Expanding the Reach of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's (ABM's) goal is to expand the knowledge in both breastfeeding sciences and human lactation, to facilitate optimal breastfeeding practices, and to encourage the exchange of information among organizations. Our members have always been the backbone of ABM, working to fulfill its mission and goals. Our staff also plays a crucial role in providing support and services to our members as well as contact with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the breastfeeding community at large. Funding for these activities is partly through membership dues, but also from public agencies and foundations. Key among these has been the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

For example, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has provided funding for our Annual Summit on Breastfeeding, “First Food: The Essential Role of Breastfeeding,” held in Washington, DC, since 2009. As mentioned in previous editions of this Journal, the Summits bring together leaders within the breastfeeding community, healthcare providers, policy makers, and funders so that collaborative and forward-thinking actions can be initiated to improve breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates across all sectors of the community. Although the Summits on Breastfeeding are undoubtedly United States–centric, presentations have also included those by UNICEF, Alive & Thrive, 1000 Days, and Save the Children. The broad impact of the Summit is based not only on the participation of global organizations, but also on the worldwide dissemination of the Summit proceedings as well.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has also provided funding for other ABM initiatives. In 2012 we received support to broaden the reach of What Every Physician Needs To Know (WEPNTK). This program is usually run as a day-long accredited course prior to the Annual Meeting and was designed by ABM members to educate physicians about basic lactation and clinical breastfeeding issues. However, not everyone can attend the course in-person for logistic or financial reasons. Recording the course, when it is presented by experts in the field at the Annual Meeting, has given ABM an opportunity to provide this high-level education to physicians and others unable to attend in-person in widely dispersed areas.

Six underserved areas with low breastfeeding rates have been identified as pilot sites for initial presentation of the course:

• New York

• Philadelphia

• New Mexico

• Michigan

• Mississippi

• New Orleans

Steering committees have been convened in each community to include local ABM physicians and local W.K. Kellogg Foundation grantees. Our local ABM members will be facilitators for the course to guide discussion and answer any questions in response to the recording, and to provide support and guidance in the community following the presentation. In addition, each steering committee will add local case studies and important local speakers.

We hope this model for WEPNTK will eventually pave the way for future roll-out of the course, first within the United States and then, it is hoped, more broadly, recognizing that modifications may be required depending on the specific audience.

The Foundation has also provided funds over the years for the development and translation of ABM's Clinical Protocols so that Spanish-speaking physicians and other health professionals can access high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate breastfeeding information. And, late in 2014, the grant also supported the development and distribution of a regular e-newsletter that will provide timely breastfeeding news, new research snapshots, and updates on the work of our colleagues worldwide.

All these initiatives will increase the visibility of breastfeeding and the important work of ABM within the health professional community and contribute to improvements in the care and support for breastfeeding women and their babies throughout the world. We are grateful for the assistance and leadership provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and to the ABM Development Committee (especially Karla Shepherd Rubinger and Arthur Eidelman, MD) who worked with the Foundation to secure the funding.