CHEER CHAMPion of the Week

Our 2024 Mississippi CHAMPS Conference was a success – thanks to CHEER team member and conference coordinator Madeline Caughron! Madeline helped plan the day, coordinate speakers, manage the virtual platform, and more. We are grateful for her enthusiasm, diligence, and creativity. Madeline joined the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) team as a […]

Meet a member of the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) and this week’s CHAMPion, Ali Al-Anzi. Ali joined CHEERing as an energetic volunteer and skilled football (soccer) coach in October. In less than two months, he helped launch CHEERing’s new football program for youth in Thiba Refugee Camp! Ali and five supporting coaches train about 40 […]

Congratulations to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, CHEER’s CHAMPion of the Week! After five years of dedication and quality improvement work, the hospital was re-designated as Baby-Friendly. Founded in 1908 as Jackson’s first hospital, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center has long been dedicated to providing quality and compassionate care to its patients. The hospital has been working […]

Andrea Serano’s work in breastfeeding advocacy stems from her passion for addressing maternal and infant health issues, especially among communities of Color. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®), Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®), and Executive Director of Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE). Originally from North Hollywood, California, Andrea […]

Meet a member of our CHAMPS National team and this week’s CHAMPion: Patricia Francisco! Passionate about maternal-child health, inclusive education, and neurodiversity awareness, Patricia is a CHAMPS consultant focusing on Spanish language translations and accurate information. In addition to her CHAMPS work, Patricia serves as an Outreach Health Educator aiming to mitigate the impact of […]

CHEER is celebrating a Mississippi CHAMPS hospital this week: Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle was recently re-designated as Baby-Friendly! Located in Columbus, Mississippi, BMH-Golden Triangle has long been committed to keeping moms, families, and the smallest members of its community healthy. The facility has been a part of CHAMPS since 2015 and became the ninth hospital […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Mahya Rahimi, our 9-year-old CHEERing team member. Mahya is a constant, cheerful, hard-working presence in our CHEERing family and the daughter of CHEERing’s Associate Director, Farzana Hakimi. As pictured, her skills at sorting vitamins are unparalleled. She also speaks 4 languages fluently, excels at school, and wants to be a doctor […]

Willow Appleby’s passion for defending and advocating for refugee rights is inspiring – one reason she managed the CHEER International Group’s volunteer program for nearly two years! Our newest CHAMPion first joined CHEERing as a student intern in early 2023. Providing invaluable support at the CHEERing office and Grow Clinics, Willow quickly worked up to […]

Kimberly Congden, MSN, RN, IBCLC, is dedicated to supporting families through their breastfeeding journeys. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is the Assistant Nurse Manager of Lactation Services and Parent Education at Baystate Medical Center, CHAMPS National lead at the facility, and a passionate advocate for maternal-child legislation in the state of Massachusetts. Kim began […]

Hilo Benioff Medical Center is committed to improving breastfeeding support for Big Island families. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week implemented an annual ‘Newborn Feeding Survey’ with staff to identify barriers, training needs, and ways to support staff and patients. Feedback from the first survey has already sparked positive changes at the hospital, including a […]

Laura Brown, LICSW, PMH-C, and CFSW, is an inspiring leader in maternal and mental health. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, founder of Happy Moms, co-founder of Back 2 BASICS, Breastfeeding Support Service, and co-founder of the Financial Social Work Collaborative, LB is dedicated to providing and promoting postpartum health and wellness resources and support. […]

Thanks to CHAMPS National hospital Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC), there is a new Milk Drop Depot in Tennessee! CRMC partnered with Mothers’ Milk Bank of Tennessee to open the 20th Milk Drop Depot in the state, providing a convenient place for pre-screened and approved milk donors to donate their frozen milk. “Our unit has […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is almost here! As we continue our countdown, we are thrilled to spotlight our inspiring speakers as CHAMPions of the Week. This week, we’re featuring Adiliah Smith, Crystina Hughes, and Jamilah Channel as our CHAMPion Speakers. Adiliah, Crystina, and Jamilah are speaking at the conference session ‘Doulas: Supporting Moms […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! We’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Meg Parker, MD, MPH, a Professor of Pediatrics and the Academic Chief of Neonatology at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Parker is a leader in neonatal […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Antoinette Kleiner, MSN, FNP, a dedicated breastfeeding and maternity care advocate with over three decades of experience. As a mother of […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a Board-Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Associate Professor for Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Gillispie-Bell is […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Elizabeth Kehau Kealoha, Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and founder of Mother’s Milk. Elizabeth Kehau has assisted families […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN. Jennifer’s vast experience in maternal-child health spans over three decades! She is currently a consultant for […]

The CHAMPS National Virtual Breastfeeding Conference is coming up on September 17! Over the next few weeks, we’re celebrating the knowledgeable and passionate speakers as our CHAMPions of the Week. Today’s CHAMPion Speaker is Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, a breastfeeding medicine expert recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in physician education, policy, and public […]

Today’s CHAMPion of the Week post doubles as a speaker spotlight. Obstetrician and CHAMPS consultant Michelle Owens, MD, is the keynote speaker for our upcoming virtual breastfeeding conference on September 17! Her keynote speech ‘Becoming: A Journey to Breastfeeding Advocacy’ will begin a day of networking, collaboration, and learning for CHAMPS National hospitals and community […]

It is nearly the start of World Breastfeeding Week – and today, we’re celebrating the organizer as our CHAMPion! The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding worldwide. Formed in 1991, WABA works at the international, regional, national, and […]

OCH Regional Medical Center is Baby-Friendly! The hospital has been working with CHAMPS since 2015, determined to improve breastfeeding education, resources, and support. OCH Regional was officially designated as a Baby-Friendly facility in May 2024. Located in Starkville, Mississippi, OCH Regional is dedicated to providing compassionate care to infants, mothers, and families within its community. […]

Introducing Dorothy Joy Colodro, CHAMPS National team member and this week’s CHAMPion! Dorothy Joy joins CHAMPS National as a Research Assistant in Guam, bringing her passion for maternity care, health equity, food security, and humanitarian aid. Dorothy Joy is dedicated to all things health and wellness. She previously studied herbal medicine to better understand the […]

Meet a member of our CHAMPS National team and this week’s CHAMPion: Nicolle Heisserer! Passionate about breastfeeding and maternal support, Nicole is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) and a Project Manager for CHAMPS’ work with hospitals in Guam and the Pacific Islands. Nicolle brings a background in sociology and neuropsychology and previously worked […]

Get Well. Stay Well. These four words guide the work of our newest CHAMPion of the Week. Located in Montgomery, The Wellness Coalition is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of people with limited or no health insurance in Central Alabama through collaboration, services, and breastfeeding, nutrition, and wellness support. The Wellness Coalition was […]

CHEER is celebrating a Mississippi CHAMPS hospital this week: Merit Health Woman’s Hospital was recently re-designated as Baby-Friendly! Located in Flowood, Merit Health Woman’s is one of the only hospitals in Mississippi built exclusively for the care and treatment of women. The facility has been a part of CHAMPS since 2015 and became a designated […]

Carmen Quijano is a young doctor from Madrid who has been volunteering at the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) since January. Carmen provides invaluable support at CHEERing’s Grow Clinics and health screenings, practicing compassionate, patient-centered care and coordinating referrals to specialists when needed. Over the past few months, Carmen has nourished CHEERing’s relationships with various medical […]

The Coalition of Oklahoma Breastfeeding Advocates’ (COBA) vision is clear: A state where all children have access to human milk. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week works to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in Oklahoma through education, networking, and advocacy for increased access to human milk. Formed as a grassroots organization in 2000 and achieving […]

We’re celebrating TWO CHAMPions this week: Mississippi CHAMPS hospitals Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi and Merit Health Wesley were recently re-designated as Baby-Friendly! Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi provides family-focused, high-quality maternity services to its community in Oxford, MS. The hospital has been a part of CHAMPS since 2015 and became a designated Baby-Friendly […]

Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. By educating, building confidence, and empowering expecting families, Diamonds for Doulas is working to change this. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week supports families through their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journeys, providing free childbirth education classes, support groups for breastfeeding, postpartum and infant […]

Today’s CHAMPion of the Week doubles as a staff spotlight! Introducing Becky Knapp, MPH, RN, IBCLC, CHEER’s new team member and CHAMPS National coach. Becky 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 […]

Nearly 5,000 babies enter the world each year at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston. Dedicated to providing quality and compassionate care to all mothers, babies, and families, UTMB Galveston applied to CHAMPS National and enrolled at the start of the year! UTMB Galveston was selected as one of 100 hospitals across the […]

This week’s CHAMPions cannot be named. But we are choosing to honor and thank the unsung heroes of Greek public and government services who help the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) as best they can, operating in a humanitarian, kind manner around the refugees we serve in Greece. This includes the long-time director of one of […]

It’s Black Maternal Health Week, and we’re recognizing the important and inspiring work of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA). BMMA is a national network of Black women-led organizations and multi-disciplinary professionals working to advance policy, promote holistic maternity care, drive research, and uplift culture to improve Black maternal health. Each year, during National Minority […]

This week’s CHAMPion is spearheading the CHAMPS National initiative at Helen Keller Hospital in Alabama. Dianna Castillo, RN, IBCLC, is a nurse educator and lactation consultant at the hospital, dedicated to promoting breastfeeding, increasing skin-to-skin contact, and providing education in her community. Dianna has long been interested in helping new parents nurse their newborns because […]

Our new program CHAMPS National is introducing us to some incredible leaders in maternal-child health! This week, we celebrate CHAMPion Rachael Winston, MSN, RN, the Director of Women’s Services and CHAMPS National lead at Walker Baptist Medical Center in Alabama. Rachael has been in the healthcare industry for over 15 years. Her career began as […]

Introducing Chika Nwaka, our CHAMPion of the Week and Team Lead at the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research International Group (CHEERing)! Chika came to CHEERing through the Swiss European Voluntary Service Corps, a program offering young adults the opportunity to volunteer abroad, develop new skills, and gain intercultural experience. From Switzerland and Nigeria, […]

West Virginia has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the nation. The team at Charleston Area Medical Center, one of CHAMPS National’s newly enrolled hospitals, is working to change this. Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) was one of the first ten sites to enroll in CHAMPS National, CHEER’s new nationwide program to increase […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is dedicated to improving the health of Alabama’s women and mothers. Kristina Habchi, CLC, Bsc, is the Executive Director of Mothers’ Milk Bank of Alabama (MMBAL), Alabama Breastfeeding Committee Board Chair, and Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) DEI Committee Co-Chair. As a first-generation American born and […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is dedicated to ensuring no mother feels alone during the birthing process. Jamilah Channel, DONA-trained and Commonsense Childbirth Institute certified Birth Doula and founder of Naima’s Love, provides invaluable support as a birth and postpartum Doula and breastfeeding advocate. Jamilah is a passionate professional with a degree in Psychology […]

Valerie Aalo, MPH, CLC, helps to bring comprehensive, high-touch, dyadic care to moms and babies in the first six weeks of life, outside their homes – at the curb! Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is Program Coordinator at Curbside Care, an interdepartmental effort at Boston Medical Center aiming to reduce health inequities by providing […]

Crystina Hughes is passionate about creating birthing experiences designed by birthing individuals. As founder and CEO of Birthing By Your Design, Crystina offers doula services to expectant families in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and surrounding areas, including birth education, birth plan sessions, comfort measures sessions, labor support, cesarean support, lactation education sessions, and postpartum follow-up. Crystina is […]

Meet CHEER’s newest team member and this week’s CHAMPion, Gianna Hamann! Gianna joins CHEER as a research assistant, bringing a passion for nutrition, food access and equity, and LGBTQ+ health. Gianna previously volunteered with the CHEER International Group in Greece (CHEERing), supporting Grow Clinics, football (soccer) training, and health screenings. She spearheaded CHEERing’s oral health […]

Kirsten Krane and Anna Schmitt want public health to be simpler. More efficient, community-based, and empowering. That’s why they created Yarrow, a Montana-based consulting organization using evidence-based and culturally appropriate practices to meet the vibrant needs of communities. The organization offers facilitation, evaluation, assessments, strategic planning, and other comprehensive services, focusing on issues affecting rural […]

Our work at the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) wouldn’t be possible without student interns – and today, we’re celebrating an exceptional one! For the last five months, William Lequesne served as an Erasmus Intern at CHEERing, supporting Grow Clinics, football (soccer) training, and other activities. William joined CHEERing through the Erasmus Internship program at Sciences […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is dedicated to compassionate care for mothers and infants. Molly Scarborough McMillion, Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, has been working to increase support for families across West Virginia for over two decades! After graduating in 1990 from West Virginia University, Molly worked in […]

Jen Nickelson, PhD, RD, MCHES®, began her career 30 years ago as a registered dietitian because she appreciated and valued the influence of nutrition on health. Working as a clinical dietitian, she recognized the importance of disease prevention and shifted her focus to public health. Today, Dr. Nickelson shares her expertise and passion for nutrition […]

GIVMED’s guiding vision is clear: Access to medicine for all. Using a collaborative network of pharmacies, businesses, and NGOs, our newest CHAMPion works throughout Greece to redistribute medicines that would otherwise be wasted. GIVEMED has supported vulnerable groups with limited or no access to medicines since its formation in March 2016. This past year, the […]

Congratulations to Merit Health River Oaks, CHEER’s CHAMPion of the Week! After five years of dedication and quality improvement work, the hospital was re-designated as Baby-Friendly on September 21, 2023. Located in Flowood, Mississippi, Merit Health River Oaks is known in its community as being a family-centered facility providing quality care. The hospital has been […]

Woolly wonders from Germany! The CHEER International Group (CHEERing) received a special delivery from children at Johannes Kepler High School (Kepler High School) in Reutlingen, Germany. The school sent 413 hand-knit hats, scarves, socks, and gloves for refugee families – packed with love and chocolate. Kepler High School’s knitting project began in the summer with […]

We’re celebrating a CHAMPS hospital this week. South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, Mississippi, is re-designated as Baby-Friendly! South Sunflower provides critical, high-quality obstetrical care to its community as one of the few remaining rural hospitals delivering babies. The hospital has been a part of CHAMPS since 2014 and began its Baby-Friendly journey in the […]

Today’s CHAMPion of the Week doubles as the launch of our Meet the Team Monday staff spotlights. Introducing CHEER’s newest team member and Research Assistant, Laetitia Pierre-Louis. Laetitia is passionate about education and fighting against healthcare disparities. She is currently a member of Boston University’s Advancing Equity in Health Research Advisory Board, where together with […]

Atefeh Khodaei and Reza Sanaei are CHEER’s newest CHAMPions of the Week! Atefeh and Reza are graduate students interning at the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) in Athens, Greece. For the past four months, the passionate duo has supported CHEERing’s Grow Clinics in refugee camps, soccer (football) training, and other preventive health activities. Atefeh and Reza […]

“Strong. Resilient. Latched.” These three words guide the work of the Native Breastfeeding Coalition of Wisconsin. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is dedicated to strengthening and encouraging prolonged breastfeeding among Indigenous women in Wisconsin to reduce health disparities. Indigenous people in Wisconsin are more likely to develop certain chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and […]

The Binational Breastfeeding Coalition (BBC) is committed to creating breastfeeding awareness along the border. Our newest CHAMPion of the Week promotes and supports breastfeeding through education and outreach to the El Paso/Juárez border region and its surrounding communities. Formed in 2012, the BBC is a nonprofit association of health professionals and advocates offering services to […]

This week’s CHAMPion rehabilitates, educates, and advocates. Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC, has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years, and was even named one of Alabama’s 10 Top Nurses in 2021! She currently serves as one of five Perinatal Coordinators in the state who examines infant and fetal mortality as well […]

The Hmong Breastfeeding Coalition’s vision for the future is clear: for all Hmong babies, parents, and families to noj qab, nyob zoo (eat well and live well). The coalition empowers Hmong birthing people and families by creating spaces for learning, support, and healing; meanwhile, weaving together culture, the promotion of breast/chestfeeding, and health and well-being […]

In the late 90s, Adriana Lozada co-founded a newspaper and media company and a network of youth sites in Spanish and was named one of CNN en Español’s 20 “Latin American Leaders of the Internet” in 2000. Then she gave birth. Today, Adriana is an advanced birth doula, a postpartum educator, and a child sleep […]

This week’s CHAMPion is dedicated to healthy Indigenous babies born into healthy Indigenous families supported by healthy Indigenous communities. Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services (Hummingbird) is the first and only Indigenous agency in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties in Washington to exclusively serve Indigenous babies and families from zero to three. Hummingbird was founded in 2019 […]

After six years of dedication and teamwork, Merit Health Central can celebrate a milestone. The hospital received its official Baby-Friendly designation on September 21, 2023! Merit Health Central has long been a healthcare hub in south and west Jackson, Mississippi – under-resourced, predominantly Black neighborhoods with high poverty rates. The hospital has been working with […]

The CHEERing Center in Athens, Greece, recently experienced the impact of Storm Daniel, which caused catastrophic flooding across Greece and the Mediterranean. Thankfully, CHEERing team members Willow, Pierrette, Vangelio, and Reza sprang into action! The team quickly cleaned the center and saved most of our equipment and supplies for the refugee families that we support. […]

Congratulations to Wayne General Hospital, our newest CHAMPion of the Week! After eight years of dedication and teamwork, the hospital received its official Baby-Friendly designation on September 7, 2023. Wayne General’s commitment to providing quality, family-centered care has been evident since joining CHAMPS in 2017. The knowledgeable staff prioritizes breastfeeding education, providing information, resources, and […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the Week is working to tackle lactation disparities, one belly bump at a time. Breastfeeding Latinas educates birthing people and empowers women of color to become breastfeeding specialists. Ileana Berrios, MS, IBCLC, founded Breastfeeding Latinas after the birth of her first child, recognizing the critical role of lactation consultants. “Lactation consultants […]

Today, CHEER honors the life and legacy of Marty Dollar (1969-2023) with our CHAMPion of the Week award. Marty was a Registered Nurse with over 31 years of experience in Labor and Delivery units in Mississippi and Louisiana. For the past three years, Marty was the Perinatal Nurse Manager at North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC)-West […]

This week’s CHAMPion is dedicated to peer-to-peer breastfeeding support. Because it matters. All Moms Empowered to Nurse (AMEN) began in a church in Avondale, Cincinnati, an under-resourced, predominantly Black neighborhood with low breastfeeding rates. Since 2017, AMEN has provided support and education to pregnant and postpartum moms, significantly increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration in their […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the Week wears many hats: Stevie Merino, IBCLC, is a birth worker, lactation professional, cultural practitioner, community organizer, and anthropologist. She is also the Executive Director and co-founder of the Birthworkers of Color Collective and Doula of Color Training, a proud queer indigenous islander woman (CHamoru and Boricua), and mother. Stevie […]

Stephanne R. Rupnicki, CLC, is a recognized member of the Kickapoo tribe of Kansas and a mother of six residing on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation. Her enthusiasm and passion for breastfeeding are evident: Stephanne is co-founder of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Breastfeeding Coalition, serves in leadership positions on the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition Board […]

Lauren J. Turner is a mother, artist, and doula. She is incredibly passionate about Black maternal health and uses her art to advocate for birth and lactation and celebrate the moments of parenthood. “Through my art, I’m able to capture the beauty and joy of the childbirth experience, demystifying the process and showing the power […]

The team at Singing River Pascagoula Hospital is dedicated, hardworking – and amazing hosts! Last week, we held CHAMPS’ new Baby-Friendly Breastfeeding Competencies Training at the hospital. CHEER is thrilled to express our gratitude and celebrate them as our CHAMPion of the Week. Singing River Pascagoula began its Baby-Friendly journey with CHAMPS more than seven […]

After holding our weekly Grow Clinic near Thiba Refugee Camp, north of Athens, Greece, our international team is hot, thirsty, and in need of a bathroom! Lucky for us, Black Sheep Street Coffee is on the way back to Athens. From day one, this week’s CHAMPion has welcomed our CHEERing team with a big smile, […]

Dr. Lorimar Ortiz, MD, DABFM, CLE, IBCLC, works to improve access to and the quality of health care for families in her home, Puerto Rico. She is a family physician and certified lactation consultant, dedicated to providing comprehensive primary care, postpartum care, and lactation support to families on the island. Dr. Ortiz was born and […]

Shenell Ford’s passion for lactation began when she had her first child. Motivated by a lack of systemic support for lactation, Shenell was inspired to become a Breastfeeding Peer Support Counselor with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – and fell in love with the work. She obtained her Certified […]

Rickeshia Williams, CLS, CLC, began her career as a breastfeeding peer counselor at the Calhoun County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) office in Michigan. Her experiences as a counselor and mother of color fueled her passion for breastfeeding and concern for racial disparities in her community, and Milk Like Mine […]

This week CHEER honors two of our own as CHAMPions. Kathryn (Kat) Pollack-Hinds and Mariah Banks graduated with their Master of Public Health degrees in May 2023 from Boston University School of Public Health and completed their student internships with CHEER. Both were promptly hired into the CHEER team thanks to their great work with us as […]

CHEERing’s work wouldn’t be possible without women like Amina Koto. Amina arrived in Greece nearly four years ago after fleeing war in Syria. Now, she works as a Grow Clinic translator for our international partner in Athens. Each week, CHEERing holds Grow Clinics in refugee camps throughout Greater Athens, weighing and measuring babies and children, […]

Sista Midwife Productions’ (SMP) mission is simple: To Make Birth Better. Specifically, the birth advocacy training and consulting agency is working to improve pregnancy and birth experiences and to eliminate perinatal disparities by increasing the number of Black birth workers, educating families, and creating transparency and accountability within childbirth education and the medical system. SMP […]

Nikolas works as the chef on a yacht sailing around the Greek islands in the summers – but in the winter of 2022/2023, he volunteered to cook at the NGO Project Armonia. Specifically, he offered to cook with the refugee children who go to Project Armonia for CHEERing’s cooking classes and educational workshops every Thursday […]

For Molly Sahlin, a former professional handball player, sport is much more than physical activity. Sport is a tool to bring people together. A way to inspire, motivate, and bring about change. In January, Molly brought her inspired thinking, unmatched enthusiasm, and impressive skills to our international program as an Erasmus Intern and CHEERing’s newest […]

Motivating Interdisciplinary Lactation Knowledge (MILK) Research Lab is on a mission to improve maternal health outcomes of Black women and birthing people across the life course. The research team conducts innovative human milk feeding (breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and donor human milk) and lactation research and engages in policy and advocacy efforts. MILK Research Lab’s Black Feminist approach […]

Today we honor the life and legacy of John D. Bower, MD, (1931-2023) with our CHAMPion of the Week award. Dr. Bower was a long-time collaborator and supporter of CHEER through the Bower Foundation. During his 60+ years in the medical field, Dr. Bower made extraordinary contributions to the field of nephrology, promoted innovative health […]

Football (soccer) coach, teacher’s aide, and super-mom: Hamideh Hosseini is CHEER’s CHAMPion of the Week! Hamideh joined our international team after bringing her children and other young refugees to CHEERing’s Football Club training. Shortly after that first practice, Hamideh began assisting coaches on the field, helping at our cooking and nutrition classes, and providing supervision […]

Becoming a first-time mother during the height of the pandemic opened up a creative outlet for Lydia O’Hara. Motherhood inspired the artist to start (M)other Art Collective, a group of 10 artist-mothers collaborating and supporting each other in their creative practices and parenting worlds where she lives in North West England. The collective will likely […]

Earning a well-deserved promotion, becoming a newly elected board member, and passing important exams are some of Farzana Hakimi’s latest accomplishments. As CHEERing’s Associate Director, Farzana manages programmatic work for the international program, including CHEERing’s Sportnet Project and Grow Clinics at Malakasa and Thiba refugee camps, and acts as a liaison for CHEERing Afghanistan. Additionally, […]

As a feminist and social activist, Lilly Marcelin, Founder and Executive Director of the Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP) is passionate about promoting Black women’s health issues. The grassroots organization focuses on community-centered education and advocacy for Black women’s reproductive health. The organization’s advocacy work focuses on challenging medical and social inequities that are harmful to […]

After eight years of dedication and teamwork, North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC)-West Point can celebrate a big milestone. The hospital received its official Baby-Friendly designation on April 4, 2023. Having one of the lowest (if not the lowest) C-section rates in Mississippi, it’s no surprise that the maternity services at the Women’s Pavilion are exceptional. […]

Breastfeeding support is just one of the many free services that Massachusetts WIC provides to families who qualify. Pregnant and breastfeeding participants can expect their children under five years of age to stay healthy, thanks in part to pre- and postnatal individual breastfeeding care services and support groups. All 31 local WIC clinics offer Peer […]

The recent passage of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act is the result of a collective effort from many individuals and organizations, and the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee’s (USBC) Cheryl Lebedevitch is one of them. Cheryl serves as Senior Policy and Communications Manager at the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), leading the policy […]

The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force is a non-profit lactation coalition focusing on community support to cultivate environments that promote normalcy around lactation and the availability of human milk for all infants and children. Their mission is carried out by expanding the lactation ecosystem, acknowledging that familial health support is an inclusive role, and through […]

Healthy Start Inc. focuses on improving birth outcomes for Black women, birthing people and babies in Allegheny County through direct service, coordination of resources, and policy/systems change initiatives. The Pittsburgh organization works to ensure all families have access to affordable, quality care. They use a multidisciplinary team model consisting of community health professionals and advocates, […]

At MOMS Orange County, education and support come first. The region’s largest nonprofit dedicated to newborn and pregnancy health helps low-income, vulnerable mothers gain support and self-care education to increase their chances of having healthy pregnancies and deliveries and gain confidence as parents. The agency serves over 2,500 mothers and babies each year, through monthly […]

Supporting maternal-child health efforts in Afghanistan is no easy feat. Thanks to women like Basira Azimi, mothers and children are supported in the CHEERing Afghanistan Program. Basira coordinates the program and supports activities at our Grow Clinic in Herat. She also works as a midwife at a public hospital in Herat. Congratulations to Basira, our […]

Increasing breastfeeding rates of all infants living in the District of Columbia is one of the District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition’s (DCBFC) main priorities. The DCBFC seeks to promote, protect and support culturally-sensitive programs and activities that build awareness and understanding of the preventive health benefits of breastfeeding, through partnerships with maternal and child health […]

Having provided lactation-related training programs in every U.S. state and territory for the past 20 years, it’s no surprise that our CHAMPion of the Week is Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA. She is co-director of the Mississippi-based nonprofit organization Every Mother, Inc. where she develops breastfeeding training curricula for Federal agencies such as the national […]

Alina Hamkar’s life was turned upside down in August of 2021, but it didn’t stop her from working on her goals. Alina and her parents left Afghanistan last October in 2021 and had an unexpected 15-month stay in Greece. She supported CHEERing as the clinical team lead and was our guide for any medical matters. […]

Making donations to refugee camps and organizations in Greece is nothing new for Mary Dallas. When a CHEERing camp was in need of clothing and bedding at the start of the New Year, she came to the rescue. She also delivered children’s school supplies to Malakasa Camp in 2022. Mary is a British expatriate living […]

Congratulations to CHEERing alumna Maria Ines Silva, BSc. Maria spent her 6-month Erasmus nutrition placement with CHEERing in Greece. She served as the onsite nutrition specialist, focused primarily on promoting food literacy, reducing food waste, and favoring sustainable diets. The children at Malakasa camp were particularly fond of her creative cooking sessions. Maria is a […]

Our CHAMPion of the Week is Laene Ramirez Keith, MA, CCC/SLP, IBCLC (she/hers). Laene is a lactation consultant and Speech Language Pathologist in Florida. She serves as Communications Coordinator with Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida, advocating for access to donor human milk. Laene also provides in-home lactation consultation care on the Space Coast of Florida […]

Congratulations to Tareq Ghafari, a member of our CHEERing Afghanistan team! Tareq is dedicated to promoting maternal-child health in his home country. He joined the CHEERing team in September after studying nursing and currently runs the day-to-day operations of CHEERing’s newest Grow Clinic in Herat. Tareq helps to provide critical support to mothers and children, […]

Valerie Coleman, RN, MSN, IBCLC, FACCE, is our CHAMPion of the Week. Valerie is the Program Director of Family Life Education, Women’s Health Community Outreach, and Lactation Services at VCU Health Systems (VCUHS) in Richmond, Virginia. Valerie is currently active with the Virginia Department of Health Breastfeeding Advisory Committee, Virginia Breastfeeding Coalition, and serves as […]

Jenan has been helping foodKIND with the delivery of mothers’ packs to Oinofyta camp and when CHEERing took over, he began helping us instead. NGOs depend on people like Jenan to get us access to the camps, which is not always easy. Jenan also has experience working in a medical store in his home country […]

CHAMPS’ first Baby-Friendly re-designated hospital is here! The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was initially designated as a Baby-Friendly hospital in September 2017 and was re-designated on December 5, 2022. Their incredible Baby-Friendly journey began ten years ago. UMMC’s Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants holds Mississippi’s only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit. […]

NYC Health + Hospitals has entered a new chapter. The nation’s largest municipal health care system now has all maternity hospitals Baby-Friendly designated. The system-wide accomplishment came after Kings County Hospital became Baby-Friendly designated in August of 2022. NYC Health + Hospitals delivers care to more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than […]

Congratulations to CHEERing Afghanistan’s Program Leaders Samana Yousefi and Somaye Yousefi, MD. Samana and Somaye lead on-the-ground efforts for the Grow Clinic in Herat. They provide health care for mothers, infants and children, and 20 pregnant women two days per week including weighing and measuring babies, giving frontline medical treatment, and tending to malnourished children. […]

CHEER celebrates Christina Chunn, CHES, IBCLC, CLC (she/hers/her). She is currently working on her Master of Public Health Education at Mississippi University for Women (MUW). She remains a La Leche League Leader since 2008. Christina is also a proud spouse to an Air Force Reservist. Christina moderates a breastfeeding support group and co-leads monthly meetings […]

Congratulations to our CHAMPion of the Week Judy Li, RD, IBCLC (she/her). Judy is a Registered Dietitian and founder of the private practice Milk & Grow. She offers lactation consultations and writes blog articles to help others increase access to nutrition and lactation information. She is currently developing culturally appropriate infant and toddler nutrition resources […]

CHEER is proud to celebrate California-based breastfeeding organization BreastfeedLA. This breastfeeding CHAMPion dedicates efforts to improve the health and well-being of infants and families in Los Angeles. They promote and support breastfeeding through education, outreach, and advocacy. The organization, formerly known as Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles, was formed by volunteers in 1994 […]

Congratulations to St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi! The hospital became Baby-Friendly designated on October 28, 2022. Since 2019, the maternal and child health team has worked hard to accomplish this milestone. St. Dominic’s women’s services puts compassion first. Families can expect to be supported by the team throughout the entire hospital stay and […]

CHEER recognizes previous CHAMPion Brittany Butler, IBCLC, CLC! As a WIC Peer Counselor 3, she helps women have positive breastfeeding experiences, teaches WIC and non-WIC clients about breastfeeding benefits, and helps women make informed breastfeeding decisions. She assists with pump supply to breastfeeding mothers and those with a NICU baby, and supports mothers with breastfeeding […]

Our CHAMPion of the Week is Jennifer Briggs, BA, IBCLC, CLC. Jennifer is a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor who teaches women breastfeeding techniques, including latching, feeding, pumping, and navigating their return to work. She is a previous CHAMPion with a new IBCLC certification to be proud of. Jennifer recognized the need to educate mothers after […]

This week’s CHEER CHAMPion of the week is Annie Martin, Regional Coordinator for the Mississippi State Department of Health WIC Breastfeeding Program. Annie started working in lactation as a WIC Peer Counselor because she enjoyed breastfeeding her son and received help from the WIC Breastfeeding Program when she encountered issues during her breastfeeding phase. She […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Chenae Marie! She is an author, maternal-mental health and breastfeeding advocate, and speaker. She released the Breastfeeding Mamas adult coloring book in 2018. Each page of the book is dedicated to one real-life black breastfeeding “mama,” affirmation, and fun fact about breastfeeding. After giving birth to her daughter, […]

Congratulations to SolidarityNow as our CHAMPion of the Week! SolidarityNow is a non-governmental organization that operates three Solidarity Centers for the Greek, along with migrant and refugee populations in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece. The organization indiscriminately prioritizes empowerment, financial independence and social integration, unaccompanied minors, education, useful life skills, and human rights.   SolidarityNow’s integrated […]

This week we celebrate Zakelin Chatzikyriakou, an Arabic culture interpreter at SolidarityNow, with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Crete. She has made several contributions to child protection, and women empowerment and protection camps in Greece. Zakelin previously worked with International Rescue Committee and for the department of chemotherapy as a laboratory manufacturer […]

This week we celebrate Becky Page, RN, IBCLC, and Maternal Child Coordinator at South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC) in Laurel, Mississippi. She also works PRN at Anderson Regional Medical Center in the NICU/Well Baby Nursery. As part of her coordinator role, she serves as SCRMC’s lead for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. “During this role, […]

CHEER is thrilled to celebrate CHEERing volunteer Zeinab Alsheraa, MSC, MPH. Zeinab and her family came to the United States as refugees after leaving Iraq. This summer, she volunteered her time and expertise at CHEERing, giving back to the community she was once part of. Zeinab is a recent graduate from Boston University and holds […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHAMPion of the Week, Singing River Pascagoula Hospital, for the newly achieved Baby-Friendly designation! After starting their Baby-Friendly journey six years ago, they officially became designated on August 26, 2022. The achievement remains a team effort and they acknowledge the incredible work from all staff, including doctors, nurses, and techs. The […]

This week, we celebrate Tawanda Logan-Hurt who is a Public Health Program Specialist Team Lead and Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) District Breastfeeding Coordinator, BSW, CLC, IBCLC. Tawanda is associated with Mississippi Baby Cafe USA as State Coordinator, Delta Baby Cafe as Lead Facilitator, Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition (MSBFC), and Delta Breastfeeding Coalition.   “I have […]

CHEER, the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research, would like to thank Aishat Gambari for her excellent work. She joined CHEER in 2019 and has been an integral part of our team. She is now attending the Nutrition and Health Sciences doctoral program at Emory University. During her time at CHEER, Aishat assisted with […]

This week, we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Lactation Collaborative of California as our CHAMPion of the Week! This Collaborative, established in December 2021, is a joint workgroup made up of AANHPI lactation professionals, public health workers, students, and retired lactation professionals from California. The vision of this collaborative is to ensure […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHAMPion of the Week, Magnolia Regional Health Center, for achieving the highly prestigious international Baby-Friendly designation! Magnolia Regional Health Center began its Baby-Friendly journey in 2016 and was designated on July 29th, 2022. MRHC faced multiple challenges on its path, including delays caused by the pandemic, and the staff having to […]

Iona Macnab, BA (Hons), LLB, IBCLC is a global maternal and child health leader with over 25 years of experience providing breastfeeding support to mothers and babies “wherever and whenever” she can. She is the co-founder of iLactation Online Breastfeeding conferences, an education platform for health professionals, and she is serving her second term as […]

This week, we celebrate Margaret Parker, MD, MPH, a clinical neonatologist, health services researcher, former Newborn Research Director at Boston Medical Center, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine. Meg has recently transitioned to a new role as Academic Chief of Neonatology at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Meg is […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHEER CHAMPion of the week Lamprini Mammata! Lamprini holds degrees in History and Archeology from the University of Ioannina and a Masters in Reading, Literacy, and Educational Material from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In addition to her work with CHEERing, she is also a volunteer with the Hellenic […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHAMPion of the Week, South Central Regional Medical Center’s Maternal Child Services for achieving Baby-Friendly designation! Although the COVID-19 pandemic was a great challenge in this quest, they overcame it by setting timelines and achieving one goal at a time. As a Baby-Friendly Designated facility, they will now focus on sustaining […]

This week CHAMPS features Merit Health Woman’s Hospital in Jackson, MS in recognition of their hospital-wide support for breastfeeding employees. Merit Health Woman’s Hospital became designated as Baby-Friendly in October 2018, and according to Renee Simpson, RN, IBCLC, the hospital’s Baby-Friendly lead, breastfeeding support is simply a reflection of the overall company culture of support […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHAMPion of the week, Seeds of Humanity Hellas! Seeds of Humanity Hellas is a Greek branch of a Palestinian non-profit, non-governmental organization whose main purpose is to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable refugee families by offering solutions to their most basic needs. In Athens, Seeds provides comprehensive dental treatments for refugees, […]

This week we feature another Mississippi hospital that has implemented accommodations for breastfeeding employees. According to Angela Parker, IBCLC, the hospital began its worksite lactation initiative as part of its Baby-Friendly journey. The hospital received its Baby-Friendly designation in December 2019. Angela remembers that the idea of worksite lactation support came to her when she […]

Greenwood Leflore Hospital received their Baby-Friendly designation in October 2021. As a part of that journey, they began examining hospital practices related to breastfeeding employees. According to Dr. Melynda Noble of the Baby-Friendly leadership team, “As we were in the Baby-Friendly process, we began thinking about our own employees. We realized we are here encouraging […]

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, this week we celebrate the work of To-wen Tseng – journalist, columnist, and author – and her advocacy for maternal-infant health issues through media. To-wen has been a key voice for the AAPI community in the breastfeeding world, serving as an elected director on the […]

This week, we celebrate Sarah Bagley, MD, MSc, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, for advancing the conversation around postpartum mental health. In her opinion piece for JAMA entitled I Am Not Burnt Out, Dr. Bagley explored her own mental health experience following the birth of her son, […]

Sarah Barowka Gilland, MD is a Family Physician in Picayune, Mississippi. She is featured for her commitment to breastfeeding her darling 2-month-old baby boy, Maverick, despite all the challenges she faced. After refusing to give up and formula feed, as suggested by their pediatrician, Sarah has directly breastfed, pumped, triple fed (direct breastfeeding, pumping after […]

The Hope Café is a grassroots community café that connects refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and struggling families with critical resources. Their primary program provides nutritious meals to vulnerable populations as it works to mitigate hunger across Athens, especially in refugee camps. Beyond food, they also offer new baby starter packs, diapers, and quality clothing. Working […]

This week, we celebrate the work of Brittnee Mariah Arch, a breastfeeding peer counselor, lactation educator, and full spectrum doula. Brittnee has been involved in Indigenous Milk Medicine Week since 2019. She has also worked with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) WIC and SistasCaring4Sistas, and she is a former founder of Selu Mothering […]

Six Dimensions is a certified women-led and Black owned research, advocacy, and practice based organization, which promotes healthy and equitable communities through innovative, strategic, culturally appropriate and sustainable public health solutions. Six Dimensions is led by Dr. Nakeitra Burse, Founder and CEO, a public health practitioner and maternal child health advocate whose work centers on […]

Congratulations to CHAMPion of the Week, our partner institution, Jackson State University (JSU) School of Public Health, for all their efforts to improve breastfeeding among African-American populations in Mississippi! As the only accredited School of Public Health in Mississippi, the university received a grant in 2020, from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to create the Center […]

Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) – Greece is an organization that offers support and natural trauma-healing treatments to refugees in Greece. They have been working in various settings across Greece since 2016 and have collaborated with CHEERing on multiple programs to provide relief services such as acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine for refugees and asylum seekers. […]

Congratulations to this week’s champion of the week, Angie Karathanasi! Angie holds degrees as a drama therapist as well as a Greek Language teacher and currently works in the Malakasa refugee camp outside of Athens, Greece. In Malakasa, Angie works within the educational program of UNICEF and Solidarity Now as a Greek teacher. She has […]

Anais Forget is the manager of the CRIBS Free Shop in Athens, an organization dedicated to collecting necessary items for asylum seekers, refugees and other people in need who have babies or young children. Anais arrived in Athens by bicycle, all the way from France! She made this long journey to raise money for the […]

Congratulations to University of Hospital in San Antonio on their recent Baby-Friendly designation! University Hospital was one of our CHAMPS South hospitals and about 3,200 babies are born there every year. Their success comes after eleven years of groundwork and four years of focused policy and practice changes. “It makes me proud to walk around […]

Tiara Caldwell is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Doula, IBCLC, and Founder of Crowned & Cradled, a full service birthing, lactation, and postpartum support agency in DC. She became a doula as part of her journey of healing from a traumatic birth experience in 2011, and relishes the satisfaction and confidence she sees from her clients. […]

Congratulations to our CHEER CHAMPion of the Week, The Wellness Coalition, which launched a campaign to help normalize breastfeeding. The Wellness Coalition educates Alabamians on the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of breastfeeding-friendly hospitals and workplaces. “Numerous studies show that rates of breastfeeding are lower in non-Hispanic Black communities than in any other ethnic […]

Chanelle Andrews, BA, CBS, IBCLC is a “Postpartum First Responder”, lactation consultant, and owner of Hey Mama Lactation and Perinatal Care. She describes herself as the person who helps parents to “put the [breastfeeding] pieces together to make it all make sense.” Chanelle’s work is motivated by her own breastfeeding experiences and the long sleepless […]

Our CHAMPion of the week is Little Sunshine Childcare Center, located in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Little Sunshine serves families by providing a safe and supportive environment for their children’s physical, emotional, and social development. They were nominated for promoting and supporting breastfeeding with their clients. Little Sunshine is the vision of Mrs. Willie Lou Williams, who […]

Refugees Hope is a men’s soccer team, supported by several NGOs including CHEERing that is breaking all records with repeated wins in Greece’s biggest amateur soccer league. CHEERing is particularly proud of the team because every single player has gotten their COVID vaccination! Go Refugees Hope!

Cheri Nemec is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Lactation Specialist, Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor, and Member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Cheri began working in the breastfeeding field to address gaps in access to breastfeeding education and support in more rural tribal communities. She collaborated with other partners to create the Native Breastfeeding […]

Alabama Prison Birth Project (APBP) strives to improve newborn health and maternal well-being by providing one-on-one support to pregnant and postpartum imprisoned women, and fostering a continued connection with their babies. APBP is a program of Ostara Initiative, a women-funded and women-led, nonprofit that seeks to end prison birth in America. They were nominated for […]

Boston University Medical Group (BUMG) represents the physician and faculty body of Boston University School of Medicine and our institutional home, Boston Medical Center. The group recently announced a policy to support breastfeeding faculty by funding up to two, 30-minute pumping break periods per 8-hour clinical day- the latest development in their efforts to improve […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Annie Armstrong, a young artist in Scotland, UK, who has been providing her creative designs for CHEER and CHEERing since she was a teenager in high school. Indeed, Annie’s first ever paid artwork was her famous “If only he had breastfed” holiday card for CHEER in 2009, which […]

Fereidon Rahimi is head coach for the CHEERing STARS football program and Executive Director and Director of Coaching of the newly created CHEERing Football Club. Originally from Afghanistan, he has lived much of his life in Iran and currently lives in Greece with his family. He is a respected leader in his community and has […]

Danni Scales is a long-term volunteer at CHEERing where she works to support breastfeeding, enhance infant nutrition, and coaches the Beautiful Girls soccer team at the Malakasa 1 refugee camp. Danni graduated from Technological University Dublin with a degree in Nutraceuticals for Health and Nutrition and recently completed her dissertation focusing on maternal food security […]

Pa Houa Shasky is a Health Educator, second-generation Hmong American, and USBC 2020 Emerging Leader Award Recipient. Pa currently serves as an Interim Public Health Supervisor and helps to coordinate the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grant in Ramsey County, MN. SHIP is a program that helped the Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health […]

Our CHAMPion this week is the BMC Curbside Care for Moms and Babies, an innovative mobile visit program developed to meet the needs of moms and babies during the “fourth trimester”. The program was designed to increase comprehensive access to care by providing community dyadic care for moms and babies on the curb outside their […]

This week, we honor the work of Takayla Lightfield, BA, a certified doula, Indigenous breastfeeding counselor and member of the Mnicoujou Lakota band, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Takayla is also the Ninde (My Heart) Doula Program Coordinator at the Division of Indian Work, and Co-leader of the Indigenous Breastfeeding Coalition of Minnesota. […]

Congratulations to Greenwood Leflore Hospital (GLH) for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on October 27, 2021! Greenwood Leflore is the first CHAMPS hospital to achieve designation through Baby-Friendly USA’s new virtual Part II assessment process. “We are ecstatic over the designation!” shares Dr. Melynda Noble, Chief of Pediatrics and Baby-Friendly Physician Champion at GLH. “It is wonderful […]

Mariam Tuma, MSc, is a Casework Coordinator for the British Red Cross Refugee Support and former Programme Manager at CHEERing. The CHEERing team has nominated her for her contributions to the team and her efforts to ensure a successful COVID response during the lockdowns last year. “Working with Mariam created the motivation and momentum for […]

Amie Rakosky Hood is the Vice President of the Breastfeeding USA Board of Directors and an amazing advocate and supporter of breastfeeding. She was nominated by her colleague, Dana Saccomano, who said  “she [Amie] not only counsels lactating parents through her work with Breastfeeding USA, but also trains new volunteers to serve on national committees […]

Farzana, who is Afghani and has previously lived in Iran, works for CHEERing as the manager of CHEERing’s STARS (Soccer Teams and Refugee Solidarity) program, and as a breastfeeding peer counselor and Farsi translator. But Farzana does so much more. She and her family live in the Malakasa refugee camp about 40 minutes north of […]

CinnaMoms is a Los Angeles based breastfeeding support group created by and for Black/African American women. CinnaMoms provides support services to encourage breastfeeding, facilitate necessary conversations around maternal and postpartum health, and break down barriers to breastfeeding. They were nominated by Wendy Fung for “their efforts to reduce infant mortality and improve breastfeeding support for African […]

This week we would like to recognize Agency Partner Interactive (API) for their wonderful work on our new CHEER website. Agency Partner is a digital marketing, web development, and branding company based in Dallas, TX. Since its founding, Agency Partner has successfully completed over 1200 digital projects for nearly 600 organizations, including major health systems, […]

Debbie Thomas, CLC, is a retired La Leche League leader and WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in Rankin County, Mississippi. Debbie has served as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor for 27 years; she was nominated for her passion and consistency in advocating for breastfeeding. “In these difficult times, her [Debbie’s] experience has been exemplary, and her consistency […]

Whitney Dula, BS, CBS, is a lactation counselor at Babies Born Healthy Montgomery County (MD), lead breastfeeding specialist at the Mama’s Dula, and president of the Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition. She was nominated by Jasmine Esmay, BSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC, who described Whitney as a “tireless advocate for breastfeeding equality and equity” and a “perfect example of […]

This week’s CHEER CHAMPion is Choose Love, an organization that collaborates with local organizations to provide relief services and emergency aid where the need is greatest. Since their inception in 2015, Choose Love has reached over one million people through 120 projects in 15 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and including the US-Mexico border. […]

Our CHEER CHAMPion and Community Lactivist of the Week is Nichelle Clark, IBCLC, RLC, CBS! Nichelle is the owner of SonShine & Rainbows Lactation Services, a community breastfeeding education and support organization, and the founder of Black Breastfeeding 365, an organization that strives to bridge the gap between Black parents and the White providers who […]

In honor of the first Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week, this week’s post features stories about the South Asian breastfeeding experience in America. The theme for AANHPI Breastfeeding Week is “Reclaiming Our Tradition,” honoring the breastfeeding heritage and traditions of AANHPI people in the diaspora. Infants in South Asia are […]

In celebration of the inaugural Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Breastfeeding Week, this week’s CHEER CHAMPion is Wen Ting (Wendy) Fung, MS, RD, and soon-to-be IBCLC. Wendy is the Breastfeeding Services Supervisor at Public Health Foundation Enterprise (PHFE) WIC in Los Angeles County and Co-founder of Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Breastfeeding […]

This week, we honor the work of Jasha Lyons Echo-Hawk, BA, Founder of Indigenous Milk Medicine Week (formerly Native Breastfeeding Week), Co-founder of Indigenous Milk Medicine Collective, Birthworker & Student Midwife. They are a life-long justice seeker, community builder, part-time marathoner, and a proud tribal citizen of the Seminole, as well as the Pawnee, Iowa, […]

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a multinational organization that accompanies, serves and advocates for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced persons, so that they may heal, learn, and be stewards of their own future. Founded in 1980, the organization currently works in 56 countries (including Greece) to meet the education, health, and social […]

Nurul Husna Mohd Shukri, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is also a breastfeeding peer counselor and advocate who was nominated for her research and contributions to global breastfeeding and maternal child health. “To be honest, when I just started becoming a breastfeeding peer counselor, I used to think […]

This week, we would like to recognize Laura Causey, Tera Givens, and Rachel Galdino for their enthusiasm in motivating and educating mothers about breastfeeding! Laura, Tera, and Rachel are nurses at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC) where they have emerged winners of their unit’s friendly competition to motivate nursing staff and increase breastfeeding initiation […]

Congratulations to our CHEER CHAMPion of the Week, Maetal Haas-Kogan, BA, former CHEER Research Assistant! During her time at CHEER, Maetal was involved in most of our initiatives in Mississippi, Greece, and Boston. She provided support to hospitals pursuing Baby-Friendly designation through site visits and mock assessments, coordinated trainings, and facilitated our Wednesday and COVID-19 […]

In celebration of National Student Employee Week, CHEER and CHEERing would like to recognize our student workers for their excellent work and the amazing support they provide to our organization! ​Bhavana Annapragada, BTech, Student Research Assistant at CHEER Bhavana is an Epidemiology and Biostatistics MPH candidate at Boston University School of Public Health. She is passionate about maternal health […]

Uplifting Mamas Community Doula program was created to increase the number of persons of color doing birth and breastfeeding work in the Mississippi Delta. It is a collaborative effort between Early Dawn Birthing Services, and Clarksdale Baby University to improve breastfeeding support and maternal child health outcomes. “We are doing this program through a grant from […]

Olivia Kral Perry, CLC, is a Mississippi WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and mom of two. She was nominated by her team member at MS WIC who described her as having “true passion for the incomparable value of breastmilk, and a compassionate heart towards serving mommas and meeting their needs, where they are.” In her role […]

Glocal Roots is an international organization that helps people with refugee backgrounds to, once again, become autonomous, independent, and self-reliant members of society. They were nominated for their wonderful work with mothers and babies and the support that their “We are One” Center provides to women at the Samos refugee camp, Greece. Founded in December 2017, this small, but efficient […]

In celebration of his life and in honor of his legacy, this week’s CHEER CHAMPion is Dr. Jerome Klein, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine and former Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Klein was an internationally renowned leader in pediatric infectious diseases, professor, and researcher, who […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Ms. Alaura Rhea, a mother of two and employee of Franklin Corporation in East Mississippi. Alaura was nominated by her WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, for her determination to overcome breastfeeding difficulties and to manage pumping while at work. “When I had my first daughter at 17, I did not look into […]

This week’s CHEER CHAMPion is Jasmine Esmay, BSN, RNC-OB, CLC, and IBCLC. Jasmine works as a Certified Inpatient Obstetric Nurse and Lactation Consultant at Southeast Alaska Regional Healthcare System (SEARHC), Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. She has been a nurse for 17 years and currently works in the Obstetric department at SEARHC as a frontline nurse caring […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Marina Liakis, a French/Greek national who runs the Orange House and Tastes of Damascus to serve the refugee population in Greece, and has collaborated with CHEERing on various projects. Recently Marina had a baby in Greece and has become a breastfeeding advocate and supporter after learning a great deal through her personal experience. […]

Congratulations to CHEER CHAMPion of the Week, Brittany Isler, MS WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor II, and soon-to-be CLC. Known as “The Breastfeeding Girl” in her hometown of Cleveland, MS, Brittany was nominated for her efforts to support breastfeeding moms and normalize breastfeeding within her community. “My community is so small and everyone knows everyone. I […]

Project Elea is a global network of volunteers who work collaboratively with the residents of Eleonas Refugee Camp in Athens to improve living standards and community well-being. The project stands out for their emphasis on creative engagement of both children and adults, in addition to providing basic services like food and clothing distribution. Project Elea is […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Kimberly Rickard, MSN, CNM, a registered nurse with 24 years of experience working in women’s health. She was nominated for recently completing her Nursing Certification in Midwifery at Frontier Nursing University, for her many years of leading University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)’s Baby-Friendly designation efforts, and for being among the […]

Our CHEER Champion this week is Alexandra Beedle, MSC, ANutr, and Volunteer for CHEER International Group (CHEERing). Alexandra was nominated for her dedication and tenacity in going to serve vulnerable populations in Greece, during the current global pandemic. “I am a humanitarian and the pandemic does not deter me from my work. On the contrary, […]

This week’s CHAMPions are the women of the Moving Violations Motorcycle Club of Boston, popularly known as the “Bikers for Babies”. They were nominated for their volunteer work with the Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast and their heroic rescue of 1,000 ounces of donated breast milk following power outage from Tropical Storm Isaias in Connecticut. Moving […]

Congratulations to CHEER CHAMPion of the Week, Leila Mahbubi, BA, Breastfeeding Counselor and Interpreter for CHEERing, our Greece-based sister organization. Leila was nominated for her passion and commitment to serving families in Elna’s shelter and other camps. She is a native of Iran where she studied pharmacy and architecture, and worked as a pharmacist for […]

CHEER is pleased to recognize the Jackson-Evers International Airport for their continuous commitment to providing safe lactation spaces for their employees and breastfeeding moms in transit. Despite many state laws protecting the right to breastfeed in public, it is still highly stigmatized in some places, and breastfeeding in public can feel uncomfortable for many mothers. Prior to […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Papy Kuyowa Ndotoni. Papy is Congolese and lives in Athens, Greece. Papy, the father of a breastfed baby, and husband of a CHEERing peer counselor in Athens, has consistently helped the CHEERing team, as a French translator, educator, and general supporter. His cheerfulness, support, and willingness to help out CHEERing with […]

Our CHEER CHAMPion of the Week is the Sirens Motorcycle Club, also known as the NYC Breast Milk Riders! The Sirens Motorcycle Club is the oldest, largest women’s motorcycle club in NYC. It was founded in 1986, and now consists of over 60 members, half of whom are in the Milk Riders group. The Sirens […]

Congratulations to Dr. Melynda Noble, M.D. FAAP, our CHEER Champion of the Week. Dr. Noble is the Pediatric hospitalist and Chief of Pediatrics at Greenwood Leflore Hospital (GLH). She was nominated for her incredible efforts to promote the Baby-Friendly initiative at that hospital. Few hospitals in Mississippi have physicians leading their Baby-Friendly work, so Dr. […]

Congratulations to CHEER CHAMPion of the Week, Kimberly Moore, RN, and Director of the Women’s Center for NMMC Gilmore-Amory! In her role as director, Kimberly maintains the Baby-Friendly hospital initiative and the MS Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MSPQC) bundles. She also oversees the labor and delivery, NICU, nursery, and postpartum units; among other duties. During the […]

This CHAMPion of the Week post is in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), popularly known as the “Notorious R.B.G”. Justice Bader Ginsburg represented many things to many people; to us she was a hero, an unrelenting advocate for women’s rights, and a symbol of true public service. RBG was […]

Today’s CHEER Champion is Valerie Harris, LPN, CLC, and BFHI Coordinator for St. Dominic Memorial Hospital! Valerie works directly with managers on the Post-Partum, L&D, NICU, and Well Baby units to implement BFHI. She is responsible for stewardship of the project, doing the audits, and ensuring that everyone properly implements and documents the Baby-Friendly practices. […]

​Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Anita S. Henderson MD, FAAP. Dr. Henderson is a pediatrician at The Pediatric Clinic -a division of the Hattiesburg Clinic-, a medical staff member at Forrest General Hospital, and President-Elect for the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She was nominated for her leadership as […]

Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Waetie-Sanaa Cooper Burnette, B.A, Th.M., CLC. She is also a maternal health blogger, co-facilitator of the Baby Cafe at Codman Square, and co-founder of BreastPowered.org; a platform where art and stories are used to expand conversations about breastfeeding and the needs of BIPOC families and lactation professionals. Born and […]

This week’s CHAMPions are the three Navajo area Indian Health Service (IHS) federally operated hospitals, Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (CCHCF), Northern Navajo Medical Center (NNMC) Shiprock, and Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC). All three have been successfully re-designated as Baby-Friendly hospitals. ​ The Baby-Friendly re-designation process requires data collection, monitoring of practices, and quality […]

Our CHEER Champion of the week is Dr. Michelle Owens, MD, MS, Professor, Division Chief and Fellowship Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. In these roles, she provides hospital and clinic care for pregnant women and their babies and is responsible for the education of trainees and physicians. She was […]

​Our CHEER Champion of the Week is Angela Ferguson-Parker, Certified Lactation Counselor for Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC). Angela has worked on the Labor Delivery and Postpartum (LDRP) unit for 12 years. In her role as CLC, she provides clinical breastfeeding counseling management and support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding, or who need […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Shannon Richardson, RN CLC, Obstetrics Nurse Manager and BFHI lead at Wayne General Hospital. Shannon manages the obstetrics department and is responsible for the data collection, monthly audits, staff education, policy development, and all things related to the progression of Baby-Friendly. She was nominated for her positivity […]

Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Theresa Landau, MS, RDN, CDN, CLC. Theresa is the Senior Associate Director of Morrisania/Gotham Health and WIC Director of the Morrisania WIC Program. She was nominated for her amazing leadership of Morrisania, especially during the recent COVID-19 outbreak in NYC, and her wonderful presentation on the CHAMPS COVID-19 […]

Our CHEER Champions of the Week are Deidra Wesley (MA), and her baby, Miles. Deidra and Miles were nominated for their excellent work on the IPE filming which took place earlier this year in Jackson, Mississippi. Deidra is a producer, fitness model, and actress who played the role of a new mom along with her […]

​Congratulations to our CHEER Champion of the Week, Charlene C. Fraser, B.S (Human Services), CLC, Newborn Care Specialist and Birth Doula. Charlene is an affiliate of the Vital Village Network and Boston Breastfeeding Coalition, she was nominated for her lactation support services to families and her excellent presentation during the CHAMPS COVID-19 Webinar: Community Support (Re)Structures […]

Our CHEER Champion of the week is Dominique Bellegarde, BA (Human Services), CLC, CLE, and CCHW (Certified Community Health Worker). Dominique is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor who co-facilitates a Boston Medical Center (BMC) Baby Café. She was nominated for her creativity and commitment in providing services to moms and families and her excellent presentation during […]

This week’s CHEER Champion is Jordan Kellar, ADN, RN, IBCLC at Highland Community Hospital in Picayune, MS.  In her role as a lactation nurse, Jordan provides lactation counseling to patients both in the hospital and post discharge, and leads the breastfeeding task force at Highland. She also helps to maintain the hospital’s Baby Friendly practices […]

We are honored to recognize Dr. John (Jack) Maypole, MD as our CHEER Champion of the Week. Dr. Maypole is the Vice Chair of the Pediatrics Department, and Director of Comprehensive Care Program at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. In addition to being a […]

Today’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Dawn Kennedy, CLC, BA, and owner of Vital Milk, an accredited durable medical equipment company and perinatal support organization in Massachusetts. “Vital Milk is the only certified minority and minority owned breast pump supplier in MA. Our primary goal is to provide mother-to-mother support, evidence-based lactation support, and insurance-covered […]

Our CHEER Champion of the Week is Diane L. Spatz, PHD, RN-BC, FAAN, Professor of Perinatal Nursing and Helen M. Shearer professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is also a nurse scientist in lactation at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Founder of the CHOP Mothers’ Milk Bank. […]

Today’s CHEER Champion is Zahra Koopaei, BA, WIC Bureau Chief for the Houston Health Department. Zahra was nominated for her long and outstanding service as a proponent of breastfeeding and leader for WIC Project 26 Houston and for honoring our invitation to speak at the last CHAMPS conference. Zahra, an Iranian native, immigrated to the United States […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle (BMH-GT) in Columbus, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on February 4, 2019! BMH-GT has approximately 900 births per year and a level II NICU. ​ “It feels exhilarating to be Baby-Friendly!” shares Susan Spencer, MSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC, Director of Women’s Services and CHAMPS Team Leader at […]

As Greece reopens, post COVID-19 surge, and regular activities slowly resume, we would like to recognize Laurance Menetian, as CHEER Champion of the week. Laurance is a Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Criminologist who collaborates with CHEER’s International Branch, CHEERing. She works as a Protection PSS (Psychosocial Support) Specialist under the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). She works […]

This week’s CHEER Champion is the Houston Health Department Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program! This department consists of 165 members who provide supplemental foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support to women, infants and children up to the age of five. They were nominated for their creative use of videos to promote and improve breastfeeding […]

Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Emily Sanchez, MS, Clinical Dietitian, and U.S Army Captain, who currently serves as the Chief of the Community & Outpatient Nutrition Branch, Brooke Army Medical Center, Houston TX. Emily was nominated for her breastfeeding work and contributions to managing the nutritional needs of patients during the current COVID-19 […]

Our CHEER Champion this week is Lisa Spring, RN, Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics, and OB Charge Nurse at King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC). She was nominated for being an amazing supporter of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at her facility. “I enjoy working on the unit because it is very family oriented and community supported. The […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the week is Yildiz Gumustekin. Yildiz works as a Protection Assistant for the Danish Refugee Council’s Greek Protection Monitoring Team in Skaramagas refugee camp, and volunteers for CHEER in Greece (CHEERing). With a Bachelor of Social Work, and an expertise in Psychosocial Support and Conflict Transformation, Yildiz supports the implementation of […]

​The recipient of the CHEER 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award is Riccardo Davanzo, MD, PhD. He is a neonatologist from Trieste in Italy, who has performed outstanding service for breastfeeding throughout his long career. Dr. Davanzo is a well-published researcher, physician, teacher, and the Chair of the Task Force on Breastfeeding of the Italian Ministry of […]

Congratulations to North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) Gilmore-Amory on becoming Baby-Friendly designated on March 12, 2020! Located in Amory, MS this facility has 582 births per year and operates a level III NICU. They began their Baby-Friendly journey in April 2016 and enrolled as a CHAMPS Hospital in February 2018. “It feels awesome to be […]

Our CHEER Champion of the Week is Jennifer Caldwell, MSN, FNP-c, Director of Nursing (DON), Women and Children’s Services at NMMC Tupelo. She was nominated for being an amazing supporter of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and showing amazing leadership and tenacity in her role as Task Force Lead. “As a bedside labor and delivery […]

Congratulations to North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC)-Women’s Hospital, in Tupelo, Mississippi on their Baby-Friendly designation. The hospital achieved designation on March 2, 2020 after progressing through the Baby-Friendly Pathway for 4 years. NMMC Tupelo delivers about 1980 babies per year and manages a level III NICU. “Being designated Baby Friendly feels like we are truly validated […]

Today’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Calvin L. Williams, CLC, and President of Lucian Families. Calvin has worked in the fatherhood field for the past 20 years. 5 years ago, he founded Lucian Families, an organization dedicated to supporting parents and families in achieving healthier and more successful relationships. He was nominated for his long […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Alice Chaney Herndon, MSN, RNC-NIC, and Nurse Manager of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mother-Baby Unit and WIC/Lactation Services. She was nominated for her consistent leadership in helping the UMMC team to achieve and maintain Baby-Friendly practices. Having worked at the facility for over 14 years, she […]

Chauntel Norris is a DONA trained Labor and Post-Partum Doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and LaMaze Trained Childbirth Educator. She currently serves as the Mother’s Milk Initiative Coordinator, Doula, and Group Facilitator for the Alabama Prison Birth Project, a program that seeks to improve the health of newborns birthed by women in custody while strengthening maternal bonds […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Julie Ware, MD MPH, IBCLC, an experienced board-certified pediatrician who specializes in breastfeeding medicine. Dr. Ware was nominated for her long work in the breastfeeding field, for her recent paper on the associations between breastfeeding initiation and infant mortality, and also for doing the CHAMPS Wednesday Webinar […]

Congratulations to AI/AN CHAMPS Hospital, Norton Sound Regional Hospital, on their Baby-Friendly designation. They received designation on December 13, 2019, four years after they joined the pathway. Norton Sound, located in Nome, Alaska, is a small facility with about 800-100 births per year. “Being Baby-Friendly feels like a huge accomplishment!” expressed Carol Hobbs, CLC, and Health […]

Congratulations to Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC) on their Baby-Friendly designation! This accomplishment was announced on December 12, 2019, approximately 3 years after they joined the pathway to designation in 2016. Located in McComb MS, SMRMC oversees a Level II NICU and about 813 births per year. “To be Baby-Friendly is extremely rewarding!  Labor […]

​Congratulations to Methodist Olive Branch Hospital in Olive Branch, MS for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on December 12, 2019! Olive Branch has a level II NICU and approximately 650 deliveries per year. “Becoming a Baby-Friendly Hospital is such a huge accomplishment for our facility! Given the many challenges with our small labor pool and the gravity of this […]

This Week’s Champion is Dorie Walsh, BSN, RN-MNN. In her role as Transition Nurse for University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), Dorie assumes the care of infants at mother’s bedside within the first 30 minutes of life. She was nominated because of her incredible passion for teaching mothers and helping them to facilitate successful skin […]

Congratulations to Mississippi Baptist Medical Center (MBMC) on becoming officially Baby-Friendly designated on December 6, 2019. MBMC accounts for about 1774 births annually and operates a level III NICU. “We are so excited to be the recipient of such a prestigious award. Our staff are quality driven and this is a true testament to their commitment to […]

Congratulations to our Hospital of the Week, Merit Health Biloxi, on becoming Baby-Friendly designated as of November 27th, 2019. Merit Biloxi is a 153 bed, acute care hospital, which conducts approximately 888 births per year and operates a level 2 NICU. They began their Baby-Friendly journey in 2016 and are delighted to be the first Baby-Friendly […]

This week’s CHEER Champion is Christine Powell, AA, CLC, and Peer Counselor at the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), where she has worked on and off, since 1996, for a total of 11 years. She was nominated for her long-standing service to mothers in Greenwood, MS and her contributions during the last CHAMPS site […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS Hospital, Highland Community Hospital, on their recent Baby-Friendly designation! Located in Picayune Mississippi, Highland is part of the Forrest General Health System. The facility houses a Family Birth Center that provides family-centered childbirth experiences for women and families in Pearl River County. “We are so thrilled to have accomplished the designation of […]

Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Baby Café USA (BCUSA), an organization that is known for its commitment to promoting and supporting the provision of free, high-quality lactation care to breastfeeding mothers across the U.S! “Our mission is to promote and support the development of community-based, drop-in breastfeeding support sites offering on-going, high-quality, free-of-charge lactation care […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Jackie Berger, MS, a CHEER Consultant and Project Manager for the Rocky Boy’s Community Health Assessment (CHA) Project. She was nominated for her outstanding work, collaboration, and leadership on the recently completed CHA. “My favorite part of the CHA was tracking down community data” Jackie says. “It […]

Breanna Pennington, CLC, BD, is a doula who works full time as a Community Care Coordinator at Tougaloo Delta Health partners/United Health Care Greenville MS, a home visiting program for pregnant women. She was nominated for her contributions as a volunteer for the Delta Baby Café in Greenville. “I started going to the Delta Baby […]

This week, we would like to recognize the East Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition (EMSBFC), an organization that strives to promote awareness and correct misconceptions around breastfeeding in Golden Triangle and surrounding counties. Established in 2017, “EMSBFC’s mission is the advancement of breastfeeding as the cultural norm and advocacy in the communities we serve,” shares Christina Chunn, […]

Our CHEER Champion of the Week is T’amentanefer (TaNefer) Lumukanda Camara, BS, MS-HCA, IBCLC, and Certified Doula. TaNefer is a maternal health strategist, healer, and lactation/breastfeeding expert with 13 years’ experience as a doula, lactation consultant, and infant feeding specialist. She currently works as a Lactation Consultant at a safety net Baby Friendly Hospital in […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Judy Ellzey, CLC, Peer Counselor 3 and Special Projects Officer 1 with the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) WIC Breastfeeding Program. She was nominated by a past supervisor, Shellie Evans, AA, BS, CLC, for 23 years of compassionate and dedicated service to the MSDH WIC Breastfeeding […]

This week’s Champion is Becca Young, medical student at Oxford University and CHEERing volunteer. Becca was nominated for her hard work and dedication while she volunteered with CHEERing in Athens last August. Being a medical student with a keen interest in international aid work, Becca decided to travel to Greece and make a direct impact. […]

Our CHEER Champion of the Week is Paula Schreck, MD, IBCLC, FABM and Medical Director, Breastfeeding Support Services, Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Michigan. Dr. Schreck was nominated for her accomplishments in getting Detroit hospitals baby-friendly designated and founding the Ascension St. John Outpatient Breastfeeding Clinic. “My earlier exposures to BFHI got me hooked on […]

This week’s Champion of the week is a special young woman living in Athens, Greece. “Elise” (her name has been changed to protect her confidentiality) is a refugee living in an Athens shelter, with her husband and baby. The family sought refuge in Greece to escape the ongoing war in their African homeland. Elise has […]

Congratulations to Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi, for becoming the 13th hospital in Mississippi to attain Baby-Friendly Designation on September 11, 2019. Anderson has approximately 1200 births per year with a level III NICU. They began their Baby-Friendly journey in 2015, and they are happy to have become one of the 580 designated […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS Hospital Merit Health Madison in Canton, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly on September 4, 2019! Merit Health Madison Hospital is a 35,000 square foot facility with a maternity department that has approximately 300 births per year. Merit Madison began their Baby-Friendly journey in 2016. “It feels wonderful to have achieved the designation of Baby […]

​Our CHEER CHAMPion of the Week is Lacey Griffith, RN, and Director of Women’s Services at Merit Health River Region. She was nominated for her pivotal role in the CHAMPS hospital’s progress towards designation. ​ “The best part of the job is that special “Ah-ah” moment when all the education makes sense to the moms, […]

The CHEER Champion of the Week blog will be on vacation for the month of August. The next post will appear after Labor Day, on September 9th. See you then!

Major Kimberly (“Kim”) Rosenbaum, MSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC, was CHEER Champion of the Week in 2016 for creating a unique patient education checklist at CHAMPS hospital William Beaumont Army Medical Center. This checklist ensured consistency and efficiency in meeting Baby-Friendly education requirements within 36 hours of birth, and served as the basis for the one CHAMPS uses with […]

This week, CHAMPS would like to recognize the wonderful work the Greenwood Leflore Hospital (GLH) Baby-Friendly Team has been doing. GLH, in Greenwood, Mississippi, has approximately 435 births per year. They joined CHAMPS in 2015 and started their Baby-Friendly journey in 2017. Like all Baby-Friendly journeys, the journey at GLH has had its challenges, but […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Linda Jackson, BS, Peer Counselor II for Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) WIC Breastfeeding Program. She was nominated by her supervisor, Andrea Borda, SB, CLC, for her 20 years of outstanding service to the MSDH WIC Breastfeeding Program! Linda began as a Peer Counselor working from home […]

Jenny Zorn, CLC, is a Peer Counselor 3 at Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) WIC Breastfeeding Program. She has worked at MSDH’s WIC Breastfeeding Program for over 10 years, and has been a Peer Counselor 1, 2 & 3. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week by her supervisor, Andrea Borda, SB, CLC, […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Dalvery Blackwell, BA, IBCLC, Executive Director and Co-Founder of African American Breastfeeding Network, Inc. (AABN). She was nominated by Erica Morrell, PhD, for being a “dedicated and passionate community leader who meets families where they are at, to transform neighborhoods from within.” Founded in 2008, AABN has been […]

Reba Lee, RN, IBCLC, RLC, is a Lactation Nurse and the Lactation Team Lead at CHAMPS hospital, Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, Mississippi. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for her many years of dedicated service to mothers and babies, and for her help with the Baby-Friendly journey at her hospital. […]

Congratulations to Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) in Anchorage, Alaska, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on May 22, 2019! ANMC was part of the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) CHAMPS program from 2015 until the end of the AI/AN CHAMPS grant in 2018. It is the largest tribal hospital in Alaska and serves as a tertiary care […]

The Elna Maternity Center, which shelters pregnant women and families with infants and children in central Athens, Greece, is today’s CHEER Champion of the Week! Elna became an independent non-profit on May 1st, 2019, but had already been housing refugees for a year in their current location, which is down the street from the CHEERing […]

CHAMPS is excited to honor the South Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition (SMBFC), a relatively new group that is doing a great job supporting and promoting breastfeeding on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast! “Our coalition’s mission is to promote and protect breastfeeding by providing support, advocacy, and resources for a healthier South Mississippi community,” shares Amanda Sterling, RN, BSN, IBCLC, founding President […]

This week the CHEER’s CHAMPion of the week is Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS). BCBSMS has been nominated as CHAMPions for their proactive and enduring commitment to improving maternal and infant health in Mississippi through their Maternity Quality Model, and for their ongoing collaborative role with CHAMPS to establish the Baby-Friendly Hospital […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the week is Nikos Varakis, MD, IBCLC, a pediatrician in private practice in Rethymnon on the southern Greek island of Crete, where he has worked since 2004. Nikos became an IBCLC in 2011. He is a founding member of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Greece, and was elected […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Kirsten Krane, MS-MPH, RDN, Project Manager for CHEER. Kirsten started working for CHEER in 2014 and has done an excellent job managing a wide variety of projects. Sadly, Kirsten will be ending her work with us on May 3, 2019. We’d like to honor and thank her […]

Irene Paphiti, MD, IBCLC is President of the Cyprus Breastfeeding Association, ”Gift for Life,” of which she was a founding member in 2009. In this role, she represents the Association on the Cyprus Breastfeeding National Committee. Irene has been a pediatrician in private practice for 14 years, and uses her position to advocate for breastfeeding […]

Congratulations to CHEER Champion of the Week, Millicent (“Milly”) Barrios, CLC, Peer Counselor 3 for the Mississippi WIC Program (MS WIC) in the Southern Region/Mississippi Coast. Milly was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for her wonderful work with moms and babies on the Gulf Coast, and for her helpful contributions to a recent […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is CHEER International’s interpreter and peer breastfeeding counselor, Shaista Karimi, who works with the CHEER team in Athens, Greece. Shaista is originally from Afghanistan, and is a trained physiotherapist. She arrived in Greece nearly three years ago with her husband and four children, after trekking over the mountains through […]

​Amanda Sterling, RN, BSN, IBCLC is a Lactation Consultant and CHAMPS Team Leader at CHAMPS hospital Merit Health Biloxi in Biloxi, Mississippi. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for all her hard work and the excellent job she is doing leading the Baby-Friendly journey at Merit Health Biloxi! “I truly believe that […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are two of our newest team members: Paige Beliveau, MA, Research Assistant, and Cara Safon, MPH, Research Project Manager. Paige joined CHEER in June 2018 and Cara in October 2018. CHEER is thrilled to have hired Paige and Cara, who are doing fantastic work for us and advancing […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital, Baptist Memorial Hospital – Union County (BMH-UC), for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on February 19, 2019! BMH-UC has approximately 950-1,000 births per year and a level II NICU. They offer free childbirth and breastfeeding classes once a month and free follow-up lactation support as needed. There are now 11 Baby-Friendly facilities in […]

​Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital, King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) in Brookhaven, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on February 11, 2019! KDMC has approximately 730 births per year and a level 2B Stabilization Nursery and Neonatal Observation Unit. They have an innovative childbirth education program called “Mommy University,” which features exclusive 1 on 1 education with […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Noel Martin, RN, CLC, Nursery/Labor & Delivery Nurse, and CHAMPS Nursing Team Leader at CHAMPS hospital Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was nominated for her wonderful contributions to the Baby-Friendly journey at Singing River and for her presentation on a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle on skin-to-skin […]

Tina Fritz, RN, BSN, IBCLC, is Neonatal Nurse and CHAMPS Team Leader at CHAMPS Hospital Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for the incredible job she is doing as CHAMPS Team Leader! “My greatest joy is attending a delivery as a neonatal nurse and adapting all […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Panayioula (“Yioula”) Mexi Bourna, IBCLC, MD, President of the Galaxias Association of International Certified Breastfeeding Consultants; member of the Breastfeeding Commission in the Greek Ministry of Health; Pediatrician; Neonatologist; and the Director of the neonatal unit at the University General Hospital Attikon in Athens, Greece. Yioula was […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS Hospital Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on December 4, 2018! Merit Health Wesley, with approximately 1,100 births per year and a level III NICU, is the third Merit Health hospital in Mississippi to become Baby-Friendly. “It was a very exciting day for us when we received that […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Shavonda Quinn, MSc, Peer Counselor 2 for the Mississippi Department of Health’s WIC program. Shavonda serves 3 counties, Clay, Chickasaw, and Webster. She was nominated for her wonderful participation at a recent CHAMPS site visit at North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC)-West Point and for her new role at […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are Camie Goldhammer, LICSW, MSW, IBCLC, Kimberly (“Kim”) Moore-Salas, IBCLC, and Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC. These ladies, who have all worked for the CHEER team, were recently elected as Board Directors to the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)! USBC “is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 50 nationally […]

Congratulations to SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, Alaska, the first Native hospital in Alaska to become Baby-Friendly designated! SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe was part of our American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) CHAMPS program from 2015-2018. The hospital is part of the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, a Native nonprofit health consortium that provides high-quality healthcare services […]

CHEER is thrilled to announce the recipient of our 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award: Kimarie Bugg, DNP, RN, MPH, IBCLC, CLC, for her long-standing dedication to breastfeeding and maternal child health equity! Kimarie is the Co-Founder, President/CEO, and Change Leader for Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), a nonprofit developed in 2011 to address breastfeeding inequities in the African-American […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are Yuri Kitayama, Noriko Hiwatashi, and Sanae Iwakami, 3 Japanese professional interpreters who provided simultaneous translation at the recent International Society for Research into Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) conference at Shonan Village in Kanagawa, Japan. CHEER Director Anne Merewood nominated them for their energy and patience simultaneously translating their way […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Talita Ruble, a mother who persevered in breastfeeding her adopted son, Ronin! Talita’s story is truly remarkable and a testament to a mother’s determination and the support of her community, including CHAMPS hospital King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) in Brookhaven, Mississippi. In January 2018, Talita and her […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Lou Ann Wall, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Nurse at CHAMPS hospital King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) in Brookhaven, Mississippi. Lou Ann was nominated for the incredible breastfeeding support she does at KDMC and the Circle of Moms Baby Café Cluster. “What I love most about my job is […]

Congratulations to St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH) in Covington, Louisiana, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on October 25, 2018! STPH was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program, from 2015 to 2017. They performed 1,875 births in 2017 and have a level III NICU. “It is a great pleasure and relief to know […]

Congratulations to CHEER Hospital of the Week, Merit Health River Oaks in Flowood, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on October 26, 2018! Merit Health River Oaks started their Baby-Friendly journey in 2015 and joined CHAMPS in 2017. They are known in their community as being a family-centered facility that welcomes natural births and has the […]

​This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Melody Sharp, BA, Owner of Living Foods Wellness Café in Oxford, Mississippi. Melody was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for her determination to exclusively breastfeed all 3 of her children despite significant challenges she has faced! Melody is the daughter of Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA, CHAMPS […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Bertha (“Bertie”) Brown (Northern Arapaho/Northern Cheyenne), part-time co-facilitator at the Dragonfly Project and Indigenous Researcher with the CWard Evaluation/Assessment Team. In the past, Bertie also worked for CHEER as the Onsite Consultant for the Northern Cheyenne Community Health Assessment (CHA). Bertie was nominated for the incredible work she […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Merit Health Woman’s Hospital in Flowood, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on September 28, 2018! Merit Health Woman’s is part of Community Health Systems’ Merit Health hospital system (MHHS). MHHS has 8 birthing facilities, which are all a part of CHAMPS and have been supporting each other on the Baby-Friendly pathway. Merit Health […]

Shellie Evans, AA, BS, CLC, is the WIC Breastfeeding Program Region 3 Coordinator, the Lead Facilitator for Circle of Moms Baby Café Cluster, and Secretary for the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for her outstanding work to promote breastfeeding and for her collaboration with several CHAMPS hospitals! “My […]

​Congratulations to Briana Williams on the birth of her second daughter, Scarlett, and on her perseverance in pumping and breastfeeding despite a difficult birth and hospital experience! Despite early problems, Briana overcame all odds to feed Scarlett exclusive breast milk. Briana and her husband, Byron, have been guest speakers at our Mississippi CHAMPS conferences, and Byron […]

Congratulations to Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner in Kenner, Louisiana for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on August 28, 2018! Ochsner Kenner was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program from 2014-2017. It is one of many hospitals in the New Orleans area that are now Baby-Friendly, a culture change that is truly remarkable! […]

​Congratulations to Ochsner Medical Center West Bank in Gretna, Louisiana, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on September 6, 2018! Ochsner Medical Center West Bank was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program during 2014-2017. It is one of 4 Ochsner CHAMPS hospitals near New Orleans, all which are now Baby-Friendly! Ochsner’s West Bank […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi (BMH-NM) in Oxford, on becoming Baby-Friendly designated on August 23, 2018! Becoming Baby-Friendly designated is a huge accomplishment and the result of many years of hard work. BMH-NM joined CHAMPS in August 2015 and officially began their Baby-Friendly journey in September 2015. They were the first hospital in […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is John Micka, RD, Nutritionist Senior for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). He has worked for MSDH for 19 years with both the WIC program and the PHRM (Perinatal High Risk Management) program. In recent years, his focus has been on WIC. He was nominated for […]

Congratulations to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, Louisiana, for achieving Baby-Friendly designation on July 12, 2018! Touro was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program, during 2014-2017. It is a large, academic and private practice, level III obstetric facility with a level III NICU, and it performs approximately 3,300 deliveries annually. It […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Kate Mitchell, CNM, a Midwife at Indian Health Service’s Blackfeet Community Hospital (BCH) in Browning, Montana. She was nominated for the great work she is doing as a midwife and in improving substance use screening and referrals for the patients at BCH. “I LOVE being a midwife […]

​This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is G. Wesley Bugg, Esq., LLM, Operations Officer for Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) and Deputy Director for Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE). Wesley is doing great work with both ROSE and ROBE, a program of ROSE dedicated to educating, equipping and empowering men on a national scale to positively impact […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg, Mississippi, for becoming a milk depot for the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Mississippi! The hospital and milk bank celebrated the depot’s opening with a festive ribbon-cutting event at Merit Health River Region on June 20, 2018. The event was a success and well attended by […]

Congratulations to Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett in Bartlett, Tennessee, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on June 5, 2018! Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program, during 2015 to 2017. It is a smaller hospital with approximately 450 births per year and a level II neonatal intensive care unit. “It feels […]

Congratulations to Mayor Toby Barker, MS, EMHL, Mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for his leadership in establishing mothering rooms in Hattiesburg’s city facilities! These mothering rooms will allow staff members and citizens to have a private, quiet place to nurse or pump. They will include access to electricity, a comfortable chair and be child-friendly. If feasible […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week, Mike Geboe, MA, LAC, MAC, SAP, has been working for CHEER as a Consultant for the past year. Based in Montana, Mike has done an excellent job working in the areas of breastfeeding promotion, drug & alcohol prevention, and Native wellness. He is half Chippewa Cree and half […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Pastor Joel Toppen, Lead Pastor at Four Winds Assembly of God Church in Browning, Montana and Spiritual Advisor for the Silent Warriors Coalition, a group of community members dedicated to fighting drug and alcohol abuse in Blackfeet Nation. Pastor Joel is also a member of the Opioid […]

​Brocade Stops Black Eagle is this week’s CHEER Champion of the Week. Brocade (Crow-Mandan-Hidasta) is an RN at the Indian Health Service (IHS) Crow/Northern Cheyenne hospital on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and Project Leader on IHS’ Healthy Mothers, Healthy Tribe initiative in that area. CHEER is the Billings Area contractor on this initiative, […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Brittany Butler, CLC, WIC Peer Counselor-3 for the Mississippi Department of Health. Brittany was nominated for doing a great job supporting women with breastfeeding within and outside of WIC, and for meeting her personal breastfeeding goal of 2 years! “My favorite part of my job is seeing […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Jade-Heather Lepotokisi, who is doing an awesome job as dual coordinator for Blackfeet Tribe’s Methamphetamine & Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI)! Jade-Heather is a Blackfeet descendant and an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes. CHEER provides technical assistance […]

​This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are Windy Burd and Lynette Raining Bird, members of the Blackfeet Tribe and the local Blackfeet grassroots group, the Silent Warriors Coalition. Silent Warriors is comprised of community members who are working hard to expose addiction, educate youth, and support people on their recovery journeys. They are dedicated to […]

Congratulations to our very own Nathan Nickel, PhD, MPH, CHEER Data Consultant, for winning the prestigious University of Manitoba Falconer Emerging Researcher Rh Award for Outstanding Contributions to Scholarship and Research in the Health Sciences category! The University of Manitoba officially announced this award on April 10, 2018. The award honors Nathan’s excellent research contributions […]

This week’s CHEER Champion is an organization dedicated to equity at all levels. Orange House is a shelter in Athens, Greece for up to 20 refugees, and a day center for many more. Around 200 refugees a day visit Orange House to learn English, Greek, French, German, French, music, yoga and dance. Orange House provides […]

Congratulations to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Louisiana at Ochsner Baptist for opening the first human milk bank in the state of Louisiana! Louisiana is now the 22nd state in the United States to have a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA)-accredited human milk bank. The milk bank, which opened in March 2018, operates out of […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, Mississippi, for becoming Baby-Friendly designated on March 8, 2018! South Sunflower is a smaller hospital with around 250-300 births per year. They have been part of CHAMPS since fall 2014, and began their Baby-Friendly journey in fall 2015. Betsy Dawson, FNP-C, CHAMPS Team Lead and […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Merit Health hospital system (MHHS), for their outstanding progress towards seeking Baby-Friendly designation for their 8 birthing facilities in Mississippi! Each of these CHAMPS facilities is doing excellent work incorporating Baby-Friendly changes and supporting each other along the way. They are a wonderful example of what an […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is the Silent Warriors Coalition, a group of community members dedicated to fighting drug and alcohol abuse in Blackfeet Nation and creating resources for these addictions and their ensuing problems of suicide, abuse (domestic, elder, sexual, child), and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). They were nominated as CHEER Champion […]

Congratulations to The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, for achieving Baby-Friendly designation on February 6, 2018! The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program during 2015-2017, along with 2 other CHRISTUS Health hospitals in Texas. There are now 3 Baby-Friendly CHRISTUS Health […]

Congratulations to Maudicella Rodriguez, the 1st place winner of CHEER’s “Benefits of Breastfeeding for Child, Mother, Community and Future of Chippewa Cree People” Essay Contest! The essay contest was open to Box Elder High School and Rocky Boy High School students from grades 6-12. Maudicella is a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe and a […]

​Congratulations to Beneta Burt, MPPA, Executive Director of Mississippi Roadmap to Health Equity, Inc., for her inspiring leadership in making Jackson, Mississippi a healthier place! A one-stop facility for wellness, Mississippi Roadmap offers a wide array of services, including a free fitness center, a community garden, healthy cooking classes, computer and job search training, a mobile […]

​Congratulations to the Blackfeet Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), for launching the first Diabetes Prevention Program in Blackfeet Nation! The Blackfeet DPP, housed at the Southern Peigan Health Center in Browning, Montana, is an evidenced-based program to help people with prediabetes prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. The program focuses on lifestyle changes such as […]

Dr. Alfio Rausa, M.D., a public health hero who worked valiantly for half a century to improve the health of Mississippians, passed away at home after several months of illness on January 3, 2018. Dr. Rausa leaves a legacy of dedication to countless public health and community efforts, including his work at the Mississippi State […]

This week’s Champion is particularly special to us at CHEER. Dr. Suzanne Haynes, PhD, who retired from her position as Senior Science Advisor to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) at the end of December 2017, is a stalwart pioneer and advocate of women’s health and […]

Emily Dotson, B.A., Administrative Assistant with Executive Staff Support for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS), provides assistance to the Medical Director and the Director of Prescription Drug Management. She recently did an excellent job planning and coordinating the Mississippi CHAMPS Team Meeting and Conference held on September 27 and 28, 2017 on […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Dana Pemberton, Personnel Director of the Blackfeet Tribe and member of the Blackfeet Breastfeeding Coalition. Dana recently led the effort to open the first breastfeeding room for employees at the Blackfeet Tribal Offices! Read More

Camie Jae Goldhammer, LICSW, MSW, IBCLC (Sisseton-Wahpeton) is a rising star in the field of lactation! Through various unexpected turns, she has allowed her career to beautifully unfold into a unique blend of social worker, lactation consultant, and breastfeeding advocate. Camie is the Founder and Chair of the Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington; one of […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are the gentlemen who spoke on the “Dads of Breastfed Babies” Panel at our September 28, 2017 Mississippi CHAMPS Conference in Jackson, MS. These dads stole the show by providing candid, humorous, and touching responses to ROSE moderator Tenesha Sellers’ questions. There were many laughs and even tears […]

Elsie J. Joe, MPA is a Health System Specialist and Area Project Officer for the Methamphetamine/Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) and the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) through the Indian Health Service (IHS) Department of Behavioral Health for the Navajo Area. She recently moved to New Mexico from Montana, where she held the same position for […]

Congratulations to Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans, Louisiana for achieving Baby-Friendly designation on October 31, 2017! Ochsner Baptist was part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program during 2014-2017, along with several other Ochsner Health System hospitals in Louisiana. There are now 3 Baby-Friendly Ochsner hospitals in Louisiana with more on the way! […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are Forrest General Hospital & University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The 2 institutions, located across the street from one another, have formed a great partnership and kicked off this year’s USM football season with a Mothers’ Lounge for mothers to privately care for and breastfeed […]

Lydia West, MPH, RD, LD is a consultant with the Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI). She has been a staunch supporter of breastfeeding work, and has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to move breastfeeding initiatives in Mississippi forward! As a consultant with MSPHI, Lydia’s main role is to assist the Mississippi State Department of Health, […]

Congratulations to one of the newest members on our Mississippi CHAMPS team, Felisha Floyd, BS, CLC, IBCLC, for the incredible work she is doing to reduce racial disparities in breastfeeding! Felisha is Lactation Coordinator for the Hospital Corporations of America system in Florida and Owner/Lactation Consultant with her private practice, Beyond Breastfeeding. Her work with […]

This week’s CHEER Champions of the Week are LT Amber Means, RN and LCDR Sandi Olson, RN, MSN. They are both Case Managers at Indian Health Service’s (IHS) Northern Cheyenne Service Unit (NCSU) on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana. They are doing an amazing job coordinating the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Tribe” project among […]

Congratulations to Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital in Raceland, Louisiana, for achieving Baby-Friendly designation on September 28, 2017! Ochsner St. Anne has approximately 350 births per year. They were part of the first wave of the CHAMPS South program during 2014-2017, along with several other Ochsner Health System hospitals in Louisiana. “There are moments in […]

Sannie (“Sandy”) Snell, MSW, MPH, President of Women and Children’s Health Initiatives, works as an independent consultant on maternal and child health issues. She is currently Project Director of Right! from the Start, a project based in the Mississippi Delta and funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. This […]

Congratulations to the Chippewa Cree Tribal Council for their increased support for breastfeeding! Read More

Jasmyne Cain is a ROSE Community Transformer Peer Counselor and a Volunteer at the CHAMPS Delta Hills Baby Café in Greenville, Mississippi. She was nominated as CHEER Champion of the Week for the wonderful job she is doing as a volunteer and for her own success in breastfeeding her son, Carsen! Jasmyne says before she […]

Nora Hayes, BSN, Public Health Nurse, and LaVonne Little Owl, RN, BSN, Case Manager, work at the Crow Indian Health Service (IHS) in southern Montana. They are CHEER Champions of the Week for the stellar job they are doing on the IHS “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Tribe” project out of the Billings Area IHS. CHEER is […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Rafael Pérez-Escamilla, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health and Director of the Global Health Concentration and of the Office of Public Health Practice at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut. Rafael is an outstanding advocate for breastfeeding, and has dedicated his career […]

Kimberly “Kim” Moore-Salas, IBCLC, an enrolled citizen of the Navajo Nation, is a rising star in the field of human lactation and a dedicated advocate for Indigenous mothers, babies and families. She works as a full-time Lactation Consultant at Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) in Phoenix, Arizona and in private practice at Arizona Breastfeeding Center. Kim works with […]

This week’s Hospital of the Week is William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in El Paso, Texas. WBAMC enrolled in the CHAMPS South program in May 2015. They are currently working their way towards Baby-Friendly Designation, and they produced a great video about their newborn service unit and their application of evidence-based practices. The hospital shared the video on […]

Sandra Trumbach, NNP, BC, is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and CHAMPS Team Lead at Hancock Medical Center in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. She has done an outstanding job leading her team through their Baby-Friendly journey! Especially commendable is that Sandra gathers data for CHAMPS on every birth by going through each chart by hand. Most […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Melissa Brown-Burkes, MS, BS, Peer Counselor II for Mississippi Department of Health’s WIC Breastfeeding Program (Jackson and George Counties). Melissa has over 5 years of breastfeeding work experience, in addition to the experience of breastfeeding her 4 children. We would like to thank her for her recent […]

This week’s CHEER Champion of the Week is Circle of Moms Baby Café, Mississippi’s 1st cluster Baby Café! Read More

Congratulations to Deserie Richard, CLC, CLE, Peer Counselor III for Mississippi Department of Health’s WIC Breastfeeding Program (Pearl River County and Stone County). Deserie has done breastfeeding work for the past 26.5 years, starting out as a volunteer Peer Counselor when that program began in 1990! It was great to meet this veteran of breastfeeding […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Aleshia Jones, MBA, BSBA, CLC, WIC District IX Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH). Aleshia began her lactation career in 2008, first as a Lactation Specialist for MSDH, who quickly promoted her to District Breastfeeding Coordinator. This July 1st, MSDH will be restructuring their […]

Our CHAMPion of the Week blog is expanding! CHAMPS is now under our larger, umbrella center at Boston Medical Center: CHEER (The Center for Health Equity, Education and Research). In addition to our CHAMPS breastfeeding program, CHEER is working on projects in opioid misuse prevention; community health assessments; and prevention of diabetes and of domestic […]

Congratulations to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) for its beautiful nursing mothers’ and lactation rooms! Numerous mothers have complimented these state-of-the-art rooms. One mother said, “I LOVE your lactation room and family rooms! I wish all airports had these. Thanks for promoting breast feeding in luxury! You ROCK MSP.” “More than half of all travelers […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Browning Public Schools (BPS) in Browning, Montana, for adopting the “Breastfeeding in the Workplace” policy! The policy, adopted on May 25, 2016, is part of the larger “Poka-Friendly Community” project taking place within Blackfeet Nation. (Poka means “child” in the Blackfeet language.) The policy incorporates Montana and federal workplace […]

Congratulations to Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma, on achieving Baby-Friendly designation! Congratulations to Lisa Eddings, BS, RN and Kathy Gilchrist, BS, RNC-OB, IBCLC, who have hung in there through thick and thin and are models in patience and persistence. CHAMPS has been proud to know and assist you on this journey! “It feels […]

Shannon Grosch, RN, BSN, IBCLC, is a Lactation Consultant and the CHAMPS Team Lead at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shannon has been doing an outstanding job leading her team through the Baby-Friendly journey and devising an organized system for more prenatal education. She also recently educated the public about breastfeeding by appearing on a […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Blackfeet Nation’s Community Breastfeeding Team, for its inspiring steps towards making Blackfeet Nation a breastfeeding-friendly community! CHEER’s American Indian/Alaska Native CHAMPS program (AI/AN CHAMPS) works with tribes and hospitals across the US to improve breastfeeding support in AI/AN communities. The Community Breastfeeding Team’s main vision is to create […]

This week, we are excited to cheer on a new nonprofit doing amazing work, Nurture Project International (NPI)! NPI, founded in March 2016, supports some of the most vulnerable women and babies, those fleeing war and crisis. Currently, NPI has 2 programs, one in Thessaloniki in northern Greece with refugees predominantly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and […]

Dr. Samira Brown, MD is the Newborn Nursery Medical Director, General Academic Pediatrics Section Head, and CHAMPS Pediatrician Physician Lead at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for her enthusiastic and knowledgeable support of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and for her outstanding help during a […]

Tiffani Grant, MS, RDN, LD is Director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO) for the Mississippi State Department of Health’s (MSDH) Office of Preventive Health. She directs all programs, policies, systems, and environmental changes within schools, worksites, childcare settings, and farmers’ markets as they relate to nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition (MSBFC) in Jackson, MS! MSBFC has been a great partner of CHAMPS’ from the beginning. When CHAMPS first started, MSBFC sent out our original information to their membership to get the word out, and they have promoted virtually everything we have done! MSBFC is one of […]

Stephanie Gable, RN, IBCLC, RLC is a private practice lactation consultant and the owner of Gulf Coast Breastfeeding Center, LLC (GCBC) in Pass Christian, Mississippi. She helps mothers with their breastfeeding questions and challenges through consultations in her office, at mothers’ homes, via Skype/FaceTime, or on the phone. She also offers group and private prenatal breastfeeding classes. […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Tanya Hopper, CLC, WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Northwest Mississippi Department of Health, District 1. Tanya has been a very vocal advocate of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and the CHAMPS initiative. She has a strong relationship with her local hospitals, and her staff have attended all the […]

Penelope “Penne” Satcher, RN is NICU Nurse and CHAMPS Team Lead at Merit Health Wesley (MHW) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She has been a NICU nurse for 24 years, and 21 out of those 24 years have been at MHW. Thanks to Penne’s outstanding leadership and the dedicated Baby-Friendly committee, MHW recently moved into the Designation […]

CHAMPS is excited to honor another of our incredible Baby Cafés, the CHAMPS Delta Hills Baby Café™, a trusted resource for mothers and families in Greenville, Mississippi! “[The CHAMPS Delta Hills Baby Café] is known as the place to get free help with breastfeeding by moms in our community,” says Maggie Allen, IBCLC, who works as […]

​This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA). Marsha has worked as a breastfeeding practitioner, advocate, author and speaker for the past 40 years. We are excited to announce that she is our featured speaker for this week’s CHAMPS webinar, “Code Compliance […]

The CHAMPS NOLA Baby Café™ opened its doors last June 1, 2016, and has been making an impact on its community ever since! Their weekly attendance has been gradually increasing, and in February 2017, 13 breastfeeding mothers attended. Family members, including babies’ fathers and grandmothers, also regularly attend and participate in the Café. “I believe that we […]

Rene Simpson, BSN, IBCLC, Lactation Coordinator and CHAMPS Team Lead at Merit Health Woman’s Hospital in Flowood, Mississippi, is this week’s CHAMPion of the Week. She also serves on the United States Lactation Consultant Association Task Force for Mentoring IBCLCs. We would like to recognize Rene for her excellent leadership of Woman’s Baby-Friendly taskforce! Woman’s […]

Elizabeth “Betsy” Dawson, FNP-C, is Nurse Practitioner and CHAMPS Team Lead at CHAMPS hospital South Sunflower County Hospital (SSCH) in Indianola, Mississippi. Betsy has been doing a fantastic job leading the Baby-Friendly taskforce at SSCH. They began their Baby-Friendly journey in fall of 2015 and are almost ready to enter the Designation phase! Betsy describes […]

Congratulations to CHAMPion of the Week Abra Patkotak! Previously trained as a birth doula, Abra now runs Arctic Slope Native Association’s (ASNA) Pre-Maternal Home in Barrow, Alaska, a residential facility for expectant mothers from the outlying, remote North Slope villages. A 5-bedroom facility, the Pre-Maternal Home opened its doors in 2013 and has served hundreds […]

Congratulations to Caroline Cohen Carothers, born on January 20, 2017 at CHAMPS hospital Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi! Caroline is the beautiful daughter of Jeremy and Janel Carothers of Pass Christian, MS, and just happens to be the first granddaughter of CHAMPS Mississippi Coordinator, Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA. Many CHAMPS participants will know […]

Meshawn Tarver Siddiq, Founder/Executive Officer of H.E.R. Institute, MPH Candidate, and Co-Founder/Volunteer of the CHAMPS NOLA Baby Café™, is this week’s CHAMPion of the Week. The CHAMPS NOLA Baby Café opened June 1, 2016 as Louisiana’s first Baby Café, a vital community resource offering free lactation support to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Meshawn has been instrumental in […]

Congratulations to Robin E. Winebar, RN, MSN, CNL, Performance Improvement Coordinator for Women’s Service System at Ochsner Health System! Four of Ochsner Health System’s Louisiana hospitals are currently on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) pathway: Ochsner Baptist, Ochsner Medical Center-Kenner, Ochsner St. Anne Hospital, and Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank. Robin was nominated as CHAMPion of […]

Ofelia O’Donnell, MSN, RNC-OB, is this week’s CHAMPion of the Week. As Process Improvement Coordinator for Maternal Child Services and CHAMPS Team Lead at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in El Paso, Texas, it is no surprise that she has been a catalyst for many exciting changes at WBAMC. The hospital recently entered the […]

Charlene Kevin, BA, CLC is a stellar Breastfeeding Peer Counselor 3 for the Mississippi Department of Health’s WIC Breastfeeding program, where she has worked for 13 years. During a recent CHAMPS site visit to Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, she provided excellent input and insight. Due to her extensive experience and skills in […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Jennifer Melton, BSN, RNC, IBCLC, Director of Women’s Services at CHAMPS hospital Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner (OMC-K) in Kenner, Louisiana. Jennifer was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for the great job she is doing leading her staff in their Baby-Friendly journey. OMC-K is in the Dissemination […]

Nikki Hunter Greenaway, BSN, MSN FNP-C, CLC, is a self-titled “mompreneur,” who owns a private practice, Nurse Nikki LLC, which provides both prenatal, postpartum and lactation counseling and education to families, and health consulting and CPR classes to child care centers, schools and businesses.  She is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner, a Louisiana Child Care Health Consultant, and an […]

Andrea Borda, SB is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor II for the Mississippi Department of Health’s District 5 WIC program in Hinds County. She began working for the MS Department of Health WIC program in 2008 as a Peer Counselor I, and advanced to a Peer Counselor II in 2011. She is currently studying to become […]

Jennifer is a student at Blackfeet Community College in Browning, Montana and an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe. She recently attended an AI/AN CHAMPS Breastfeeding Clinical Skills course held at Blackfeet Community College, and she is a photo model for CHAMPS’s reframing breastfeeding education work in the American Indian/Alaska Native community. Jennifer shares: “I […]

Linda Tuggle, RNC-OB, BSN, is Clinical Director of Maternity Services at Methodist Olive Branch Hospital (MOBH) in Olive Branch, Mississippi. MOBH recently began their Baby-Friendly journey and is in the Development phase of the 4-D pathway. Linda was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for her role in getting the Baby-Friendly process going and for […]

Dorothy (“Dot”) Clowers, BA, CLD works both as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor 2 for the Mississippi Department of Health District IV WIC program, and as a certified labor doula. She is also a La Leche League (LLL) leader and a volunteer breastfeeding and babywearing educator for Starkville Pregnancy Center. Dot recently participated in a CHAMPS […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS hospital Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, Louisiana, who recently earned “Gift” designation from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Bureau of Family Health! The Gift is a Louisiana-based program that provides evidence-based breastfeeding resources to hospitals and encourages the adoption of Baby-Friendly practices. To be Gift designated, a birth facility must […]

Christopher (“Chris”) Chong, Pharm.D., is a clinical integrated pharmacist at Southcentral Foundation (SCF)’s Benteh Nuutah Valley Native Primary Care Center (VNPCC) in Wasilla, Alaska. SCF jointly operates the VNPCC and the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, which is a designated CHAMPS hospital. He was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for his expansive work […]

Jennifer Briggs, CLC is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor III for the Mississippi Department of Health WIC program District IV. She is on the Baby-Friendly community advisory board at CHAMPS hospital Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, MS, where she recently participated in a CHAMPS site visit. Her input at that site visit was stellar! Jennifer […]

Congratulations to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital in New Braunfels, Texas (CSR-NB), which was recently designated Baby-Friendly! This is the 1st hospital in the CHAMPS South project to become designated. CSR-NB is now the 18th Baby-Friendly hospital in the state of Texas and the 1st anywhere in central to south Texas. CSR-NB was also one of […]

Marsha Stegall, CLC is a Peer Counselor III at the Mississippi Department of Health’s District 2 WIC Breastfeeding program in Lee County. She has worked for the WIC Breastfeeding program for nearly 18 years, starting off as a stay-at-home breastfeeding mom/peer counselor, moving into the role of Lactation Specialist, and now working as a Peer […]

This week’s CHAMPions of the Week are Rodney Gisclair, Jr., Lead CRNA, Don Falgout, CRNA and Cody Walker, CRNA, the team of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who have helped to make skin-to-skin following cesarean sections a success at CHAMPS hospital Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland, Louisiana! Crystal Risinger, BSN, RN, IBCLC, Director of Emergency […]

Cynthia Coleman, CLC, is the WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Northeast Mississippi Department of Health. She was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for her great work as WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and for her invaluable input at a recent CHAMPS site visit at North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo! Cynthia and her staff work with 4 area […]

Megan Timm, CLC, CTTS, Prevention Program Supervisor, and Nicole Santonastaso, NDTR, CLC, Healthy Start Educator and WIC Program Breastfeeding Coordinator, are doing great work at CHAMPS Hospital Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) in Nome, Alaska! NSHC is a tribally owned health care organization that serves 15 villages of Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik and Yup’ik people, as […]

Wanda Moore, RN, IBCLC, CCE, Labor/Delivery RN, is CHAMPS Team Lead at North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC)-West Point in West Point, Mississippi. She has worked for NMMC-West Point for 17 years with 14 of those years in the Obstetrics department. She is doing a great job leading her team through the Baby-Friendly journey! NNMC-West Point […]

Irene McLendon, B.S. Ed, CLC, is the District 8 WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Health. She is doing a great job supporting her staff as WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and offered invaluable input at a recent CHAMPS site visit at Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, MS! Irene has worked for the MS WIC […]

​​CHAMPS Hospital of the Week this week is Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi—the first hospital in Mississippi to become Baby-Friendly! The hospital was designated on December 30, 2015, and since then has been sharing support and advice with many more Mississippi hospitals now on the Baby-Friendly pathway. Tangela Boutwell, BSN, Director of Women & […]

Barbara (“Barb”) Pratt, RN, BSN, IBCLC is a member of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, the Navajo Nation Breastfeeding Coalition, the South Dakota Breastfeeding Task Force, and the United States Lactation Consultant Association. She recently returned to South Dakota from New Mexico where she worked at Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) for 2.5 years […]

Cindy Greene, RN is Nurse Manager, CHAMPS Team Lead, and Chair of the Baby-Friendly Steering Committee at SEARHC, Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, Alaska. She is doing a great job leading her team in their Baby-Friendly journey! Mt. Edgecumbe is a tribal hospital serving mostly Tlingit tribal members as well as the general population, and […]

Vicki Walters RN, BS is Director of Women’s Services, NICU and Pediatrics, and CHAMPS Lactation Team Lead at CHAMPS hospital Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She has 36 years of nursing experience. Previously, Vicki worked as Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at CHAMPS hospital Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg, MS. She has […]

Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) in Anchorage, Alaska was the first hospital in Alaska to enroll in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) CHAMPS program. Staff members at ANMC have been working towards Baby-Friendly designation for 10+ years but have faced challenges. Now they are ready to forge ahead, and on March 22, 2016 they entered […]

The San Antonio Breastfeeding Coalition (SABC) is the central coordinating resource for breastfeeding support, advocacy and education in San Antonio, Texas. Their bilingual website is an excellent tool for families and professionals to access education, information, as well as current breastfeeding news and events. They support local events, such as the upcoming La Leche League of Texas conference and […]

Deanna Denise (“Dee”) Huerta, IBCLC, Certification of Nutrition, WCS, is the Breastfeeding Coordinator at Christus Health WIC in San Antonio, Texas. She has worked for Texas WIC for 9 years and for Christus Health WIC for 4. Christus Health WIC has 3 clinics in San Antonio, including one across the street from CHAMPS hospital, Christus […]

Laura María Gruber, IBCLC, RLC is a rising star in the breastfeeding field! Based out of San Antonio, Texas, Laura is a private practice IBCLC and the owner of Breastfeeding Housecalls, LLC. She is also involved in multiple special projects. She participates in media and advocacy projects; is the founder of the San Antonio Breastfeeds! support […]

Euphemia John, IBCLC, CLC and Twila Whitekiller, IBCLC, CLC help to run an outstanding lactation program at Cherokee Nation WIC! Euphemia, Lactation Coordinator, has worked there for 31 years, and Twila, Lactation Supervisor, has worked there for 11 years. Both women are members of the Cherokee tribe. Cherokee Nation’s WIC program serves approximately 7,000 people […]

CHAMPS congratulates our newest team member, Julia “Nikki” Hannon, M.Ed., for the incredible work she is doing to support breastfeeding within the Browning Public Schools (BPS) in Montana! Nikki will be joining our AI/AN CHAMPS project as a consultant, specifically working on drug prevention and breastfeeding in the Blackfeet community. She brings a wealth of […]

Congratulations to CHAMPS Hospital OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville, Mississippi, the only facility in Mississippi to win the prestigious 2016 IBCLC Care Award! The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® and the International Lactation Consultant Association® are the 2 organizations to present this award. To qualify, community health facilities or hospitals must staff a […]

In the past several years, 16 Indian hospitals (both Indian Health Service and tribal) have become Baby-Friendly! CHAMPS and Baby-Friendly USA Executive Director Trish MacEnroe, BS, CDN, CLC personally congratulated these hospitals at this week’s AI/AN CHAMPS Conference, “The Second Indian Country Breastfeeds Conference: Sustainability and Support” in Albuquerque, New Mexico! The 2-day conference covered […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Maggie Allen, IBCLC, who will be the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) at the new CHAMPS Delta Hills Baby Café opening April 27, 2016! Maggie is a Lactation Consultant for the Washington Department WIC office at the Mississippi Department of Health, and has worked for the MS Department of Health […]

​CAPT Suzan “Sue” Murphy, RD, MPH, IBCLC passed away on March 14, 2016. She was known and beloved by the breastfeeding community across the USA, and was long identified as the ultimate breastfeeding champion and mentor at the Indian Health Service (IHS), where she served for much of her life in the Phoenix, Arizona area. […]

If you live near Meridian, Mississippi, you may have seen these eye-catching billboard images showing a mother and infant doing skin-to-skin with the slogan “Being close is best.” They are part of a unique and exciting campaign by CHAMPS hospital Anderson Regional Medical Center to raise public awareness about breastfeeding and skin-to-skin! Currently, the images […]

CHAMPS Hospital Ochsner Baptist Medical Center in New Orleans, LA has opened the Mother’s Milk Bank of Louisiana (MMBL) at Ochsner Baptist! Currently, MMBL serves as a depot site, collecting donated human milk to send to the Milk Bank of Austin. Since opening in December 2015, MMBL has shipped over 5,000 oz. of donated milk […]

Jeannette Yazzie, eMBA, BSN, RN, is the Nurse Consultant / Chief Nurse for the Indian Health Service (IHS) – Navajo Area, Chair of the Navajo Area Baby-Friendly Task Force, and a member of the Navajo tribe. Jeannette worked with all Navajo Area federal IHS and tribal hospitals (Chinle, Gallup, Shiprock, Crownpoint, Tuba City, and Tsehootsooi) […]

Angie Williamson, RNC, BSN, is the Maternal-Child Director and CHAMPS Team Lead at King’s Daughters Medical Center (KDMC) in Brookhaven, Mississippi. She has worked at KDMC for 27 years. KDMC joined the CHAMPS initiative on May 20, 2015 and formally entered the Baby-Friendly pathway on February 18, 2016. Angie has done a wonderful job getting […]

Congratulations to Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC), located in Tuba City, Arizona, for being designated Baby-Friendly on February 28, 2016! TCRHCC is a small tribal hospital located in Navajo Nation. Their Obstetrics (OB) Unit has 5 labor/delivery/recovery rooms, 3 private postpartum rooms, 2 semi-private postpartum rooms and a 2-bed level II nursery for […]

​Sheuvune Cooper is a Lactation Specialist for WIC at the Mississippi Department of Health in Hancock County, MS. Through her position with WIC, Sheuvune splits her time between the WIC office and CHAMPS hospital Hancock Medical Center (HMC). Sheuvune also volunteers as a breastfeeding advocate in the community. Her outstanding commitment to breastfeeding makes her […]

Dr. Susan Karol, MD, is Chief Medical Officer of the Indian Health Service (IHS). She was nominated as CHAMPion of the week because of her work on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) at IHS. Under Dr. Karol’s leadership, 100% of IHS federal birthing hospitals became Baby-Friendly designated by December 2014. We salute Dr. Karol for […]

This week’s CHAMPions are 2 stalwart leaders from Chickasaw National Medical Center (CNMC) in Ada, Oklahoma. Kathy Gilchrist, BS, RNC-OB, IBCLC, is Lactation Counselor and Educator and has been with CNMC for 16+ years. Lisa Eddings, BSN, RN, is Assistant OB Nurse Manager/Nurse Educator and has been with CNMC for 23+ years. Both Kathy and […]

​Antoinette M. Kleiner, RN, MSN, IBCLC, is a Nurse Educator-Lactation Consultant at Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico. She led her hospital’s successful breastfeeding journey when they became designated in 2014, and has been a leader in sustaining the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) not only at Shiprock, but […]

Desta Reff, JD is the Delta Clinical Fellow, a joint appointment between Harvard Law School and the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University. She is also the Director of Delta Directions, an interdisciplinary group of individuals from academic institutions and foundations working for change in the MS Delta. In this position, Desta engages […]

Major Kimberly Rosenbaum, MSN, RNC-OB, IBCLC, is a Maternal Child Clinical Nurse Specialist, Baby-Friendly Task Force Leader, and CHAMPS Team Lead at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in El Paso, Texas. WBAMC is in the 3rd phase (Dissemination) of the Baby-Friendly 4-D pathway and was designated a Mother-Friendly Worksite on January 15, 2016. Mother-Friendly […]

Portia L. Williams, RN, BSN, IBCLC, RLC, CCHC, is a nurse and lactation consultant at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for her enthusiastic support of breastfeeding and valuable contributions to presentations at two of our recent CHAMPS conferences. Portia’s motivation to promote breastfeeding is twofold—professional and […]

If you have been to one of our CHAMPS conferences, you may have had the pleasure of meeting, or being photographed by Linda and Vince McGrath. Vince and Linda are a dynamic, husband-wife duo devoting much of their professional and personal lives to the promotion of breastfeeding in the Southern United States! Linda McGrath, PhD, […]

Susan Spencer, MSN, RNC, IBCLC, is Director of Women’s Services and CHAMPS Team Leader at Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle (BMH-GT) in Columbus, MS. She was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for the great work she and her team are doing at their hospital and for her wonderful presentations on skin-to-skin at 3 […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Mother’s Milk Bank of Mississippi in Flowood, MS, the first and only human milk bank in the state! The milk bank announced it has passed formal inspection by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, and began processing milk donated by Mississippi mothers two weeks ago. The […]

John Purvis, MD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, a Pediatrician at Regional One Health in Memphis, Tennessee, and an American Academy of Pediatrics Fellow. He is also one of the CHAMPS Pediatrician Physician Leads at Regional One, where he has been promoting better breastfeeding practices and championing rooming-in. […]

Apexa Patel, BA, CHAMPS Project Coordinator, was nominated as CHAMPion of the Week for her exceptional work coordinating the two recent CHAMPS conferences! These two conferences were the CHAMPS New Orleans Learning Summit on 10/20-10/21 in New Orleans, LA and the CHAMPS Mississippi Learning Summit on 11/12/15 in Jackson, MS. They focused on implementing the […]

Congratulations to the Obstetrics Department of Blackfeet Community Hospital (BCH), an Indian Health Service hospital in Browning, Montana, which recently won a 2015 Health Hero award from the Eat Right Montana Coalition and the Montana Action for Healthy Kids Team! This statewide award is given to individuals or organizations that have done exceptional work to […]

​Joan Rooney, RN, MSN, IBCLC, is Assistant Vice President of Women’s and Neonatal Service and CHAMPS Team Leader at Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank (OMCWB) in Gretna, Louisiana, where she has worked for 40 years. Joan is determined to help the hospital achieve Baby-Friendly designation before planning to retire in the next few years to spend […]

Sarah Broom, MD, is the Medical Director of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS), pioneers in their endorsement of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) across the state, their work with hospitals in Mississippi on Baby-Friendly practices, and their leadership. Sarah is leading the work with BCBSMS, and they are partnering with CHAMPS to […]

Mobolaji (“Bolaji”) Famuyide, MD, MA, MPH, is the physician CHAMPion in Newborn Medicine/Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) supporting their journey towards Baby-Friendly designation. She has worked at UMMC since 2008, where she is an Associate Professor and Neonatologist, and the Medical Director of the NICU and Nursery Services. Bolaji is also […]

Nikki Lee, RN, BSN, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC, is teaching 2 courses for CHAMPS this week—a “Clinical Skills Training” and a “CHAMPS Education Opportunity” covering 19 hours of training required by Baby-Friendly USA™. We are excited to offer these courses to participating CHAMPS hospitals free of charge and grateful to Nikki for volunteering […]

​Last week we featured West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, Louisiana and their CHAMPS Team Leader, Leslie Lyons. This week’s CHAMPion of the Week is Lori Teachworth, a key player behind the incredible changes at West Jefferson regarding their electronic medical records! Lori has been a Certified Pediatric nurse for 8 years and has worked […]

Leslie Lyons, MSN, RN is the CHAMPS Team Leader at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, Louisiana. West Jefferson has done an amazing job integrating the guidance CHAMPS has provided regarding upgrading their electronic medical records to ensure comprehensive, accurate documentation and simple data extraction on all measures, and by race. They are the first […]

​A native of Pace, Mississippi, Jacqueline Lambert works as a Lactation Specialist for both the Mississippi State Department of Health and for WIC. She was instrumental in representing WIC at several recent CHAMPS hospital site visits in the Mississippi Delta. She has worked long and hard on speaking up for disadvantaged mothers, and we are […]

Lieutenant Commander Carrie Rigsby, BSN, RN is a nurse at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, a 58-bed facility serving the Cherokee Nation. In 2013, Carrie became the Baby-Friendly Project Lead for her hospital, and forged the path for its designation as the first tribal Baby-Friendly hospital in Oklahoma in July 2015! Carrie […]

Our newest CHAMPion of the week is Amy Brower, RN! Amy Brower is the CHAMPS Team Lead at Greenwood Leflore Hospital, and since working with CHAMPS, she has setup the Pilot Breastfeeding Club at her hospital and is helping to host one of our 4-hour Clinical Competency trainings. Amy lives in Holcomb, Mississippi, and is […]

Congratulations to our newest CHAMPion, Leanne Murray! Since Hancock Medical Center enrolled with CHAMPS, Leanne has been a huge motivator in their push to increase skin-to-skin rates. Leanne currently runs simulations for Labor and delivery staff to learn about and to get comfortable with practicing skin-to-skin. Leanne also aided in creating and unveiling the Lactation […]

Ashley Smith, RN, IBCLC, born and raised in Memphis Tennessee, works at Regional One Health Hospital as Nurse Coordinator for the Lactation Department, with a background in Labor and Delivery. She attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis prior to completing the nursing curriculum from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Memphis, TN. […]

Congratulations to our newest CHAMPion(s) of the Week, Sophia and Stephanie Glenn! Stephanie Glenn is a 22 year old mother from New Orleans, Louisiana, who has exclusively breastfed her daughter Sophia for 9 months with no plans to stop. Stephanie delivered her daughter Sophia at CHAMPS-Enrolled Hospital West Jefferson Medical Center, from whom she has […]

Charlene Ramirez, ADN, enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, is our latest CHAMPion of the week. The CHAMPS initiative now includes our recently funded American Indian/Alaska Native CHAMPS project, and Charlene is our first AI/AN CHAMPion. Charlene was born in Great Falls, MT, and currently resides in Browning, MT. She is the obstetric supervisor and Baby Friendly Coordinator […]

Congratulations to this week’s CHAMPion Hospital, Hancock Medical Center! Located in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, with an average of 210 births per year, Hancock Medical Center enrolled in CHAMPS on March 12th, 2015. Since then, they have been making a lot of progress towards their goals of increasing breastfeeding rates, skin-to-skin rates, and staff education. […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Jennifer White, RN, IBCLC, RLC, who is leading the Baby-Friendly effort as an IBCLC for Children’s Hospital of San Antonio in both the Women’s Services Area as well as the level IV, 45-bed NICU. Jennifer went to Nursing School where she now lives, in San Antonio TX, and has been a […]

Sabrina Ganaway, our CHAMPion of the week, was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. She grew up in a small rural community, graduated high school in 1973, and later went on to pursue an Associate degree in Nursing from Mississippi University for Women in 1977. Currently she serves as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) at […]

For over 35 years, Our CHAMPion of the week Karen Bishop has been a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse at North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) in Tupelo, MS. She started her career in 1979 in the NICU/nursery, where she saw very few mothers breastfeeding, and little to no support for breastfeeding from the physicians […]

Congratulations to our first Hospital CHAMPion, Regional One Health! With 3953 births per year, and a level 3 NICU with 69 beds, Regional One, Memphis, TN, is one of the largest hospitals currently enrolled in the CHAMPS Initiative. Regional One joined CHAMPS on March 2nd, 2015, and recently moved into the discovery stage on the […]

This week’s CHAMPion of the week, Christy Brooks, RN, IBCLC, was the first CHAMPS team lead to enter all the breastfeeding and practice data that CHAMPS is collecting, on all measures! Congratulations! Christy Brooks, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, lives in Tipton County and is a full time lactation consultant at St. Francis Hospital […]

Charlene H.Collier MD, MPH, MHS, FACOG is originally from New Jersey, but lives in Mississippi with her husband Gerald and new baby Jordan. She was an undergraduate, and medical school, at Brown University and received a MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. She trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale New Haven Hospital […]

Paula V. Bugg, a true ATLien and beloved DAWG fan, is our CHAMPion of the Week! She completed her undergraduate degree at The University of Georgia and she recently received her Master of Biological Science degree from Mississippi College. Paula works as Communications and Media Coordinator for ROSE (Reaching Our Sister Everywhere). ROSE and CHAMPS […]

Meet Aira Jae Etheridge, this week’s CHAMPion! Aira Jae recently graduated from Boston University School of Public Health with an MPH in Maternal and Child Health. During her last year as an MPH student, she worked as a Regional Coordinator for CHAMPS and has developed a range of CHAMPS materials and handouts. Aira Jae’s biggest […]

This week’s CHAMPion is Tawanda Logan-Hurt, BSW, DC. A native of Greenwood, MS, Tawanda works in the Mississippi Delta, as a Breastfeeding Coordinator in District III at the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDOH). Her passion for supporting breastfeeding moms and babies has driven her career at MSDOH for the last 9 years. When Tawanda […]