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Unit 1, Session 1A |
Do we hear you? |
Oct 25, 3-4pm EST |
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Unit 1, Session 1B |
Counseling in practice |
Oct 15, 4-4:30pm EST |
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Unit 1, Session 2 |
Why breastfeed? |
Nov 6, 1-2pm EST |
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Unit 1, Session 3 |
Lactation and medication |
Week of Nov 18 |
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Unit 1, Session 4 |
QI for busy professionals |
Dec 6 |
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Unit 1, Session 5 |
PDSAs without PTSD |
Dec 16 |
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The CHAMPS National Training Platform offers comprehensive trainings designed for CHAMPS National hospital staff and their community partners. CHAMPS National trainings cover the competencies outlined in the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, focusing on equity and safety. The curriculum includes a prerequisite Safety Training and five units covering counseling skills, prenatal and postpartum care, quality improvement, special cases, and discharge, follow-up, and community support.
CHAMPS National began in September 2023 as a three-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement evidence-based maternal health practices with hospitals nationwide. Led by the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center, CHAMPS National is dedicated to promoting equitable maternity care practices to address disparities in breastfeeding rates. The program has enrolled 100 hospitals across the US and its territories to help facilities increase exclusive breastfeeding rates, reduce racial disparities, and promote maternal-child health practices. The combined births at all CHAMPS National hospitals exceed 200,000 births annually.
CHAMPS National began in September 2023, as a three-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement evidence-based maternal health practices with hospitals nationwide. CHAMPS National is led by the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research at Boston Medical Center, and is dedicated to promoting equitable, maternity care practices to address disparities in breastfeeding rates. The program has enrolled 100 hospitals across the US and its territories, and focuses on reducing racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and promoting maternal-child health practices. The combined births at all CHAMPS National hospitals exceeds 200,000 births annually.
September 5, 2024 04:00 pm
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC, is a Senior Research Project Manager at CHEER and CHAMPS National hospital coach. She has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years, and was even named one of Alabama’s 10 Top Nurses in 2021. Before CHEER, Trendle served as one of five Perinatal Coordinators in the state who examined infant and fetal mortality as well as maternal mortality as a committee member.
Trendle’s career in nursing was primarily inspired by the caring for others she witnessed through her own family. After 16 years of experience as a clinical nurse, she went to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center, serving uninsured, underinsured, and/or underserved patients. In her role at the Alabama Department of Public Health, Trendle reviewed why patients became sick and how we could do things differently to prevent infant mortality and other poor health outcomes. She has collaborated with agencies, organizations, and advocates to better understand families’ experiences and make recommendations come to life.
Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant
Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, is a breastfeeding medicine expert recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in physician education, policy, and public health interventions. Dr. Feldman-Winter is a professor of pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and a CHAMPS National consultant. She currently represents the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine as the member representative to the United States Breastfeeding Committee, and previously served as the Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Breastfeeding.
Dr. Feldman-Winter entered the field of pediatrics more than 35 years ago after completing a residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since then, she has worked on many projects to drive knowledge and support for breastfeeding and to reduce the disparities and barriers that contribute to the culture of formula feeding in vulnerable communities. She has developed multiple resources, curricula, and webinars, contributed to over 100 publications, and mentored numerous people in the breastfeeding field.
Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN
CHAMPS National Coach
CHAMPS National Coach
Jennifer Ustianov’s vast experience in maternal-child health spans over three decades. She is currently a consultant for CHAMPS National, leading the program’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives and hospital coaching.
Over the past 20+ years, Jennifer has led and supported international, national, regional, statewide, and local projects focused on improving breastfeeding rates, healthcare and the systems that impact maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and other healthcare and systems gaps that impact maternal-child health outcomes. These experiences have provided her with extensive knowledge in QI methodologies, teamwork strategies, patient safety, and system re-design.
Laura Burnham, MPH
CHEER Associate Director
CHEER Associate Director
Laura Burnham, MPH, is the Associate Director at the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Her work focuses on quality improvement and program implementation in the field of maternal and child health, with a particular focus on breastfeeding and maternity care practices. Laura manages CHEER’s CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Care Practices) programs, which assist birthing hospitals to safely implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
October 25, 2024 01:37 pm
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
October 25, 2024 04:00 pm
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
November 6, 2024 01:00 pm
Laura Burnham, MPH
CHEER Associate Director
CHEER Associate Director
Laura Burnham, MPH, is the Associate Director at the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Her work focuses on quality improvement and program implementation in the field of maternal and child health, with a particular focus on breastfeeding and maternity care practices. Laura manages CHEER’s CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Care Practices) programs, which assist birthing hospitals to safely implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
November 19, 2024 05:00 pm
Michelle Owens, MD
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant
Michelle Owens, MD, is a clinical professor of maternal and fetal medicine at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, lead for maternal health in the state of Mississippi, and consultant physician on CHAMPS National. She is currently the National Assistant Secretary for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and President of the MS State Board of Medical Licensure. Dr. Owens is a passionate advocate for women’s health and health equity both locally and nationally.
Dr. Owens’ research and clinical interests are in hypertensive and substance use disorders in pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality, sickle cell disease, and health disparities. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters, and is the inaugural host of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s “Southern Remedy for Women,” a talk-radio show focused on health issues for women and the people who love them.
December 16, 2024 11:00 am
Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN
CHAMPS National Coach
CHAMPS National Coach
Jennifer Ustianov’s vast experience in maternal-child health spans over three decades. She is currently a consultant for CHAMPS National, leading the program’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives and hospital coaching.
Over the past 20+ years, Jennifer has led and supported international, national, regional, statewide, and local projects focused on improving breastfeeding rates, healthcare and the systems that impact maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and other healthcare and systems gaps that impact maternal-child health outcomes. These experiences have provided her with extensive knowledge in QI methodologies, teamwork strategies, patient safety, and system re-design.
January 8, 2025 01:26 am
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
January 21, 2025 01:26 am
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
February 7, 2025 03:00 pm
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
February 20, 2025 01:00 pm
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
March 25, 2025 02:00 pm
Jen Nickelson, PhD, RD, MCHES®
Associate Professor of Health Science at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Jen Nickelson, PhD, RD, MCHES® is an Associate Professor of Health Science at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Her research focuses on understanding social and environmental influences on children’s eating behaviors, breastfeeding, childhood obesity prevention, and on maternal and child health issues. She and her colleagues are currently examining the intersection of structural racism, rurality, and childhood obesity as a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program. Jen recently joined the CHEER team to assist with the CHAMPS National program. Jen also oversees the Lactation Lab, a group of dedicated UA students eager to promote breastfeeding as a student and in their professional careers. After having (and breastfeeding) 3 children, Jen earned her BS and MS degrees in nutrition from the Florida State University and her PhD in public health from the University of South Florida. She is a Registered Dietitian and a Masters Certified Health Education Specialist.
April 8, 2025 12:00 pm
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
April 29, 2025 04:00 pm
Margaret Parker, MD, MPH
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant
Meg Parker, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Academic Chief of Neonatology at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Parker is a neonatal health services researcher and holds several federal and foundation grants in the area of social disparities in preterm birth outcomes; she has a particular interest in safe sleep and breastfeeding. Dr. Parker is also an expert in multi-site implementation science, is the Co-Chair of the Neonatal Quality Improvement Collaborative of Massachusetts, and is an Improvement Advisor from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. She has led multi-site NICU quality improvements focused on breastfeeding and family engagement. Dr. Parker applies a health equity lens to her local and multi-site quality improvement projects and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee of Fetus and Newborn
May 6, 2025 03:00 pm
Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant
Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, is a breastfeeding medicine expert recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in physician education, policy, and public health interventions. Dr. Feldman-Winter is a professor of pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and a CHAMPS National consultant. She currently represents the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine as the member representative to the United States Breastfeeding Committee, and previously served as the Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Breastfeeding.
Dr. Feldman-Winter entered the field of pediatrics more than 35 years ago after completing a residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since then, she has worked on many projects to drive knowledge and support for breastfeeding and to reduce the disparities and barriers that contribute to the culture of formula feeding in vulnerable communities. She has developed multiple resources, curricula, and webinars, contributed to over 100 publications, and mentored numerous people in the breastfeeding field.
Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC,
Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Interim Chief Executive Officer
Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC, work in breastfeeding advocacy stems from her passion for addressing maternal and infant health issues, especially among communities of color. In her role at ROSE, Andrea serves on the coordinating team for ROSE events, trainings, and program related activities. In addition, Andrea is a Co-Founder and Treasurer for National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC), board member for the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition, Stakeholder Advisory Board Member of the Emory Center for Children's Health, the Environment, the Microbiome and Metabolomics, member of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals, and a member representative for the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). She also serves as a member of the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) National 2016 First Food Racial Equity cohort, where she co-facilitates trainings for communities and organizations.
Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Interim Chief Executive Officer
Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC, work in breastfeeding advocacy stems from her passion for addressing maternal and infant health issues, especially among communities of color. In her role at ROSE, Andrea serves on the coordinating team for ROSE events, trainings, and program related activities. In addition, Andrea is a Co-Founder and Treasurer for National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC), board member for the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition, Stakeholder Advisory Board Member of the Emory Center for Children's Health, the Environment, the Microbiome and Metabolomics, member of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals, and a member representative for the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). She also serves as a member of the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) National 2016 First Food Racial Equity cohort, where she co-facilitates trainings for communities and organizations.
CHEER Director
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Every Mother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach
Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, is a CHAMPS National hospital coach and consultant, a national breastfeeding promotion and support expert, and Co-Director of Every Mother, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing counseling and lactation training for health professionals across the United States. Cathy is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1996; past president and Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association; and past chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She currently serves as the North American representative to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Steering Committee. She has provided more than a thousand training events in the field of lactation in every US state and territory and many countries. She was honored in 2014 with the National Leadership Award in the “Friend of WIC” category from the National WIC Association.
In addition, Cathy serves as the national project director for numerous USDA Women, Infants, and Children curriculum development projects, including project director for the new WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum, a comprehensive breastfeeding staff training curriculum for all levels of WIC staff. She also developed the national WIC peer counseling program training curricula and management materials. Cathy previously worked with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH) and Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to develop national resources for supporting breastfeeding employees and their employers, including the MCHB Business Case for Breastfeeding, and the OWH Supporting Nursing Moms at Work national initiative. She has provided state-level workshops for employers and community advocates on worksite lactation support in 37 US states.
Blooming Families Clinic
Danilea M. Carmona Matos, MSc, CBS, IYCF/IYCF-E, tiene un enfoque especializado en salud materno-infantil, apoyo a la lactancia, investigación clínica y equidad en salud. Posee una maestría en Ciencias de la Salud, es Especialista Certificada en Lactancia Materna (CBS) y Consejera en Alimentación Infantil y de Niños Pequeños (IYCF) con formación adicional en escenarios de emergencias (IYCF-E). Además, cuenta con experiencia en Mejoramiento de la Calidad (QI) y traducciones cultural y lingüísticamente sensibles al español.
Su compromiso con la salud materno-infantil la ha llevado a formar parte del equipo de Blooming Families Clinic en Ponce, Puerto Rico, donde ofrece educación y apoyo a la lactancia como Especialista Certificada en Lactancia Materna. Ha impartido entrenamientos en español sobre Mejoramiento de la Calidad (QI) y lactancia, contribuyendo a mejorar las prácticas hospitalarias y la atención a pacientes en Puerto Rico.
Además de su labor en entornos clínicos, ha participado en proyectos de investigación colaborativa sobre las experiencias de minorías subrepresentadas en la educación médica y la formación de médicos especialistas. Sus contribuciones en este campo incluyen publicaciones científicas y un capítulo de libro. Fue galardonada con una beca de investigación médica del Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), durante la cual realizó investigación en ciencias básicas sobre el cáncer de tiroides. Con más de cinco años de experiencia en traducción en ciencias médicas y legales, se dedica a ofrecer un enfoque de atención que respete las necesidades culturales y lingüísticas de las familias. Su misión es continuar promoviendo la equidad en salud y el acceso a una atención de calidad para madres y bebés en todas las etapas del proceso de alimentación infantil.
Danilea M. Carmona Matos, MSc, CBS, IYCF/IYCF-E, specializes in maternal and infant health, breastfeeding support, clinical research, and health equity. She has a Master's in Medical Sciences, is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (CBS) and an Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Counselor with additional training in Emergencies settings (IYCF-E). Additionally, she has expertise in Quality Improvement (QI) and culturally and linguistically sensitive Spanish translations.
Her commitment to maternal and infant health has led her to be part of the Blooming Families Clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where she provides breastfeeding education and support as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist. She has conducted Spanish-language trainings on Quality Improvement (QI) and breastfeeding, contributing to improved hospital practices and patient care across Puerto Rico.
Beyond clinical settings, she has participated in collaborative research projects exploring the experiences of underrepresented minorities in medical education and graduate medical education. Her contributions include published research articles and a book chapter. She was honored with a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) medical research fellowship, during which she conducted basic science research on thyroid cancer. With over five years of experience in medical and legal translation, she is dedicated to providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care for families. Her mission is to continue promoting health equity and ensuring access to quality maternal and infant care at all stages of infant feeding.
MD, FAAP, NABBLM-C
Graduada de Medicina de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), la Dra. Núñez completó su residencia en Pediatría en el 2019 en el Programa de Residencia en Pediatría de la UPR. Su pasión por la lactancia la llevó a obtener la certificación como Especialista en Lactancia y, más recientemente, la certificación en Medicina de la Lactancia por la Junta Norteamericana de Medicina de Lactancia en 2023.
Su dedicación a la educación y liderazgo la ha llevado a formar parte del Comité Ejecutivo del Capítulo de Puerto Rico de la Academia Americana de Pediatría y a participar en la Academia de Liderazgo de la Academia de Medicina de Lactancia. Además, como Profesora Asociada del Departamento de Pediatría de la UPR, comparte su pasión por la lactancia con residentes y estudiantes de medicina, contribuyendo a la formación de nuevas generaciones de profesionales de la salud.
Actualmente, ofrece servicios en la práctica privada como pediatra y especialista en Medicina de la Lactancia en San Juan, Puerto Rico, dedicándose a promover la salud y el desarrollo integral de los niños, así como a brindar apoyo a las familias a través de un enfoque preventivo.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine, Dr. Núñez completed her Pediatric Residency in 2019 through the UPR Pediatric Residency Program. Her passion for breastfeeding led her to obtain certification as a Lactation Specialist and, more recently, certification in Breastfeeding Medicine by the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine in 2023.
Her dedication to education and leadership has driven her to join the Executive Committee of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and participate in the Leadership Academy of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). Additionally, as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UPR, she shares her passion for breastfeeding with medical residents and students, contributing to the training of new generations of healthcare professionals.
Currently, she provides private practice services as a pediatrician and specialist in Breastfeeding Medicine in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is committed to promoting the health and holistic development of children while supporting families through a preventive care approach.
Pediatra, IBCLC
Graduada en medicina de la Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC) en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, la Dra. Glory Serrano Rivera completó su residencia en pediatría en el Hospital Municipal de San Juan. En 2003, realizó su primer curso de Educadora Certificada en Lactancia (CLE) con la Dra. Ana Parrilla, MD, IBCLC, y participó activamente en los grupos de apoyo del Hospital de Área en Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Comprometida con su desarrollo profesional, continuó sus estudios en lactancia, recertificándose nuevamente con la Dra. Parrilla y obteniendo su certificación como Consultora Internacional de Lactancia (IBCLC). Durante los últimos 20 años, ha ejercido en su práctica privada, ofreciendo servicios especializados en consultoría de lactancia. Además, ha participado en los programas de Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI) y ha puesto a disposición su oficina para brindar consultoría y mentoría a futuras aspirantes a certificarse en lactancia.
El enfoque de su práctica es integral, uniendo los conocimientos de pediatría y lactancia como una unidad cohesiva, con el propósito de brindar apoyo completo y personalizado a cada familia que visita su oficina.
Dr. Glory Serrano Rivera graduated in medicine from the Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC) in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and completed her pediatrics residency at the San Juan Municipal Hospital. In 2003, she took her first Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) course with Dr. Ana Parrilla, MD, IBCLC, and actively participated in support groups at the Hospital de Área of Manatí, Puerto Rico.
Committed to her professional development, she continued her lactation studies, recertifying with Dr. Parrilla and obtaining her certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). For the past 20 years, she has dedicated herself to private practice, offering specialized lactation consulting services. She has also participated in the Safe Infant Feeding (ASI) programs and has made her office available to provide consulting and mentoring to aspiring lactation consultants.
Her practice takes an integrative approach, combining pediatric and lactation expertise into a unified framework to provide comprehensive and personalized support to every family who visits her office.
BCLC, RD, LND
Ismarie Raldiris González se graduó de la Universidad de Puerto Rico del Programa de Ciencias Naturales con concentración en Nutrición y Dietética en el año 2011. Realizó su internado en Nutrición y Dietética en el Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico entre 2011 y 2012.
Ingresó al mundo laboral trabajando con la población materno-infantil, lo que despertó su interés en aprender más sobre lactancia. En 2014, obtuvo la certificación de Educadora en Lactancia (CLE), un curso en el que actualmente colabora como recurso. Posteriormente, en 2015, se certificó como Consultora en Lactancia Certificada (IBCLC).
También colabora como miembro voluntario de la Coalición para la Lactancia Materna en Puerto Rico.
Actualmente, Ismarie se dedica a ayudar a las familias a prepararse para la lactancia y a superar cualquier complicación que puedan enfrentar, fomentando una alimentación saludable desde antes de la concepción y durante la niñez temprana.
Ismarie Raldiris González graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in Natural Sciences, concentrating in Nutrition and Dietetics, in 2011. She completed her Nutrition and Dietetics Internship at the Puerto Rico Department of Health from 2011 to 2012.
She entered the workforce working with the maternal-infant population, which sparked her interest in learning more about breastfeeding. In 2014, she obtained her Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) certification, a course in which she currently collaborates as a resource. Later, in 2015, she became certified as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
She also volunteers as a member of the Puerto Rico Breastfeeding Coalition.
Currently, Ismarie is dedicated to helping families prepare for breastfeeding and overcome any complications they may encounter, while promoting healthy nutrition before conception and throughout early childhood.
Associate Professor of Health Science at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Jen Nickelson, PhD, RD, MCHES® is an Associate Professor of Health Science at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Her research focuses on understanding social and environmental influences on children’s eating behaviors, breastfeeding, childhood obesity prevention, and on maternal and child health issues. She and her colleagues are currently examining the intersection of structural racism, rurality, and childhood obesity as a member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders program. Jen recently joined the CHEER team to assist with the CHAMPS National program. Jen also oversees the Lactation Lab, a group of dedicated UA students eager to promote breastfeeding as a student and in their professional careers. After having (and breastfeeding) 3 children, Jen earned her BS and MS degrees in nutrition from the Florida State University and her PhD in public health from the University of South Florida. She is a Registered Dietitian and a Masters Certified Health Education Specialist.
CHAMPS National Coach
CHAMPS National Coach
Jennifer Ustianov’s vast experience in maternal-child health spans over three decades. She is currently a consultant for CHAMPS National, leading the program’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives and hospital coaching.
Over the past 20+ years, Jennifer has led and supported international, national, regional, statewide, and local projects focused on improving breastfeeding rates, healthcare and the systems that impact maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and other healthcare and systems gaps that impact maternal-child health outcomes. These experiences have provided her with extensive knowledge in QI methodologies, teamwork strategies, patient safety, and system re-design.
CHEER Associate Director
CHEER Associate Director
Laura Burnham, MPH, is the Associate Director at the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Her work focuses on quality improvement and program implementation in the field of maternal and child health, with a particular focus on breastfeeding and maternity care practices. Laura manages CHEER’s CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Care Practices) programs, which assist birthing hospitals to safely implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant
Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, is a breastfeeding medicine expert recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in physician education, policy, and public health interventions. Dr. Feldman-Winter is a professor of pediatrics at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and a CHAMPS National consultant. She currently represents the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine as the member representative to the United States Breastfeeding Committee, and previously served as the Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Breastfeeding.
Dr. Feldman-Winter entered the field of pediatrics more than 35 years ago after completing a residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since then, she has worked on many projects to drive knowledge and support for breastfeeding and to reduce the disparities and barriers that contribute to the culture of formula feeding in vulnerable communities. She has developed multiple resources, curricula, and webinars, contributed to over 100 publications, and mentored numerous people in the breastfeeding field.
The Way Family Clinic, CHAMPS National Coach
Dr. Lorimar Ortiz, MD, DABFM, IBCLC, NABBLM-C works to improve access to and the quality of healthcare for families in her home, Puerto Rico. She is a family physician and board certified breastfeeding and lactation medicine specialist, dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care, postpartum care, and lactation support to families on the island.
Dr. Ortiz was born and raised in Puerto Rico and completed her studies in general medicine at the University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus (UPR RCM). Recognizing a need for quality, affordable postpartum care services, Dr. Ortiz founded The Way Family Clinic, the first fourth-trimester medical care clinic in Puerto Rico. Through a value-based membership model known as ‘Direct Primary Care,’ the clinic offers comprehensive and compassionate service for its patients.
Dr. Ortiz is also passionate about training future doctors in Puerto Rico. She is a mentor for medical and nursing students from the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas and an Assistant Professor of the Family & Community Medicine Department at Ponce Health Sciences University (Ponce, PR). She is a frequent speaker for the medical and healthcare community on the island in topics related to lactation and postpartum care. Additionally, Dr. Ortiz is a Member of the Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding and Lactation Education, the Center for the 4th Trimester Care, and current Vice President of the Coalición para la Lactancia Materna de Puerto Rico (In English, Puerto Rico Coalition for Maternal Lactation).
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant
Meg Parker, MD, MPH, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Academic Chief of Neonatology at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Parker is a neonatal health services researcher and holds several federal and foundation grants in the area of social disparities in preterm birth outcomes; she has a particular interest in safe sleep and breastfeeding. Dr. Parker is also an expert in multi-site implementation science, is the Co-Chair of the Neonatal Quality Improvement Collaborative of Massachusetts, and is an Improvement Advisor from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. She has led multi-site NICU quality improvements focused on breastfeeding and family engagement. Dr. Parker applies a health equity lens to her local and multi-site quality improvement projects and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee of Fetus and Newborn
Graduada de la Universidad de Puerto Rico del Programa de Ciencias de la Nutrición. Con más de 24 años en el campo de la lactancia materna, su contribución principal se centra clínicas de lactancia, hospitales, grupos de apoyo, programas gubernamentales y clínicas, tanto públicas como privadas. Su enfoque, además del manejo adecuado de la lactancia, es el educar y apoyar a las familias lactantes durante el proceso.
Melissa Vázquez Rosado BS, CLE, CLMA, IBCLC graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in the Nutrition Sciences Program. With more than 24 years in the field of breastfeeding, her main contribution is focused on breastfeeding clinics, hospitals, support groups, government programs, and clinics, both public and private. Her focus, in addition to the proper management of breastfeeding, is to educate and support breastfeeding families during the process.
Her experience in Puerto Rico hospitals defines her as an excellent resource for health professionals who work in these spaces, basing her contributions on scientific evidence and compliant practices. Today she offers her services as a consultant through Melissa Lactancia.
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant
Michelle Owens, MD, is a clinical professor of maternal and fetal medicine at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, lead for maternal health in the state of Mississippi, and consultant physician on CHAMPS National. She is currently the National Assistant Secretary for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and President of the MS State Board of Medical Licensure. Dr. Owens is a passionate advocate for women’s health and health equity both locally and nationally.
Dr. Owens’ research and clinical interests are in hypertensive and substance use disorders in pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality, sickle cell disease, and health disparities. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters, and is the inaugural host of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s “Southern Remedy for Women,” a talk-radio show focused on health issues for women and the people who love them.
Hospital Universitario de Adultos
Graduada de Medicina de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), la Dra. Silén completó su residencia en OBGYN en el 2017 en el programa de OBGYN de la UPR. Su pasión por el cuidado posparto la llevó a obtener la certificación en lactancia y a solicitar el programa CHAMPS National para el Hospital Universitario de Adultos junto a la Dra Nerian Ortiz.
Su dedicación a la educación y liderazgo la ha llevado a representar a PR en el Comité de Médicos Jóvenes del Distrito IV del Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos. Además, como Profesora Auxiliar del Departamento de OBGYN de la UPR, comparte su pasión por la obstetricia de alto riesgo y la lactancia con residentes y estudiantes de medicina, contribuyendo a la formación de nuevas generaciones de profesionales de la salud.
Actualmente, ofrece servicios en la práctica privada como Ginecóloga y especialista en medicina posparto, menopausia y medicina sexual en Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, dedicándose a promover la salud de la mujer, a través de todas las etapas de su vida.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine, Dr. Silén completed her OBGYN residency in 2017 through the UPR OBGYN program. Her passion for postpartum care led her to obtain lactation certification and to apply for the CHAMPS National program for the University Hospital for Adults alongside Dr. Nerian Ortiz.
Her dedication to education and leadership has led her to represent Puerto Rico on the District IV Junior Fellow Committee of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Additionally, as an Assistant Professor in the UPR Department of OBGYN, she shares her passion for high-risk obstetrics and lactation with residents and medical students, contributing to the training of new generations of healthcare professionals.
Currently, she provides services in private practice as a gynecologist and specialist in postpartum medicine, menopause, and sexual medicine in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, dedicating herself to promoting women's health throughout all stages of life.
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC, is a Senior Research Project Manager at CHEER and CHAMPS National hospital coach. She has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years, and was even named one of Alabama’s 10 Top Nurses in 2021. Before CHEER, Trendle served as one of five Perinatal Coordinators in the state who examined infant and fetal mortality as well as maternal mortality as a committee member.
Trendle’s career in nursing was primarily inspired by the caring for others she witnessed through her own family. After 16 years of experience as a clinical nurse, she went to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center, serving uninsured, underinsured, and/or underserved patients. In her role at the Alabama Department of Public Health, Trendle reviewed why patients became sick and how we could do things differently to prevent infant mortality and other poor health outcomes. She has collaborated with agencies, organizations, and advocates to better understand families’ experiences and make recommendations come to life.
Yaheli Concepción Morales es Doula, Consultora Certificada en Lactancia (IBCLC) y Educadora en Salud Materna (ECSM), con 15 años de experiencia en el apoyo comunitario a la lactancia. Desde 2013, ofrece educación y acompañamiento emocional y físico basado en evidencia a familias en Puerto Rico. En 2023, fue certificada como IBCLC sin previamente ser profesional de la salud y con amplia experiencia comunitaria.
Desde su experiencia, reconoce que hay factores fundamentales para lograr una lactancia exitosa, entre los cuales se incluyen la educación prenatal sobre el parto, el conocimiento de cómo las intervenciones afectan el inicio de la lactancia, la comprensión del proceso y las necesidades nutricionales del bebé, y la garantía de acceso a apoyo luego del nacimiento.
Es cofundadora de dos organizaciones en Puerto Rico: ASI Alimentación Segura Infantil (2017), una organización sin fines de lucro que promueve la seguridad y la justicia alimentaria durante los primeros 1,000 días de vida. El enfoque de ASI es promover la lactancia y la alimentación segura apoyando y educando a las familias desde la gestación hasta los dos años. También ofrece espacio de educación y mentoría para futuros profesionales. Alumbra Puerto Rico 2021, una organización enfocada en la justicia y el apoyo que brinda educación y acompañamiento para las familias en búsqueda de la protección de los derechos del parto, el nacimiento humanizado, alimentación segura y crianza respetada.
Yaheli Concepción Morales is a Doula, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and Maternal Health Educator (ECSM) with 15 years of experience in community-based lactation support. Since 2013, she has provided evidence-based education and emotional and physical support to families in Puerto Rico. In 2023, she became certified as an IBCLC without a prior healthcare professional background, leveraging her extensive community experience.
From her perspective, several key factors contribute to successful breastfeeding, including prenatal education on childbirth, understanding how medical interventions impact breastfeeding initiation, knowledge of the breastfeeding process and the baby’s nutritional needs, and ensuring access to postpartum support.
She is the co-founder of two organizations in Puerto Rico: ASI Alimentación Segura Infantil (2017) – A nonprofit organization that promotes food security and justice during the first 1,000 days of life. ASI focuses on supporting and educating families from pregnancy through the child’s first two years, advocating for safe infant feeding practices and breastfeeding. It also provides education and mentorship opportunities for future professionals & Alumbra Puerto Rico (2021) – An organization dedicated to justice and support for families seeking to protect birthing rights, humanized childbirth, safe infant feeding, and respectful parenting through education and accompaniment.
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)
Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) and Executive Director and Founder of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) a nonprofit organization working with refugees in Greater Athens, Greece. Additionally, Dr. Merewood is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, Affiliate Faculty at the Boston University Center on Forced Migration, and visiting Associate Professor at the University of Nicosia School of Medicine, Cyprus.
For years, Dr. Merewood has led millions of dollars’ worth of funded projects that have successfully increased breastfeeding rates and reduced disparities in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southern Texas and among Tribal Communities in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, by increasing the number of Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in those regions. Due to the documented success of the CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices) and Dr. Merewood’s other previous work with hospitals in Massachusetts and New Jersey, CHEER earned a 3-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to replicate the success of CHAMPS nationally.
Dr. Merewood has coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, spoken at conferences nationally and internationally, and served as a member of the American Public Health Association, the International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML), and the Society for Prevention Research. She is the former Editor in Chief of the Journal of Human Lactation and current editorial board member for the Journal of Maternal Child Nutrition. Dr. Merewood has also served as a consultant for the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality, the DHHS Indian Health Service, and is a current consultant for the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
CHEER Associate Director
CHEER Associate Director
Laura Burnham, MPH, is the Associate Director at the Center for Health Equity, Education, & Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Her work focuses on quality improvement and program implementation in the field of maternal and child health, with a particular focus on breastfeeding and maternity care practices. Laura manages CHEER’s CHAMPS (Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Care Practices) programs, which assist birthing hospitals to safely implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC, is a Senior Research Project Manager at CHEER and CHAMPS National hospital coach. She has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years, and was even named one of Alabama’s 10 Top Nurses in 2021. Before CHEER, Trendle served as one of five Perinatal Coordinators in the state who examined infant and fetal mortality as well as maternal mortality as a committee member.
Trendle’s career in nursing was primarily inspired by the caring for others she witnessed through her own family. After 16 years of experience as a clinical nurse, she went to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center, serving uninsured, underinsured, and/or underserved patients. In her role at the Alabama Department of Public Health, Trendle reviewed why patients became sick and how we could do things differently to prevent infant mortality and other poor health outcomes. She has collaborated with agencies, organizations, and advocates to better understand families’ experiences and make recommendations come to life.
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach
Becky Knapp, MPH, RN, IBCLC, has been a maternal-child health nurse for 18 years. Since the start of her career, she has been driven to support moms, babies, and their families during the prenatal and postpartum period. Becky’s passion quickly became promoting and protecting breastfeeding, in particular addressing socioeconomic and racial inequities that can so often complicate the breastfeeding journey. This has guided her work across the country as a postpartum, nursery, and antepartum nurse and lactation consultant in hospitals and the community. Additionally, Becky has worked on research teams looking at best practices to address inequities in maternity care.
Project Management Specialist, CHEER
Project Management Specialist, CHEER
Mariah Banks, MPH, is a Program Management Specialist at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. She received her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University in May 2023, with a special interest in maternal and child health, especially in refugee and immigrant health. Her focus areas included program design, implementation, and evaluation, and health communications and promotion.
Mariah previously supported immigrant and refugee populations in Boston as the Social Media & Communications Specialist and Patient Advisory Council Coordinator at Boston Medical Center’s Immigrant & Refugee Health Center. She also worked as a communications specialist for the nonprofit Nature and Culture International, promoting environmental and community health in Mexico and South America. Additionally, Mariah was the CHEER International Group (CHEERing)’s first ever fellow, coordinating various aspects of CHEERing’s preventative health program in Greece.
Research Assistant II, CHEER
Research Assistant II, CHEER
Kathryn Pollack-Hinds, MPH, is a Research Assistant at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. She received her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University in May 2023 where she focused on community assessment and program design and maternal- child health. At CHEER, she supports the team in developing and facilitating virtual and in-person clinician trainings using a racial equity lens. She also works to promote the workplace lactation support project, Mississippi WINS, and analyzes data trends from the Interprofessional Module, Breastfeeding | Human Medicine.
Research Assistant, CHEER
Research Assistant, CHEER
Gianna Hamann is a Research Assistant at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Previously, she volunteered with the CHEER International Group (CHEERing), supporting CHEERing’s Grow Clinics and football training program and coordinating healthcare appointments. She also worked with Madison Street Medicine during her studies at the University of Wisconsin, providing direct healthcare to unhoused folks, assisting folks with getting health insurance and healthcare appointments, and running a blood pressure screening project. Gianna is passionate about nutrition, food access and equity, maternal-child health, healthcare access, and LGBTQ+ health.
Research Assistant, CHEER
Research Assistant, CHEER
Madeline Caughron is a Research Assistant at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Madeline previously worked in behavioral and clinical psychology research and has a passion for helping people and advancing healthcare access for all, especially marginalized communities. She completed an internship in Australia developing DEI surveying and doing data analysis, and has worked for a women’s health business in Southwest Missouri where she advocated for women’s health education. Madeline aims to work to improve health equity and accessibility for communities across the globe.
Research Assistant, CHEER
Research Assistant, CHEER
Olivia Choi is a Research Assistant at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center. Olivia has previously been involved in numerous mental health and maternal/child health advocacy & research initiatives at both Villanova and Brown University. She has worked as a Clinical Research Intern at MGH’s Department of Psychiatry and was also a 2023 Hassenfeld Summer Scholar at Brown. Additionally, she has actively been involved in serving her communities, such as teaching at the Korean School of New England on the weekends and volunteering with the Read to a Child program to promote youth literacy. Olivia hopes to work on and create interventions that address maternal and child-related health disparities, especially in marginalized and underserved populations. She aims to make a positive impact in all the communities she is immersed in and surrounded by.
