DR. SHEILA KREDIT

Sheila Kredit, MD, IBCLC, NABBLM-C, FAAFP, is a family physician and clinical faculty member at Central Washington Family Medicine in Yakima, WA, with a passion for maternal and child health. She is board-certified in Family Medicine and Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine—a field where she is both a practitioner and an advocate. Dr. Kredit provides obstetric care, incorporates breastfeeding medicine visits into her outpatient practice, and trains residents in this critical yet often under-taught area of medicine.

Dr. Kredit’s impact extends beyond the clinic. She has collaborated with the Washington Department of Health to secure grants that expand breastfeeding support in the Yakima area and serves as vice president for the South Central Chapter of the Washington Academy of Family Physicians, where she is a strong voice for underserved communities.

Dr. Kredit shares, “As an advocate of women’s health, I feel really strongly that the breast as a functional organ should receive the same attention and thought as any other part of the body. I love bringing attention to this as I work with learners and as the field of breastfeeding medicine begins to bring more evidence-based practice to the healthcare system. But mainly, I love it when I am working with a family and we can get that “Ah-ha” moment, where we have correctly identified the breastfeeding problem and been able to address it. The parents and babies are so happy. There are so many chronic conditions in medicine these days, and this area of medicine allows you to make such a long-lasting difference in peoples’ lives.”

She adds, “Breastfeeding and lactation medicine has historically been understudied, and families therefore have been given inconsistent messages and advice. I want to advocate for ongoing research in breastfeeding and lactation medicine, and for the medical community to embrace what we learn so that families have informed consent when it comes to infant feeding decisions and receive evidence-based help when they need it.”

CHEER is proud to honor Dr. Sheila Kredit as our CHAMPion of the Week for her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to advancing breastfeeding medicine and supporting families in Yakima and beyond.