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Golisano Children's Hospital / Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine / Lactation Study Center

Lactation Study Center

Baby and mother


The Lactation Study Center (LSC) at the University of Rochester Medical Center is a free, national consultation service that helps families and healthcare providers make safe, informed decisions about breastfeeding and human milk.

Founded in 1981 by Dr. Ruth Lawrence, the LSC supports families through illness, medication use, and other complex breastfeeding situations. Expanding our reach through collaboration with UR’s MotherToBaby and the Finger Lakes Environmental Health Center, we are able to advise on a wide range of topics, including:

  • Medication safety during breastfeeding and lactation
  • Toxin and environmental exposures
  • Illness during pregnancy and lactation
  • Low milk supply, oversupply, and complex breastfeeding problems
  • Breastfeeding during NICU stays and medical treatments
  • Human milk storage and safety questions

The LSC team includes reproductive and environmental toxicologists, providers (MD, DO, CNM/IBCLC) trained in breastfeeding & lactation medicine, and pharmacology experts (MD, PhD).

Our Team

Our work at the LSC is guided by a dedicated, interdisciplinary team of physicians, toxicologists, and lactation experts—many of whom also serve on the faculty of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). Below are core team members and their roles:

Rogelio Perez D'Gregorio Rogelio E. Perez D'Gregorio, M.D., M.S., Medical Director – Specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, clinical and reproductive toxicology. He offers expert review for medication, environmental exposures, and lactation safety, and helps support bilingual (English/Spanish) consultations.

Michele Burtner Michele Burtner, C.N.M., M.S., M.P.H., IBCLC – Associate Medical Director for Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine at URMC; part of the LSC clinical team. She supports lactation care, education, and quality improvement efforts related to breastfeeding medicine.

Sandra Jee Sandra H. Jee, M.D., M.P.H. – General Pediatrician, fellowship trained in Health Services Research and Integrative Medicine, and advanced training in Pediatric Environmental Health. As part of the broader environmental health and lactation team, she participates in counseling and advising on environmental exposures, maternal and child health,and has conducted many community-based projects, especially in underserved communities.

Rchard Miller Richard K. Miller, Ph.D. – Toxicologist/Pharmacologist; Faculty in OBGYN, Environmental Medicine, Pediatrics, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. His expertise supports evaluating exposures (medications, environmental) in breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Casey Rosen-Carole Casey B. Rosen-Carole, M.D., M.P.H., M.Ed. – Division Chief of Breastfeeding & Lactation Medicine; Medical Director for LSC; Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology. She provides consultations for complex lactation cases and leads our clinical and educational efforts.


Together, our team brings a wide range of expertise—clinical pediatrics, obstetrics, breastfeeding & lactation medicine, pharmacology and toxicology, environmental health, lactation support, and research—to provide families with comprehensive, evidence-based lactation consultations.

Contact Information

Phone: (585) 275-0088
Email: lsc@urmc.rochester.edu
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
 
We welcome calls from the public and from healthcare providers in English, Spanish, and other languages. We also welcome emails from families who are hard of hearing or deaf.

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