A tribute to Miriam H. Labbok

Dr. Miriam Harriet Labbok (1949-2016)

On behalf of ABM founders and as their representative on the ABM Board of Governors, I wish to celebrate the life and vitality of Miriam Harriet Labbok, MD, MPH, IBCLC and a co-founder of the ABM. On August 13, 2016 she lost a sudden and rapid battle, all the while showing great tenacity, fortitude, and sense of humor. These inspiring traits are reflected in her 40 years of supporting the mother-infant dyad as an internationally respected and influential expert on breastfeeding and maternal and child health.

Miriam Labbok’s personality was reflective of her New Jersey roots: outspoken, forthright and passionate. Her academic training reflected her integrative strengths and passion for preventive healthcare with a worldwide vision. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and received her M.D. and M.P.H. degrees from Tulane University. Her medical training continued in Occupational Health and Preventive Health. Her initial academic focus was on international application of contraception technology as a process to improve the health of women and their families. Her mentorship with John Queenan, MD, a distinguished Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University, rapidly clarified her life passion and focus on breastfeeding as the best primary preventive care intervention and the most important role in child spacing/contraception, especially in countries with fewer resources.

Miriam’s intellect, academic productivity (many chapters in textbooks on maternal and child health and an author of more than one hundred fifty scholarly articles), as well as, her persistent and firm advocacy for her beliefs, lead to her leadership positions supporting breastfeeding at UNICEF and USAID. Early in her career, she recognized the dangers and conflict of interest presented by makers of artificial milk, aka “formula”. One of her greatest successes was her role in galvanizing an international agreement for the Ten Steps to support breastfeeding and reduce the negative influences of the artificial milk manufacturers. Given her international successes and her outspoken beliefs, it is no surprise that Miriam was a co-Founder of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. In her subsequent leadership roles in the ABM and its Board, she always reminded us of WHO Code violations and conflicts of interest and the need for the ABM to be an international organization that compliments and networks with other organizations with similar support for breastfeeding. Until her retirement this spring, Miriam was a Professor of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and Director of the School’s Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute. These titles and positions reflect Miriam’s vision and successes in supporting the breastfeeding mother and her family regardless of geography, culture, religion, or available resources.

As ABM members, we need to emulate her willingness to confront international challenges, collaborate with other supporting organizations, and scrutinize our behaviors and connections for potential “WHO Code” violations. Miriam, thank you for helping us grow.

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.

ABM Gold Member Profile: Touraj Shafai, MD, PhD, FAAP, FABM

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Touraj Shafai, MD, PhD, FAAP, FABM Medical Director, Inland Empire Children’s Medical Group and BF Clinic

Shafai: To improve my knowledge about benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby and to society.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Shafai: As an organization ABM has the greatest collection of knowledge than any other organization.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Shafai:  To educate moms regarding the benefits of breastfeeding so our newborns can achieve their fullest potential.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Shafai: To become a member of the ABM and attend the Annual Meetings of the Academy.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Shafai: To receive a PhD in biochemistry following my MD degree which provided me with critical thinking and gave me the tools in research and improving patient care.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Shafai: To get rid of some of the hospital policies such as the old hypoglycemia and jaundice policies that are obstacles to breastfeeding.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Shafai: Many pediatric residents and medical students express a desire to learn more about breastfeeding. Unfortunately this is not available in their training programs. We should be able to fill this gap and provide them with the information that they need.

Thank you, Dr. Shafai.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each month.

Join us at the 19th Annual International Meeting to be held November 13-16, 2014 in Cleveland, OH, USA.

ABM Gold Member Profile: Anne M. Montgomery, MD, FABM

Anne Montgomery, MD, FABM
Associate Director
Family Medicine Residency
Eisenhower Medical Center

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Montgomery: I was very involved in breastfeeding support and wanted to be part of a group of similar physicians.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Montgomery: The diversity and expertise of our members.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Montgomery:  Like many people, I was a “mainstream breastfeeding supporter” til I had my son; breastfeeding him exclusively for 5.5 months then continuing for 4.5 years “radicalized” me. I recognized that not not everyone had the tenacity/stubbornness to overcome all the barriers. As a physician to mothers and babies, it was part of my responsibility to be sure that all babies had the opportunity to be breastfed and that all mothers were supported in their feeding choices.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Montgomery: Join ABM! Don’t be afraid to attend courses aimed at nurses and lactation consultants if that is all that is available in your area.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Montgomery: I achieved full professor academic rank in my late 40’s and have taught many residents and students about family medicine including breastfeeding.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Montgomery: Starting a new job soon, I don’t know what to expect yet! A brand new family medicine residency program should be interesting.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Montgomery: A chance to network with other like-minded physicians, good breastfeeding education, and support for their work assisting mothers and babies.

Thank you, Dr. Montgomery.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each month.

Join us at the 18th Annual International Meeting to be held November 21-24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

ABM Gold Member Profile: Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FABM

Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FABM
Professor of Pediatrics
Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Feldman-Winter: I wanted opportunities to network with colleagues that had a shared interest and learn from others work.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Feldman-Winter: The members are definitely what makes this organization special. Each member makes their own unique contributions and we all learn from each other.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Feldman-Winter:  For too many years breastfeeding fell outside the realm of mainstream medicine and physicians were unprepared to support mothers decisions to breastfeed. Through organizations such as ABM physicians are much more knowledgeable and skillful in their support, but we still have a long way to go!

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Feldman-Winter: First take courses, especially those geared for physicians such as the WEPNTKAB course. Then join organizations such as the ABM to gain a better understanding of the field from the physicians’ perspective. Then get involved, there are so many opportunities to make a real difference.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Feldman-Winter: I have dedicated a large part of my career in breastfeeding medicine to physician education. Being part of the inaugural group of FABM’s is one of the highlights of my career.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Feldman-Winter: In my current work as a consultant to NICHQ Best Fed Beginnings Project, my biggest challenge is to convince physicians all over the country that they need to make changes, including getting the required education, to help their hospitals achieve Baby-Friendly designation. The resistance to change is sometimes overwhelming. Somehow we need to convince all physicians to acknowledge that we all have much to learn about breastfeeding, and that it is a vital component of healthcare.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Feldman-Winter: The clinical protocols are helpful to set a global agenda for optimal evidence based care.

Thank you, Dr. Feldman-Winter.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each week.

Join us at the 18th Annual International Meeting to be held November 21-24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

ABM Lifetime Member Profile: Nancy E. Wight, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP

Nancy E. Wight, MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP, San Diego Neonatology, Inc. Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Wight: I was inspired by the quality and vision of the founding members and wanted to be a part of the journey.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Wight: It’s members and all they do in so many arenas (clinical care, research, teaching, mentoring, health planning, etc. etc.)!

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Wight:  As a physician, I care about the health of my community in all its forms and breastfeeding is the best health insurance.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Wight: Join ABM, join ILCA, join your local breastfeeding coalition. Find a breastfeeding ‘champion’ in your area to act as a mentor for you.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Wight: I am most proud of the fact that as a clinician and educator I have influenced others to follow in my footsteps and EXCEED my accomplishments.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Wight: Keeping up with the incredible increase in human lactation research and literature over the last 10 years while working full-time (including nights!) as an ‘elder’ clinical neonatologist.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Wight: A vast wealth of peer knowledge and support.

Thank you, Dr. Wight.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each week.

Join us at the 18th Annual International Meeting to be held November 21-24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

ABM Gold Member Profile: Featuring Paula K. Schreck, MD

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Paula K. Schreck, MD
Breastfeeding Coordinator
St. John Providence Health System

Schreck: I became a member of ABM as I first began building my career in Breastfeeding Medicine. The promise of fellowship with other like-minded MD’s was compelling as was the access to up-to-date science and information.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Schreck: ABM’s greatest strength is its membership.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Schreck:  The palpable difference in the health of the breastfeeding mother and baby dyad motivates and inspires me in my work.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Schreck: Start by attending an ABM Annual Meeting.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Schreck: My greatest accomplishment is the creation of my outpatient breastfeeding clinic. Its success has brought breastfeeding into the spotlight in my hospital system.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Schreck: Taking four hospitals through Baby-Friendly at the same time.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Schreck: Inspiration, information, and fellowship.

Thank you, Dr. Schreck.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each week.

Join us at the 18th Annual International Meeting to be held November 21-24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

ABM Member Profile: Featuring Caroline Chantry, MD, FABM

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Chantry: To attain more knowledge, skill and inspiration; to promote, protect and support breastfeeding, because surely it is an important cause.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Chantry: Its membership which possesses vast expertise, experience and enthusiasm, and spans the globe.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Chantry:  Breastfeeding has the potential, by far, to make the most impact on maternal and child health of any preventive intervention.  ABM helps me in many ways, e.g. with information and tools, but also by reinforcing the importance of what I do.  Sometimes at work I feel like an army of one, and ABM is full of reinforcements at the ready – I can call on them by phone, email or read the journal!

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Chantry: ABM  conferences help, starting with “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Breastfeeding”; there are several online courses also.  You also need hands-on experience.  Find an expert to shadow and also just starting helps mothers and babies to get your own experience of what works. Every dyad is unique.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Chantry: I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve ABM previously as President and for many years on the protocol committee. I am also proud of some of my research that ultimately I hope will help breastfeeding dyads.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Chantry: Still, in 2012, my hospital is resisting BFHI because they want the free formula!  Ethical blinders!

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Chantry: The protocols are available for all physicians.  ABM‘s real treasure is the community of experts and advocates that are its membership.  It is small enough that you can actually get to know many of the members and access their expertise and share yours.

Thank you, Dr. Chantry.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each month.

Join us at the 17th Annual International Meeting to be held October 11-14, 2012 in Chicago.

ABM Member Profile: Featuring Rima L. Strassman, MD, FABM

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength? 

Strassman: ABM‘s strength is its network of support and knowledge in the area of breastfeeding medicine.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding?

Strassman: The satisfaction I get from helping mothers accomplish their goals in parenting their infants and making breastfeeding a part of that. ABM helps me do this by sharing knowledge and offering support from peers doing the same thing.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Strassman: Attend ABM meetings including the WEPNTK pre-conference course, look for other lactation/breastfeeding conferences, and read the ABM listserv.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Strassman: This is a tough question to answer, but I suppose becoming a Fellow of ABM and being acknowledged by people I admire within the organization as someone who deserved that honor.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Strassman: Finding time to do as much as I would like to assist nursing mom and baby dyads while still attending to the practice of general pediatrics and meeting the needs of these patients as well as those with nursing issues and questions.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Strassman: ABM can offer physicians the knowledge needed to support breastfeeding as well as support and networking for those who already have the knowledge.

Thank you, Dr. Strassman. We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each month.

Don’t forget to register for the 17th Annual International Meeting to be held October 11-14, 2012 in Chicago. Early-bird rates end August 15.

ABM Member Profile: Featuring Susan Landers, MD, FABM

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Landers: I joined to get involved with other experts in breastfeeding.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Landers: ABM‘s strengths are its multidisciplinary nature (Obstetrics, Family Practice, Surgery, etc.) and international members.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Landers: Take a basic skills course (6-8 hours), work with an IBCLC in your practice, volunteer on your hospital breastfeeding committee, ask your hospital to track the perinatal care core measures (especially exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge).

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Landers: I am most proud of becoming an ABM Fellow (FABM) and being elected to a position on the AAP’s Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Landers: Dealing with entrenched hospital-based maternity care practices that undermine breastfeeding.

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Landers: ABM can offer physicians protocols and guidelines in breastfeeding medicine.

Thank you, Dr. Landers.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each week.

Don’t forget to submit your abstract for the 17th Annual International Meeting to be held October 11-14, 2012 in Chicago.  The deadline is June 20.

ABM Member Profile: Featuring Felicity Savage, MD, FABM

ABM: Why did you become a member of ABM?

Savage: Because I am so supportive of its aims and enjoy the support of other physicians interested in breastfeeding.

ABM: What is ABM‘s greatest strength?

Savage: Bringing physicians who care and are knowledgeable about breastfeeding together, and setting a high technical evidence-based standard.

ABM: What inspires you to promote, protect and support breastfeeding?

Savage: I developed a passionate interest in the subject when having my own babies, and seeing the harm done to babies who bottle feed, especially when I worked in Africa and Indonesia. I was working for breastfeeding and the BFHI long before ABM existed, but now ABM helps by providing supportive colleagues, and normalizing breastfeeding as part of the physicians’ role.

ABM: What advice can you offer to physicians who are interested in learning more about breastfeeding?

Savage: Take a breastfeeding-related course, and join all the breastfeeding organizations you can, especially ABM.

ABM: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?

Savage: Developing breastfeeding training courses – one Masters level 3-4 week course at the Institute of Child Health in London (now transferred to Brighton University), conducting 2 week outreach versions of the course in 7 other countries, and developing the 40-hour in-service “book-led” course “Breastfeeding Counselling” for WHO which has been used and adapted and translated all over the world; writing 2 books “Breastfeeding in practice” (with Elisabeth Helsing) and “Helping Mothers to Breastfeed” which were translated into over 20 languages. These activities have contributed significantly to improved knowledge for doctors and other senior health workers in many countries.

ABM: What is a current challenge for you in your work?

Savage: Trying to ensure that there are future generations of senior health workers with sufficient authority to continue establishing breastfeeding as a mainstream public health subject, for evidence-based teaching and implementation

ABM: What can ABM offer physicians worldwide?

Savage: Ensure that all medical students learn about breastfeeding and feel responsible for promoting it throughout medical services, whether or not they specialize in the subject themselves.

Thank you, Dr. Savage.  We look forward to featuring additional Lifetime and Gold Members on the ABM Blog each week.