A tribute to Audrey Naylor

As the ABM Founders Representative to the ABM Board, I wish to reflect on the personal and professional impact of one of our ABM Founders, Audrey Naylor, DrPH, MPH, MD, who recently passed away (6/23/2016).  Her personality and actions provided an example for all of us to be successful contributors to lactation management and the future success of the ABM. Audrey, as early as the late ‘70’s, recognized the “cascade” effect of training and teaching the teachers, i.e. she was a cofounder and CEO of Wellstart International. An example of her success with Wellstart is the internet breastfeeding training modules which are free online at www.wellstart.org . She focused, as each of us must do now, on educating learners to pass their knowledge on to the next generation of providers. Her model for education recognized that optimal breastfeeding management requires a coordinated multidisciplinary team; physicians practicing alone cannot be successful. This passion was brought to focus in her role as an early and prominent proponent of the Baby Friendly initiative. Audrey believed passionately in the world community. Her voice and passion about breastfeeding has been heard and recognized at UNICEF and the WHO. As a Founder of the ABM, Audrey was a very active proponent for the ABM to be an international organization. While her advocacy has been largely successful, we must continue to act as an international organization and create better ways for us to utilize the unique strengths of every culture/country.

Lastly, Audrey Naylor had the courage, strength of personality, academic credibility, and national/international reputation to be a vocal and active “Champion” of breastfeeding on the national and international stage. While few of us will attain her stellar level of recognition and achievement, each member of the ABM needs to be a vocal and active “Champion” for breastfeeding within our smaller communities. We need to be agents for constructive and positive change, as Audrey always was.

Audrey, thank you for your example and your friendship. We will always remember your professional training and performances as “The Red Nosed Clown” at our annual meetings.

Edward Newton, MD

Ed Newton, MD, FABM is a maternal-fetal medicine sub specialist and a founder of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.

Posts on this blog reflect the opinions of individual ABM members, not the organization as a whole.