Dr. Lavender was born and raised near Houston, Texas where her family worked for NASA. She attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston then moved to Utah for her pediatrics residency training after falling in love with the mountains. Upon completing her residency at Primary Children’s Hospital, she spent 4 years working there in the Emergency Department and Rapid Treatment Unit. While she learned a great deal from her experiences in the ER, she missed developing the long-term relationships formed in an outpatient practice.

Since joining our Summit location in 2010, Dr. Lavender has enjoyed helping families stay healthy and grow strong. Her clinical interests include preventive medicine, immunizations, and supporting breastfeeding. She also has a daughter who was born with a cleft lip and palate, and while it has been a tremendous educational journey, she enjoys being a source of help to other cleft families. As a pediatrician, she believes open communication and active listening are key aspects of the doctor- patient relationship. She welcomes having discussions with families to help address concerns and find solutions together.

Dr. Lavender enjoys living in beautiful Heber Valley on a 10-acre farm with her husband, two children, golden retriever, and cows and pigs. She enjoys reading, especially fantasy novels, and outdoor activities like camping, boating, and trying to keep up with her kids on skis. She is also an amateur photographer and loves taking pictures of nature. If you see her in town, be sure to say hello – Dr. Lavender loves the perks of a small-town and interacting with her patients in the community and looks forward to meeting your family soon.

Undergraduate: University of Texas at San Antonio

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch

Residency: University of Utah/Primary Children’s Hospital