Hall of Excellence
Today the majority of women in North America choose to breastfeed. This choice reflects the support and hard work of lactation consultants who devote themselves to helping women breastfeed successfully. These dedicated professionals make the difference for new moms, and Medela is honored to work with them and to support their efforts in promoting breastfeeding.
A special thank you to the many nominators that spoke so highly and congratulations to the elite group of nominees. You all are demonstrations of excellence every day. Thank You.
The nomination period will be opening October 15, 2008 until December 15, 2008 for the 2008-2009 LC Hall of Excellence application.
Click here to learn how to nominate a lacatation consultant in the future.
2007-2008 Lactation Consultant Hall of Excellence Inductees
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Kimberly Barbas, RN, BSN, IBCLC - a pediatric nurse for twenty years and a lactation consultant for fourteen years, was responsible for the initiation and development of a 1998 lactation support program at Children's Hopsital Boston. Barbas also volunteers to provide peer support to nursing mothers and educational training to aspiring lactation consultants through her involvement in the Nursing Mothers' Council. She has published research about breastfeeding infants with congenital heart disease in Pediatric Nursing and is an active breastfeeding educator who has presented at both the national and local level. Barbas, whose work focuses on breastfeeding medically complex infants says, "We would like to use the grant money to increase the use of donor milk in our hospital. Since donor milk is not something commonly reimbursed by insurance, using the funding to cover the cost of donor milk and implementing it as part of our standard of care would allow more newbonrns to be exclusively breastmilk fed."
Dawn Frank, RN, BSN, IBCLC - a nurse for thirty-six years, was first certified as a lactation consultant in 1986. Frank founded the Long Island Lactation Consultant Association, coordinated annual breastfeeding conferences at Stony Brook University for 10 years, participated in New York Breastfeeding Advisory Council and is currently a membor of the New York Breastfeeding Promotion Leadership Committee. She is a vocal breastfeeding advocate and has been published in articles in Nursing Spectrum, Long Island Parently News, Parent Connections and Newsday. "The lactation consulting field is in its infancy and not enough professionals or lay people really know what we're all about. This honor recognizes the efforts of the Lactation Consultants. Hopefully, the increased awareness will encourage more people to join the field and dedicate themselves to the profession. It is important and quite satisfying work, " said Frank.
Rebecca Saenz, MD, IBCLC, FABM, LLL - founded the University of Mississippi Medical Center Breastfeeding Consult Service in 1997, which served as a statewide referral center for mothers experiencing problems with breastfeeding. She also opened the Mississippi Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic in 2003 and has published countless academic works on breastmilk and infant health. In addition to being an ILCA member, Saenz is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition and La Leche League Medical Associates. "Being a lactation consultant is one of the most gratifying things I have ever done," said Saenz. "I practiced family medicine before becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and while that was gratifying, it was also frustrating at times. Being a lactation consultant and a breastfeeding medicine specialist gives me the warm fuzzies every single day."
