IVELISSE BRUNO, RDN, LND, IBCLC

Ivelisse Bruno, RDN, LND, IBCLC, has dedicated over two decades to ensuring every mother and baby receives the support needed to reach their breastfeeding goals. As a nutrition and dietetics student, she gravitated toward community work – a commitment to people that has guided her ever since. Today, as the WIC Puerto Rico State Breastfeeding Coordinator, Ivelisse oversees breastfeeding services across the island, touching the lives of thousands of families each year.

Ivelisse’s journey with Women, Infants, & Children Nutrition Program (WIC) began in 2000, when she joined as a nutritionist. There, she discovered the beauty and importance of breastfeeding, which would shape the rest of her career. When the opportunity came to pursue specialized training in lactation, she took it, completing a professional lactation management course in October 2006.

Her expertise grew as she stepped into the role of WIC State Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Coordinator in 2012, leading the counselors who provide frontline support to mothers. In 2015, she earned her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential, marking years of study and hands-on experience. Ivelisse assumed her current role as WIC State Breastfeeding Coordinator in 2019, shaping breastfeeding support at a statewide level. Her mission remains clear: to keep strengthening WIC’s efforts so more mothers and babies can start and continue breastfeeding as long as they wish.

Ivelisse is passionate about creating and developing materials and strategies to promote breastfeeding. She is also an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA). While she focuses on the big picture, it’s the small, personal moments that motivate her most. She finds purpose in knowing that WIC’s support services and her involvement positively impact mothers, babies, and families as they work toward achieving their breastfeeding goals.

Ivelisse’s message to others is simple: “Sometimes our work can be challenging, but every family deserves the support they need to achieve their breastfeeding goals. That’s why every effort and dedication we put into our work is worthwhile.”

Today, CHEER celebrates Ivelisse Bruno for her leadership in WIC breastfeeding support, her dedication to her colleagues, and her commitment to strengthening families across Puerto Rico.