Dr. Mary Claire Haver, a nationally known women’s health expert and bestselling author, is recipient of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award.
Haver, a Lafayette native who earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University in 1991, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She has built a national platform focused on improving women’s health and expanding access to evidence-based information about menopause and healthy aging.
The award is the highest honor UL Lafayette bestows on a former student and recognizes professional and personal achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the University.
“Dr. Haver’s career reflects the many directions a UL Lafayette education can take our graduates and the extraordinary impact they can have in their professions and communities,” said Dana P. Baker, president of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. “Her leadership and expertise have earned her a place on the national stage, and we are proud to welcome her back to campus and recognize a graduate whose work is helping millions of women better understand and advocate for their health.”
Haver will receive the award during a reception on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The recognition is part of UL Lafayette’s Homecoming activities.
Earlier that day, Haver will meet with University students and employees during a Lunch & Learn. The informal conversation will focus on her path from geology to medicine and her experience recognizing unmet needs, communicating complex ideas and transforming professional expertise into meaningful impact.
Haver is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “The New Menopause,” which focuses on evidence-based menopause care, and the recently released New York Times bestseller “The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again.”
She earned her medical degree from LSU Medical Center and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she is now an adjunct associate professor.
In 2021, Haver founded The ’Pause Wellness, a clinic committed to providing comprehensive menopause care. Two years later, she launched ThePauseLife.com, a resource for women navigating menopause. She also hosts the podcast “unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver.”
Haver is a sought-after speaker and educator whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, “Today,” “CBS Mornings” and “Oprah’s Menopause Revolution.” She was named to the 2025 TIME100 Creators list and has built a social media following of more than 7 million.
Photo caption: Dr. Mary Claire Haver is recipient of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award. (Courtesy photo)