To      :Kathleen
Re      :Teaching Students

I teach students and residents every day,  and it is my personal opinion that
negative advertising simply doesn't win them over,  just as it doesn't work
very well in politics.

You can preach all you want about the Negatives of artificial milk,  but most
of them (students and residents) are not going to believe you,  and it will
seriously negate your credibility.  I believe its better to occassionally bring
up a problem with artificial milk, but not to dwell on them.

I choose instead,  to tell them about the positives of breastfeeding,  the
reduction of Otitis media, viral diarrheas, higher IQ, less allergies, etc.
etc.  They appear to really buy into this info because these effects are well
documented in the literature, and  they see these syndromes and problems every
day in their clinics.

Cover such topics as more rapid development of the GI tract, more rapid
myelination of the brain, etc.  I also stress the beautiful physiology of
breastmilk, such as immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, etc... in essence, make human
milk a little mystical.  Everyone like mystical.

Then provide them answers that they can give their patients.  Most young docs
want solutions.  When they're in the treatment room,  their patients ask
questions and want solutions to their problems.  Give them solutions (treatment
of sore nipple, treatment of hyperbilirubinemia, proper positioning, how many
wet diapers, how many stools, etc).  Lastly,  I wouldn't necessarily mention
herbs, or cabbage leaves at this stage,  again, its a credibility issue with
young docs.

Tom Hale