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Our Team of Experts Perinatologists

A perinatologist is an obstetrician who has special training in managing patients with high-risk pregnancies, or complications during pregnancy. As a member of the Fetal Treatment Center team, the perinatologist is responsible for managing all aspects of your prenatal care.

For further information regarding Perinatology please refer to the
Department of OB/GYN website.

Russell Laros, M.D.

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Director Perinatal Outreach Program

Perinatology

Specialties: Birth Defects and Fetal Treatment, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology and Reproductive Genetics

Dr. Russell Laros is an obstetrician-gynecologist in UCSF Women's Health at Daly City. He specializes in maternal-fetal medicine and is particularly interested in the treatment of hematologic (blood) conditions during pregnancy, such as anemia and coagulation disorders. He also is a member of UCSF Children's Hospital Fetal Treatment Center, where he uses his special training and experience with high-risk pregnancies to care for women with fetal complications.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, Laros went on to earn a medical degree from Temple University, where he also completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology. At the University of Michigan, Laros completed fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine and hematology. He has been a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCSF since 1973 and is director of the UCSF Perinatal Outreach program. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine.

Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine 1961
Residencies: Temple University Medical Center, OB/GYN 1965
Fellowships: University of Michigan Medical Center, Maternal-Fetal Medicine 1968 & Hematology 1968
Certifications: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Languages: Spanish

Julian Parer, M.D., Ph.D.

Perinatology

Specialties: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology, Reproductive Services and Reproductive Genetics

Dr. Julian Parer is a perinatologist in USCF Women's Health at Parnassus. He specializes in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies and has extensive experience caring for pregnant women with pregnancy loss and premature delivery, medical illnesses and Rh disease, as well as most other complications of pregnancy. In addition, he works with the Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF Children's Hospital. Together with all members of the obstetrical team, he is committed to enabling all of his patients to have as positive a pregnancy and birth experience as possible.

Dr. Parer received his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and completed his residency at the University of Southern California. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as maternal-fetal medicine.

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine 1971
Residencies: USC Medical Center, OB/GYN 1974
Certifications: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Languages: Spanish

Patricia Robertson, M.D.

Perinatology

Specialties: Obstetrics, Perinatology

Dr. Patricia Robertson is a perinatologist in UCSF Women's Health at Parnassus where she focuses on high-risk pregnancy. She also is a member of the Fetal Treatment Center at UCSF Children's Hospital. Her special interests include the prevention of preterm birth and care of twin pregnancies (she helped to establish the special program at UCSF for “Twins and More” at in 2005). She is a Professor in the Division of Perinatal Medicine and Genetics in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California Medical Center of San Francisco. She is Director of Medical Student Education for her department, the Co-Director for the Center for Lesbian Health Research, and Medical Director of the Perinatal Mental Health Assessment Clinic. She is also an active parent in the San Francisco community.

Dr. Robertson received her undergraduate degree in biological sciences at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. She attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio and completed her residency at the University of California, San Francisco. After spending five years in private practice in Santa Monica, she returned to UCSF as a member of the faculty and completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine. She has been a member of the Faculty Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice at UCSF for the past 20 years.

Dr. Robertson wrote "The Premature Labor Handbook: Successfully Sustaining Your High-Risk Pregnancy"  with psychologist Peggy Berlin, which is the first comprehensive book to specifically address preterm labor and many of the issues confronting women, their partners and their families. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as in maternal-fetal medicine.

Medical School: University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio 1976
Residencies: UCSF Medical Center, OB/GYN 1980
Fellowships: UCSF Medical Center, Maternal-Fetal Medicine 1990
Certifications: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Languages: Spanish

Mari-Paule Thiet, M.D.

Perinatology

Specialties: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology, Reproductive Services and Reproductive Genetics

Dr. Mari-Paule Thiet is the Chief of Obstetrics and Associate Clinical Professor for the Department of Ob/Gyn & RS at UCSF. She has been practicing for 14 years and has a special interest in medical and surgical complications of pregnancy. Dr. Thiet graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1985 and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1989. She also completed a fellowship in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the George Washington University Hospital in 1991.

Juan Vargas, M.D.

Perinatology

Specialties: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology, Reproductive Services and Reproductive Genetics

Medical School: Universidad de Chile 1990
Residencies: UCSF, Obstetrics & Gynecology 1999
Fellowships: Children’s Hospital, Medical Genetics
Languages: Spanish

Marya Gail Zlatnik, M.D.

Perinatology

Specialties: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perinatology, Reproductive Services and Reproductive Genetics

Dr. Marya Zlatnik is an expert in obstetrics and gynecology. She has a special research interest in obstetrical ultrasound and preterm labor.

Dr. Zlatnik earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa. She then went on to complete a residency in obstetrics and gynecology, a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine and a master’s program in medical science at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Medical School: University of Iowa School of Medicine 1993
Residencies: University of Texas, Medical Branch 1997
Fellowships: University of Texas, Medical Branch 2000
Certifications: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Allison Sarah Bryant, M.D.

Perinatology

Assistant Adjuct Professor

Specialties: Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Prenatal Diagnosis

Dr. Bryant's clinical, research and health policy interests concern racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in pregnancy outcomes, particularly preterm birth and low birth weight. Her research focuses on improving access to health care between pregnancies for low-income women as a means to improving women's health and birth outcomes.

Medical School: Harvard Medical School 1998
Residencies: Brigham and Women's/Mass. Gen. Hospitals 2002
Fellowships: Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University 2004
Fellowships: Brigham and Women's Hospital 2005
Certifications: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine