For more than 22 years, Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, MPH, CHES, CLC, CDE, has been a driving force for maternal and child health equity through community engagement. While she has been a breastfeeding advocate her entire life, her work specifically focused on breastfeeding began about 16 years ago follo

Mirre “Luna” Groenewold’s dedication to maternal and infant health shines through every part of her work, making her a truly deserving CHAMPion of the Week. As a Field Manager with the CHEER International Group (CHEERing) and a European Solidarity Corps Volun

Melissa Joseph, MD, is a Family Medicine resident physician at the Colquitt Regional Family Medicine Residency Program, where she is building a career grounded in compassionate, patient-centered care. As an intern with a strong interest in obstetrics and p

Congratulations to Norton Sound Regional Hospital (NSRH), CHEER’s CHAMPion of the Week! NSRH has officially been re-designated as a Baby-Friendly hospital, marking an extraordinary achievement that reflects y

Congratulations to Marshall Health Network, CHEER’s CHAMPion of the Week, for launching a breastfeeding support policy that strengthens care for mothers and babies across their network. Melanie Akers, Vice President of Women’s & Children’

For nearly two decades, Angela Ferguson-Parker has been a trusted source of guidance, compassion, and expertise for new families at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC) in McComb, Mississippi. As a Lactation Counselor in the Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Postpartum (LDRP) Departmen

Kara D. Napier, RD, LD, is a passionate advocate for maternal and child health and a dedicated leader in breastfeeding support. As the West Virginia WIC State Breastfeeding Coordinator, Kara oversees the state’s breastfeeding program and partners with seven WV CHAMPS National hospitals to advance

Georganna Cogburn, MS, RD, LDN, IBCLC, RLC, is a registered dietitian and lactation consultant with over four decades of service in public health and maternal-child health in North Carolina. A native of Western North Carolina, she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nutrition from UN

CHEER is proud to recognize Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC) in McComb, Mississippi, as our CHAMPion of the Week! SMRMC recently achieved Baby-Friendly Hospital Re-designation in September 2025, a significant milestone reflecting its continue

Adarin Rezaei has always been curious about how things work—a trait that led him to study Construction Engineering and IT, and later spend four years as a programmer. Fluent in English, Turkish, and Farsi, Adarin has used his multilingual skills to connect across cultures and provide meaningful su