April 15, 2026

A Healthy Start Begins in the First Trimester

By: Caroline Privitt, CNM, WHNP-BC

If you just found out you are pregnant, you may feel excited, nervous, or unsure what to do next. One of the most important steps you can take is to schedule a prenatal visit right away.

Read More in the Lowell Sun

The first three months of pregnancy are very important. During this time, your baby’s brain, heart, and other organs are forming. Many key changes happen before you may even look or feel pregnant. Seeing a provider in the first trimester helps make sure your pregnancy is off to a healthy start.

At your first visit, we check your health and your baby’s early development. We review your medical history and answer your questions. Our OB and Family Planning team includes certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and physicians who work together to provide care using a collaborative model. This means you have a full team supporting you throughout your pregnancy. We order simple blood tests to check your blood type, iron level, and to screen for infections. We may offer other tests to learn more about your baby’s health. We also confirm how far along you are and set a plan for the months ahead.

Mid section of couple forming heart shape on belly while standing in park

Early care helps us find problems sooner. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or another condition, we can manage it early. If you are feeling very sick, very tired, or worried about something, we can help. The sooner we see you, the more we can do to support you and your baby.

We also talk about everyday things that matter. We explain what foods to eat, what medicines are safe, and which vitamins to take, including folic acid. We review vaccines and what symptoms mean you should call us right away.

If you are worried about insurance or cost, help is available. Insurance Navigators can help you apply for coverage or understand your benefits. We also offer a sliding fee scale for those who qualify.

You do not have to wait. Even if you just found out you are pregnant, now is the right time to call and make an appointment. The health center, including our OB-GYN department, is accepting new patients, even if you have not been seen here before. To make an appointment, call 978.937.9700. Starting care in the first trimester gives your baby the best chance for a healthy beginning and gives you peace of mind as you move forward.

Caroline Privitt, CNM, WHNP-BC, provides midwifery and OBGYN care at Lowell Community Health Center

April 13, 2026
dr. cara marshall working with patient

Dr. Cara Marshall Recognized with Innovation in Family Medicine Award

Lowell Community Health Center’s Cara Marshall, MD, was recently recognized with the 2026 Innovation in Family Medicine Award from the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians (MassAFP). Dr. Marshall serves as Program Director of the Lowell Community Health Center | Tufts Medicine | Family Medicine Residency and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Read more from Tufts University School of Medicine

The award honors physicians whose innovative approaches in care delivery, education, technology integration, and community health create sustainable, measurable impact.

Dr. Marshall was recognized for her leadership in developing the Lowell Community Health Center | Tufts Medicine | Family Medicine Residency, a partnership between Lowell Community Health Center, Tufts Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. The program is designed to expand access to care and strengthen the primary care workforce across Greater Lowell.

As founding director, Dr. Marshall has led the development of a rigorous, community-based training focused on clinical excellence and primary care. The program prepares future physicians to deliver care that is compassionate, evidence-based, and grounded in the realities of patient care.

Beginning in the summer of 2026, the residency will welcome six residents per year, with the inaugural class beginning training on June 29. Once fully established with 18 residents in training, the program will create capacity for approximately 5,000 primary care patients at Lowell Community Health Center and will graduate six new Family Medicine physicians each year.

“Cara’s leadership has been instrumental in building a residency program that reflects both the needs of our patients and the future of primary care,” said Kumble Rajesh, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Lowell Community Health Center. “This recognition reflects the strength of her work and the impact this program will have on access to care throughout the region.”

The award was presented at the MassAFP Annual Spring Meeting by Majed Abbas, MD, clinical assistant professor of family medicine, co-course director of the Competency-based Apprenticeship in Primary Care (CAP), and a member of the Core Faculty of the Lowell Community Health Center | Tufts Medicine | Family Medicine Residency.