An Oral History Interview With Leon Gross,PhD

Abstract

One of the distinguishing and unique features of being an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant is successful completion of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners examination, necessary for initial and ongoing certification. First offered in 1985, the exam content and scoring criteria have been developed using rigorous psychometric principles. While conducting my dissertation research about the professionalization of breastfeeding support (Eden, 2017), I interviewed Leon Gross, PhD, the psychometrician who oversaw the development of the first exam offered in 1985. He continued in this role through 2013. The interview excerpts below are from a taped interview conducted on March 27, 2011 in Rosslyn, Virginia (AE = Aimee Eden; LG = Leon Gross).

Keywords

breastfeeding International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners International Board Certified Lactation Consultant lactation education

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References

Eden

A. R.

(2017). Breastfeeding support: From informal care work to professional health-care work. Anthropology of Work Review, 38(1), 28–39. doi:10.1111/awr.12110

Gross

L. J.

(2010). Statistical report of the 2009 IBLCE examination executive summary. Journal of Human Lactation, 26(2), 201–201. doi:10.1177/0890334410363411

Gross

L. J.

Scott

(2004). Statistical report of the 2003 IBLCE examination. Journal of Human Lactation, 20(1), 78–82. doi:10.1177/0890334403261089

Gross

L. J.

Scott

J. W.

(1989). Translating a health professional certification test to another language: A pilot analysis. Evaluation & The Health Professions, 12(1), 61–72. doi:10.1177/016327878901200104