Peter F. Lawrence MD

Dr. Lawrence is the Wiley Barker Professor and Chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at UCLA, as well as director of the Gonda Vascular Center. Dr. Lawrence graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical school. He completed his surgical residency and vascular surgery fellowship at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. In 1978, he joined the faculty at the University of Utah where he served as Chief of Surgery at the Veterans Administration Hospital and Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery. He moved to UC Irvine in 1998 to become the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, and in 2003, to UCLA to become the Chief of Vascular Surgery, director of the Gonda Vascular Center, as well as the Bergman Chair in Vascular Research.

Dr. Lawrence has published over 300 articles, editorials, and book chapters. His clinical and research interests are related to aneurysms, limb salvage, and venous disease. He has received the National Institute of Health and Department of Defense funding for his research. In addition to publishing in the subspecialty of Vascular Surgery, Dr. Lawrence has edited two textbooks of surgery for medical students, Essentials of General Surgery and Essentials of Surgical Specialties, which are entering their 6th edition and used at most US and international medical schools in their student education programs. He has also been the associate editor of several other vascular surgery textbooks.

Dr. Lawrence's favorite hobby is watersports, including boogie boarding, sailing, and fishing. He has built and restored waterfront homes on the East and West coast to accommodate his family's passion for a coastal lifestyle. He previously played college football and lacrosse and received several college all-star athletic awards. He was elected to his high school athletic hall of fame and received their lifetime achievement award. He also received the Dartmouth Medical School career achievement award in 2018. He is married to Karen Lawrence, Emeritus President of Sarah Lawrence College, who is currently the president of the Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino California. They have two sons, Andy and Jeff.