Laura Fiveash

Laura B. Fiveash, DrPH, RD

In 1990, Dr. Fiveash earned an undergraduate degree at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, with a major in nutrition and minors in biology and fitness. She completed a year-long dietetic internship in Augusta, GA.  In 1998, Dr. Fiveash obtained an MPH from the University of Michigan.  Five years later, she completed her doctorate (DrPH) in Maternal and Child Health at UAB. Her coursework included special education programs and policies, public health law, statistics, quality of life measurements, and an economic analysis fellowship.  Her dissertation research analyzed the quality of life, body weight, and health care insurance among 850 Birmingham City school children.  She completed a postdoc in clinical trials and epidemiology in 2005.  Dr. Fiveash has advocated for children covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for over 20 years.  In April 2015, she became the Executive Director of Spring Valley School, a private independent school serving students in grades 1-12 with learning differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD.  Currently, she serves on the Alabama Committee on Grade-Level Reading and recently completed Leadership Birmingham. She serves on the Association of LD Schools board, an organization that serves the LD schools around the nation and the OurHome Birmingham and Hope Day School boards. Furthermore, she completed a School Management and Leadership Certificate from Harvard University. She is married to Dr. John Fiveash. Together, they have 23-year-old triplets.