LILAC Mentors

Reasons to Be a Mentor

• Experience 
  If you are in the field of breastfeeding and lactation medicine (BFLM), you probably already spend a lot of your time teaching others. You may currently have a learner, or many of many different levels. In the past, BFLM providers would have to create many of their own materials. We’d sometimes struggle with lack of time, consensus and resources to properly train our colleagues and successors. The LILAC provides an opportunity for high-level BFLM providers to share their knowledge with dedicated, high-level learners, with the support of a curriculum, evaluation tools, and a scholarship team. You will be training the next generation of leaders!
• Resources
  LILAC mentors have the same curriculum access as fellows, with up to date readings and videos by leaders in the field. If mentors complete assignments, they may also receive CME (continuing medical education) credit and L-CERPS. Library access is also available.
• Academic Appointment
  LILAC mentors are offered Adjust Professorship positions in the Division of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine at the University of Rochester.
• Stipend
  LILAC mentors will be offered a stipend of 1/5^th of the fellow's tuition, per year, for their time. The total amount will depend on the Country Category in which the fellow practices.

Required of Mentors

Mentors

Emily L. Beckett, D.O.

Dr. Emily Beckett is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a General Pediatrician in the Community Pediatrics Section at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed her pediatrics residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s in 2020. Dr. Beckett joined the Breastfeeding Medicine and Lactation Clinic at Arkansas Children’s in 2022 as one of the first fellows in the LILAC Fellowship and completed her LILAC training in 2024. Her work focuses on improving health outcomes and nutrition for infants and their mothers from the start, and advocating for breastfeeding support for all infant-parent dyads across the state of Arkansas.

Mariana Colmenares Castano, M.D., I.B.C.L.C.

Mariana Colmenares Castaño MD, IBCLC. Mariana studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), and trained as a pediatrician at the National Pediatric Institute, in Mexico. After the birth of her first child she witnessed the lack of knowledge around breastfeeding within the medical profession so she decided to specialize in breastfeeding medicine. She certified as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011 and in 2013 did a clinical rotation at the International Breastfeeding Clinic in Toronto. Mariana has collaborated with national projects with the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico and UNICEF. She is a founding member of the National Lactation Consultant Association of Mexico (ACCLAM), where she served on the Board of Directors as Education Coordinator (2014-2019). Her passion around teaching and training the medical profession pushed her to start a 280 hour online course, to become Breastfeeding Counselor. Mariana became part of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine in 2012, and part of board directors since 2019, where she is now secretary for the period 2022-2025. She is currently a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association ILCA and Lactation Consultants of Great Britain. Mariana collaborated with Liquid Gold project and collaborated with the project Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly, form Yale University. Mariana has been part of expert committees with the World Health Organization in the re-edition of the Infant and Young Child Feeding model chapter, co-published numerous articles, co-authored a chapter for the National Academy of Medicine in Mexico and she has been speaker in national and international conferences. Mariana moved to London with her family in 2022, when she did a Clinical Fellow in Community Paediatrics and is now working as a Specialty Doctor in Community at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. She works in private practice as Lactation Consultant and Tongue-tie Practitioner.

Cristina D. Cornelio, M.D., IBCLC

Dr. Cristina D. Cornelio earned her medical degree from De La Salle University College of Medicine and is a Fellow of both the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). She is also an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and is currently pursuing an MBA in Health at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. With a personal commitment shaped by her own breastfeeding journey as a mother of two, Dr. Cornelio has played a pivotal role in national breastfeeding advocacy. In 2012, she co-led efforts to uphold the Philippine National Milk Code in Congress and served three terms as Chair of the PPS Breastfeeding Committee. During this time, she led transformative initiatives to strengthen the role of health professionals in breastfeeding support. These include founding the Annual PPS Breastfeeding Congress, establishing Breastfeeding Coordinators in all PPS-accredited hospitals, training nursing educators through the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN), and co-organizing landmark conferences to expand lactation education nationwide. Dr. Cornelio is the founding President of the Philippine Society of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (PSBLM) and the inaugural Chair of the Department of BFLM at The Medical City, where she co-established the country’s first Fellowship Training Program in BFLM. She continues to lead efforts in clinical leadership, policy reform, and professional education to improve breastfeeding outcomes in the Philippines.

Jamie I. Cumpas, M.D., IBCLC

Dr. Jamie I. Cumpas is a pediatrician and Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (BFLM) physician with a strong focus on integrating evidence-based lactation care into pediatric and maternal health practice. She earned her medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas and completed her pediatric residency at The Medical City, where she now serves as the Training Officer for the Philippines’ first Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Fellowship Program. She is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), having trained at both Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and The Medical City. Dr. Cumpas holds leadership roles in national medical societies, including previous Chair of the Breastfeeding Committee of the Philippine Pediatric Society. She is a founding officer of the Philippine Society of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (PSBLM) and helped launch the first Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) “What Every Physician Needs To Know About Breastfeeding” workshop in Manila, Philippines. She actively contributes to curriculum development and professional training, collaborating with institutions such as the Association of Deans of the Philippine Colleges of Nursing and the Department of Health. She also co-founded Create Health and serves on the Smart Parenting Board of Experts as a lactation consultant, continuing to champion breastfeeding support and education nationwide.

Ann Kellams, M.D.

Dr. Ann Kellams completed her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin and Medical School at the University of California, San Francisco followed by Pediatric Residency at UNC Chapel Hill. She was in general pediatric private practice for 9 years before joining the faculty at UVA School of Medicine. She is a professor of pediatrics and vice chair for clinical affairs for the Department of Pediatrics and Director of UVA Breastfeeding Medicine. She has been an IBCLC since 2007 and was in the first class of physicians certified by the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine in 2023. Her NIH-funded research relates to parenting education and safe infant care practices in families with low-income, and she is a former President of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.

Cindy Landy, M.D., CCFP, FCFP, IBCLC, FABM

Dr. Cindy Landy is a Family Doctor and Breastfeeding Medicine Physician. She founded the Circle Medical Breastfeeding Clinic in Calgary in 2007 and now operated the Lotus Lactation Breastfeeding Clinic in Nanaimo, BC, serving families on Vancouver Island. She is a dedicated educator and is passionate about helping healthcare providers feel comfortable in supporting breastfeeding families. In her free time, you can find her at a concert, on a hike, or spending time with her family.

Kelley Lawrence, M.D., NABBLM-C, FAAFP, FABM

Dr. Kelley Lawrence is an Associate Program Director at the Novant Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Cornelius, North Carolina and also serves as the Assistant Dean and Campus Director for the UNC School of Medicine Novant Health Charlotte Campus. A board-certified family physician, board certified breastfeeding & lactation medicine physician, fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, she completed both her undergraduate (BA Linguistics with a minor in Chemistry) and medical school training at UNC-Chapel Hill. She then completed her family medicine residency at the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program in Lawrence, Massachusetts where her area of concentration was maternal child healthcare, particularly breastfeeding medicine and low-risk prenatal/obstetric care. Dr. Lawrence has worked in an FQHC in an underserved community, a community-based free clinic, and an academic Family Medicine clinic and hospital. She was a founding faculty member of the Novant Health Family Medicine Residency program in 2015 and has practiced and taught full-scope family medicine. Teaching and nurturing the next generation of physicians gives her joy and purpose at work. Raising and nurturing five children with her husband sprinkles joy, purpose, and plenty of chaos at home!

Lorelei Michels, D.O., NABBLM-C, FABM

Dr. Lorelei Michels is a specialist physician, who is Board-Certified in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (NABBLM-C). She began her training as a Board-Certified Family Medicine physician and became interested in women's health and breastfeeding as a resident in Chicago, IL. From her work and life experiences, she realized a need for more breastfeeding education and support, especially from the medical community. To accomplish this, she decided to specialize in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (BFLM) and became a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) and an IBCLC in 2009. In 2010, she opened her Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine clinic in Albany, NY to help mothers and babies in her community. She has led advocacy and public health efforts for breastfeeding and lactation through medical publications, educational seminars, and 15 years as a board member of the NY Statewide Breastfeeding Coalition. In 2014, she was honored by the ABM as a Fellow. She continues to advance the field of BFLM as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Rochester Medicine Division of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine. She enjoys teaching Medical Students, Residents, Fellows, and other healthcare professionals about BFLM.

Catherine M. Opida-De Leon, M.D., FPPS, IBCLC

Catherine M. Opida-De Leon, M.D., FPPS, IBCLC, is a pediatrician from the Philippines and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant dedicated to advancing Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine through clinical care, education, research, advocacy, and physician training. She completed her pediatric residency at The Medical City and is a Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society. Her passion for breastfeeding medicine began while living in Kuwait, where she trained in lactation medicine and held several leadership roles within BirthKuwait's Breastfeeding Support Program, including Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Lactation Educator, Assistant Director, and facilitator for breastfeeding counselor training programs. Since returning to the Philippines, Dr. De Leon has been a pioneer in the field of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine. She is a founding member, Board Director, and Public Relations Officer of the Philippine Society of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (PSBLM), and serves as a Consultant Staff member in the Department of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine at The Medical City, where she leads community service and advocacy initiatives. She is actively involved in physician education, mentorship, research, and national advocacy to expand access to evidence-based breastfeeding care. Dr. De Leon also serves as the Manila Project Lead for the international mixed-method study, Defining and Validating a Novel Indicator Set of a Breastfeeding-Friendly City, collaborating with researchers to develop and validate indicators that support breastfeeding-friendly communities. She is passionate about mentoring clinicians and developing the next generation of breastfeeding medicine leaders throughout the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

Brie Proctor, D.O.

Dr. Brie Proctor earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and her medical degree from Oklahoma State University. She completed her Family Medicine residency at Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where she and her husband also served as foster parents through Indian Child Welfare, deepening her appreciation for early attachment and trauma-informed care. Shortly before completing residency, Dr. Proctor gave birth to her daughter—a life-changing experience that sparked a deep personal and professional passion for breastfeeding medicine. After residency, her family relocated to Montana to pursue their dream of mountain living, where she worked in urgent care while continuing to support new families. In 2024, Dr. Proctor completed the LILAC Fellowship and began leading mom-baby support groups to help postpartum families build community and achieve their infant feeding goals. She currently serves as a physician chart reviewer and is also adjunct faculty at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Montana. Her most meaningful role remains being a mother to her beloved daughter, who continues to inspire her commitment to nurturing, evidence-based postpartum care.

Paula K. Schreck, M.D., NABBLM-C, IBCLC, FABM

Paula K. Schreck MD, NABBLM-C, IBCLC, FABM attended the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her Pediatric Residency at the University of California, San Diego. After training, she returned to her home state of Michigan where her work in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine began. She has led quality improvement and Baby-Friendly initiatives for many Michigan hospitals and has also consulted for quality improvement collaboratives in Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. Currently, she is medical director of The Lactation Consultant Program, a Pathway 2 academic lactation consultant training program. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and works on several ABM initiatives including the ABM Newsletter and the “What Every Physician Needs to Know” programming. She has maintained a busy Outpatient Breastfeeding Clinic at her home hospital since 2008. Her and her husband love visiting their two adult sons and any other kind of travel, and they are frequently found walking their dog Mr. Darcy along the shores of Lake St. Clair. (…and she loves Jane Austen.)

Sarah Sobik, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Sarah Sobik graduated medical school from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2016. She completed a residency in pediatrics at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, after which she joined as faculty in the Section of Community Pediatrics at UAMS and as a research collaborator at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. Dr. Sobik set out to re-establish the Breastfeeding Medicine and Lactation Clinic at Arkansas Children’s and received International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certification in spring of 2021 and her board certification in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine in 2023. She has striven to expand her clinical skills and offer lactation services in the Arkansas Children’s primary care clinics to newborns and lactating mothers in Central Arkansas and other parts of the state that have limited lactation services through telemedicine. She has focused her research on improving breastfeeding rates in the clinic setting, specifically to at-risk populations, human milk composition, and early nutritional programming on breastmilk composition. Dr. Sobik’s clinical work and research focus is to improve health outcomes and nutrition for infants and their mothers from the start and to improve breastfeeding support for all infant-mother pairs in the state of Arkansas.

Katherine Standish, M.D., M.S., NABBLM-C

Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Boston University
Co-Director and Co-Founder, Breastfeeding & Lactation Medical Center at Boston Medical Center

Dr. Standish is a breastfeeding medicine specialist and researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston University. Her research addresses breastfeeding services and interventions in populations that experience social and medical barriers to breastfeeding. She is currently funded through a NIDA Career Development Award to use a community-engaged approach to developing a peer lactation support program for dyads with maternal opioid use disorder. She serves as Chair of the Protocol Committee of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Dr. Standish completed the LILAC Fellowship in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine in 2024 and became board-certified in breastfeeding and lactation medicine (NABBLM) in 2025.

Sarah R. Weinstein, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, IBCLC, PMH-C
(she/her)

Sarah is a certified nurse-midwife and researcher clinically specializing in breastfeeding and lactation medicine based in Tucson, AZ. After earning a bachelors’ degree in integrative biology at U.C. Berkeley, she completed nursing and midwifery training at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Beginning practice in 2014, Sarah caught babies in various settings in urban and rural NM and AZ, including tribal and rural community health facilities, a free-standing midwife-run birth center, academic settings, and at home. Her current clinical focus is the complex nursing dyad. She is the Clinical Director of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine at a multidisciplinary lactation, infant feeding, and fourth trimester care practice, Milk and Honey Specialized Postpartum Support Center. Sarah serves as the secretary of the AZ chapter of ACNM and is a founding member of the Midwives in Lactation Group, now the breastfeeding subcommittee of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Sarah is also involved in legislative advocacy related to community midwifery care in AZ. She serves as adjunct faculty for University of Rochester’s lactation fellowship program (LILAC), provides clinical and didactic breastfeeding and lactation education to learners from various specialties and health professions, and speaks on this topic both locally and nationally. In January of 2026, Sarah completed her PhD at the University of Arizona College of Nursing exploring early life adversity, oxytocin receptor genetic and epigenetic variations, and breastfeeding outcomes. She is a new postdoctoral fellow at Columbia School of Nursing.

Rachel L. Yang, M.D., FACS, NABBLM-C, IBCLC 

Dr. Rachel Yang is a breast surgical oncologist, breastfeeding medicine specialist and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Stanford University. There she also serves as the Medical Director of Breastfeeding Medicine. She graduated from Wellesley College and earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She went on to complete her general surgery internship and residency at Stanford University, followed by advanced fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at the University of California, San Francisco. In parallel with her surgical career, Dr. Yang pursued specialized training in lactation, becoming both a Certified Lactation Counselor and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Prior to her appointment at Stanford, Dr. Yang developed the Bay Area’s first dedicated breastfeeding medicine clinic at Marin Health. She advises many local lactation consultants and speaks regionally and nationally about maternal complications of breastfeeding. She has been invited faculty at annual meetings for the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and Institute for the Advancement of Lactation Education.