Kathy Eng wrote: "Seems like we need lactation degree programs like
those for nursing, with
classroom time, set courses, and internships under supervision. Not
something where the person has to find their own mentor, rather one
through
the school that is set up in a way that benefits everyone."

At the University of California at San Diego - in the (UCSD) extension
program, Gini Baker runs a wonderful, professional program that is an
academic year long.   The program offers up-to-date topics with LOTS of
didactic hours and terrific guest speakers such as Dr Wight, Dr
Anderson (meds and BF), Dr Gartner (jaundice).    The school work
portion of the course was VERY challenging and included long term
following of two interesting and difficult cases we were required to
manage and write up.  We were also REQUIRED to take part in a
mentorship program at several of the local hospitals and
community-based practices here in town.  Gini Baker took care of the
risk management/HIPPA issues and as students of the program we were
able to log hundreds of hours, both initially shadowing the experienced
LC then toward the end of the program we did hands-on consultations
that were evaluated by the mentor LC's we were working with.   This
experience was priceless and NECESSARY, and I highly recommend it to
Robyn since she is in San Diego.  The mentors I worked with (13 of
them) were an intelligent, passionate and diverse group of Lactation
Consultants and I was able to be a part of some very unusual cases
(pyloric stenosis, craniosynostosis, abuse of the newborn) and the more
'normal' nipple trauma, latch problems. I found that the LC's welcomed
me and shared their knowledge willingly, even though it did require
more of their professional time.  It is likely that the LC's felt the
credibility of the program sufficiently prepared the student for being
mentored, because I didn't come up against much resistance to my being
there, additionally I made many new friends in the field and
strengthened my relationships of previous acquaintances.

Passionate about where I've come from and even more so about where I'm
going,

Lisa Simpkins IBCLC (brand-spanken newbie)
San Diego, CA, USA


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