Hello, All:  Interesting thread to follow.  I keep seeing in all the posts 
thus far, obvious territorialism.  Each poster seems to be saying the route 
I went is the route to go in achieving credibility.  Most seem to agree 
that some sort of formal education is a must.  Why can't a program be 
developed that includes the rich variety of all backgrounds?  The existing 
program that I feel comes closest is the UCLA Lactation Training Programs.  
These programs are largely ignored by the lactation community - not sure 
why.  I completed both programs - certified educator and certified 
consultant way back in the mid '80s and have served as adjunct faculty over 
the years. The beauty of these programs is that they are based on the 
medical model, making the philosophy easily understandable to physicians 
and hospitals.  Lactation management is viewed within the framework as a 
clinical skill for the practicioner.  Faculty members come from a wide 
variety of backgrounds, MD, RN, PT, SLP, RD, etc.  Some of these folks also 
have LLLI backgrounds as well as psych backgrounds, so that counseling 
skills are included in the curriculum.  The educational hours earned are at 
the master's level, thus allowing the hours to be counted towards a 
master's degree that one might be pursuing in another area.  I am also 
eternally grateful that even back in the 1980's the UCLA faculty had the 
foresight to realize that lactation has a strong oral-motor component to 
it, the importance of which is just now being realized.
So, rather than arguing which discipline is "best", I propose we put 
together an educational program that brings together a faculty who are not 
only experts in lactation, but experts in their chosen disciplines, 
including LLLI.

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL   USA

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