook for how women receive care in a city that prides itself on being ahead of the curve.
Back in 1989, she co-founded Pacific Women’s Obstetrics & Gynecology Medical Group. At the time, an all-female practice was a radical idea. Now? It’s the standard we expect. But Laurie Green didn't stop at just building a successful private practice. She’s currently sitting on the San Francisco Health Commission, helping run the massive machine that is the Department of Public Health.
Breaking the "Old Boys' Club" in SF Medicine
When Laurie Green was applying to medical school in the early 70s, a professor actually asked her why she should take a spot away from a "qualified male student."
Can you imagine?
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Instead of getting discouraged, she used that friction as fuel. She graduated from Harvard Medical School, did her residency at UCSF, and then set out to create a space where women’s concerns weren't just heard—they were prioritized. Pacific Women’s was only the second all-female OB/GYN practice in San Francisco history. She wanted a "woman-run environment" because, frankly, the medical world at the time was pretty clinical and, well, male-dominated.
The MAVEN Project: Why She’s Not Just a Local Hero
Most doctors reach a certain age and start looking at golf courses or quiet retreats. Not Dr. Green. She noticed something interesting: a bunch of her brilliant, retired physician friends were bored. Meanwhile, clinics in under-resourced areas were drowning because they couldn't get specialists to help their patients.
So, she started the MAVEN Project (Medical Alumni Volunteer Expert Network).
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It’s basically a matchmaking service that uses telehealth to connect retired or semi-retired expert doctors with primary care providers in safety-net clinics. Think of it as a massive brain trust for the underserved. Today, this San Francisco-born nonprofit supports hundreds of clinic sites across more than 30 states. It’s a huge deal.
Managing the "Older Mom" Trend in the Bay Area
If you’ve spent any time in the Mission or Pacific Heights lately, you’ve noticed that the strollers are often pushed by women in their late 30s and 40s. Laurie Green has been a vocal expert on this shift.
She’s pointed out that while we like to think of the "uterus as ageless," the reality is a bit more complex. In San Francisco, the average age of a woman delivering at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) is around 35. That’s significantly higher than the national average. Green has spent years helping these "older" moms navigate the increased risks—things like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes—without the fear-mongering that often comes with those conversations.
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Why the Health Commission Role Actually Matters to You
You might think a "Health Commissioner" is just someone who sits in boring meetings. In San Francisco, it’s way more than that. As a commissioner, Dr. Green oversees the budgets and policies for Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Laguna Honda Hospital.
She’s been reappointed multiple times, most recently by Mayor Mark Farrell and Mayor London Breed, and she continues to serve under Mayor Daniel Lurie. Her job is to make sure that even if you don't have the best insurance in the world, you still get treated like a human being. She’s particularly focused on the "safety net"—making sure the city’s most vulnerable residents don't fall through the cracks.
Practical Steps for Choosing Your Care in SF
If you’re looking for a provider or trying to navigate the San Francisco health scene, here is how you can use the "Laurie Green approach" to find what works for you:
- Prioritize the "High-Touch" Experience: Look for practices that emphasize communication over just "checking boxes." If your doctor doesn't know your history by the second visit, they aren't looking at the whole picture.
- Check Hospital Affiliations: In SF, where you deliver matters. Dr. Green is heavily involved with CPMC (Van Ness and Davies campuses). Make sure your doctor has "privileges" at a hospital you actually like.
- Don't Be Afraid of the "Late Start": If you're 38 and thinking about a first pregnancy, don't panic. But do find a doctor who specializes in high-risk obstetrics and understands the nuances of the "SF demographic."
- Support Local Health Equity: Look into the MAVEN Project or the SF Health Commission's public meetings. Staying informed about how the city manages health is the first step to being a better advocate for yourself and your neighbors.
Laurie Green’s career proves that you can be a world-class surgeon and a community activist at the same time. She didn't just deliver babies; she helped build the infrastructure that keeps San Francisco healthy. Whether she’s in a boardroom at 1145 Market Street or in the delivery room at 2 AM, she’s basically the definition of what a "city doctor" should be.