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2024 CHAMPS National Conference

September 17, 2024 10 am - 5 pm Eastern Time

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About the event

In September 2023, CHAMPS entered a three-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop CHAMPS National, expanding its efforts to implement evidence-based maternal health practices with hospitals nationwide. CHAMPS National, led by the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research (CHEER) at Boston Medical Center, is dedicated to promoting equitable, hospital practices to address disparities in breastfeeding rates. Enrolling 100 hospitals across the US and its territories, the program focuses on reducing racial disparities in breastfeeding rates and promoting maternal-child health practices. With combined annual births exceeding 200,000, CHAMPS National is dedicated to advancing maternity care nationwide.

The 2024 CHAMPS National Conference brings healthcare leaders all over the US to lead us in discussion on how we can be champions of breastfeeding. We will learn about key topics and evidence-based practices to provide the best care for our mothers and families.

Agenda

Program

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 10:00 am

Online Platform Open

Networking

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 10:30 am

Opening Remarks: Update on CHAMPS National

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Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

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Laura Burnham, MPH
CHEER Associate Director

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Daurice Grossniklaus, PhD
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, CDC

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 11:15 am

Becoming: A Journey to Breastfeeding Advocacy

Join us for our keynote speech 'Becoming: A Journey to Breastfeeding Advocacy' by Michelle Owens, MD, a clinical professor of maternal and fetal medicine at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, lead for maternal health in the state of Mississippi, and consultant physician on CHAMPS National. Dr. Owens' rich expertise and experiences in maternal-child health will educate, empower, and inspire. Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH, will be moderating the session.

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Michelle Owens, MD
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:00 pm

Parent Panel: Breastfeeding Support in the Hospital

Dr. Kimarie Bugg, CEO of Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), is leading our Parent Panel: Breastfeeding Support in the Hospital. Parents will share their own experiences as breastfeeding patients within the hospital setting.

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Parent Panel

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Kimarie Bugg, DNP, FNP-BC, MPH, IBCLC
ROSE CEO & Founder, CHAMPS Community Engagement Director

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:45 pm

Meet the Doctors Lunch

Join our Meet the Doctors lunchtime session to meet and ask questions directly of the pediatrician, obstetrician, and neonatologist specialists who are a part of the CHAMPS National Team: Dr. Feldman-Winter, Dr. Parker, Dr. Owens, and Dr. Ortiz. Gianna Hamann will be moderating the session.

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Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Meg Parker, MD, MPH
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Michelle Owens, MD
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Lorimar Ortiz Ortiz, MD, IBCLC
The Way Family Clinic, CHAMPS National Coach

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Gianna Hamann
Research Assistant, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:45 pm

Brainstorming Session: Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Hospital

Let's brainstorm! Join this lunchtime session with CHAMPS Director Anne Merewood and CHAMPS coach Becky Knapp to discuss ways to increase exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital.

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Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

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Becky Knapp, MPH, RN, IBCLC
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:45 pm

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Networking Lunch

Join a networking lunch session with CHAMPS community partner Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE). ROSE is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to serve communities through a continued focus on centering the breastfeeding needs of Black families and impacting broader maternal, infant, and family health outcomes across the nation. The session will review how you can connect with ROSE as an entity enrolled or affiliated with CHAMPS National. Andrea Serano, IBCLC, will be moderating the session.

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Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC
Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Interim Chief Executive Officer

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:45 pm

QI Leads Meeting

Quality Improvement expert and CHAMPS National Coach Jennifer Ustianov is leading a lunchtime session with CHAMPS National hospital QI leads. She'll discuss the role of QI leads, CHAMPS QI trainings and support, and why testing practice change is so important. Olivia Choi will be moderating the session.

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Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN
CHAMPS National Coach

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Olivia Choi
Research Assistant, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 12:45 pm

Spanish Language: Connecting with Community Breastfeeding Supports in Puerto Rico [in Spanish]

This lunchtime session in Spanish will cover community breastfeeding support in Puerto Rico.

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Patricia Francisco
CHAMPS National Consultant

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 01:15 pm

The Psychology Of Change

Change is hard! However, it is a necessary component of Quality Improvement. There are strategies to help you be successful when you are leading change initiatives. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell will share how to deal with resistance to change and achieve success. Trendle Samuel, MPH, RN, CLC, will be moderating the session.

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Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, FACOG
Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review and Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Medical Director

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Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 02:05 pm

Hypoglycemia: Current Policies and Practices

Dr. Parker will present on supporting the establishment of breastfeeding while treating hypoglycemia in the mother-baby unit setting. Laura Burnham, MPH, will be moderating the session.

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Meg Parker, MD, MPH
UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Laura Burnham, MPH
CHEER Associate Director

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 02:05 pm

CHAMPS National Training Session: Hands-On With Lactation Part 1

Cathy Carothers will be debuting the first part of the Hands-On With Lactation session from Unit 3 of the CHAMPS National Training Curriculum. She will talk about the physiology and anatomy of the breast, milk production, latching, and newborn weight loss. Mariah Banks, MPH, will be moderating the session.

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Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA
EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach

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Mariah Banks, MPH
Project Management Specialist, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 02:05 pm

Breastfeeding Against the Odds: Breastfeeding Among Incarcerated Women, in Emergencies, and in Refugee Populations

Anne Merewood, CHEER Director and Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing), Farzana Hakimi, CHEERing National Director, and Chauntel Norris, Baobab Birth Collective Co-Founder and Doula, are coming together to discuss breastfeeding against the odds. The session includes a presentation by Chauntel on how to thoughtfully support lactation in incarcerated populations, addressing the unique needs of lactating parents in custody. Additionally, Anne and Farzana will touch on breastfeeding as the most accessible and sanitary food source for mothers in refugee camps. 

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Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

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Farzana Hakimi
CHEER International Group (CHEERing) Associate Director

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Chauntel Norris, CLC, LCCE
Baobab Birth Collective Co-Founder and Doula

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 02:50 pm

Break

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:05 pm

The Jaundiced Baby – Implications for Breastfeeding

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its guidelines on the management of hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice) in the newborn infant 35 weeks or more gestation. AAP assembled a team of experts in neonatology, pediatrics, research, and breastfeeding medicine to issue guidelines that provided detailed information on the prevention, surveillance, and management of hyperbilirubinemia. Since breastfeeding is associated with, but not the cause of, hyperbilirubinemia, feeding management is key to both the prevention and management of the jaundiced baby. Learn more at this session with Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, with host Madeline Caughron. 

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Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Madeline Caughron
Research Assistant, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:05 pm

CHAMPS National Training Session: QI for Busy Professionals

Jennifer Ustianov will talk through Quality Improvement (QI) skills for healthcare professionals. This is the first look at Unit 1, Session 4 from the CHAMPS National Training Curriculum. Olivia Choi will be moderating the session.

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Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN
CHAMPS National Coach

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Olivia Choi
Research Assistant, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:05 pm

ROBE – Boy, Man, Father+

ROBE seeks to educate, equip, and empower men to impact an increase in breastfeeding rates and a decrease in infant mortality rates within African-American communities. Join this session to learn more!

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Carl Route
Program Director at Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE)

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George Bugg, Jr., MD, MPH

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:55 pm

Doulas: Supporting Moms and Protecting Breastfeeding

Join this panel discussion with doulas who are providing prenatal through postpartum services: Adiliah Smith, Crystina Hughes, and Jamilah Channel. Panelists will discuss their roles as multi-faceted professionals who provide education and advocate for the patients they serve. We will also explore ways hospital staff and doulas can work together to improve experiences and outcomes in the maternal-child population. Trendle Samuel, MPH, RN, CLC, will be moderating the session.

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Adiliah Smith, BS, BD, LEC, MiLC
Village Maternal Services Owner

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Crystina Hughes, LPN
DONA Certified Doula, Birthing By Your Design Founder and CEO

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Jamilah Channel
DONA-Trained and Commonsense Childbirth Institute Certified Birth Doula, Naima’s Love Founder

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Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC
CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:55 pm

Pacific Perspectives Panel: Guam, Hawaii, Palau

This panel session features CHAMPS National coach Antoinette Kleiner, MSN, FNP, and Elizabeth "Kehau" Kealoha, Registered Nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and founder of Mother’s Milk. The panel will share information on geographic, racial/ethnic, and healthcare challenges in Hawaii and the western Pacific. We will share lessons learned from CHAMPS National hospital participants and local partners, including challenges, consequences, and solutions from the region.

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Antoinette Kleiner, RN, MSN, FNP
University of Guam, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Elizabeth Kehau Kealoha, RN, IBCLC
Mother's Milk LLC

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 03:55 pm

CHAMPS National Training Session: Lactation and Medication

Michelle Owens, MD will be presenting on Lactation and Medication from Unit 1, Session 3, of the CHAMPS National Curriculum. The talk will include a discussion on how medication enters milk, common breastfeeding/medication questions, vaccines and breastfeeding, and Galactagogues. Kat Pollack-Hinds, MPH, will be moderating the session.

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Michelle Owens, MD
Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant

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Kathryn Pollack-Hinds, MPH
Research Assistant II, CHEER

time iconSeptember 17, 2024 04:45 pm

Closing Remarks

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Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH
CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

Speakers

Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH

CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

Laura Burnham, MPH

CHEER Associate Director

Daurice Grossniklaus, PhD

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, CDC

Michelle Owens, MD

Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, CHAMPS National Consultant

Kimarie Bugg, DNP, FNP-BC, MPH, IBCLC

ROSE CEO & Founder, CHAMPS Community Engagement Director

Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, FACOG

Louisiana Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review and Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Medical Director

Meg Parker, MD, MPH

UMass Memorial Medical Center, CHAMPS National Consultant

Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC, FILCA

EveryMother Co-Director, CHAMPS National Coach

Chauntel Norris, CLC, LCCE

Baobab Birth Collective Co-Founder and Doula

Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP, FABM

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, CHAMPS National Consultant

Jennifer Ustianov, MS, BSN, RN

CHAMPS National Coach

Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC

CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

Crystina Hughes, LPN

DONA Certified Doula, Birthing By Your Design Founder and CEO

Jamilah Channel

DONA-Trained and Commonsense Childbirth Institute Certified Birth Doula, Naima’s Love Founder

Antoinette Kleiner, RN, MSN, FNP

University of Guam, CHAMPS National Consultant

Elizabeth Kehau Kealoha, RN, IBCLC

Mother's Milk LLC

Adiliah Smith, BS, BD, LEC, MiLC

Village Maternal Services Owner

Carl Route

Program Director at Reaching Our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE)

Lorimar Ortiz Ortiz, MD, IBCLC

The Way Family Clinic, CHAMPS National Coach

Becky Knapp, MPH, RN, IBCLC

CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

Andrea Serano, CLC, IBCLC

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) Interim Chief Executive Officer

Patricia Francisco

CHAMPS National Consultant

George Bugg, Jr., MD, MPH

CHEER Team

Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH

CHEER Director, Executive Director and Founder of CHEER International Group (CHEERing)

Laura Burnham, MPH

CHEER Associate Director

Trendle Samuel, MPH, BSN, RN, CLC

CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

Becky Knapp, MPH, RN, IBCLC

CHEER Senior Research Project Manager, CHAMPS National Coach

Mariah Banks, MPH

Project Management Specialist, CHEER

Kathryn Pollack-Hinds, MPH

Research Assistant II, CHEER

Gianna Hamann

Research Assistant, CHEER

Madeline Caughron

Research Assistant, CHEER

Olivia Choi

Research Assistant, CHEER

Collaborators

Frequently Asked Questions


Yes! After the event concludes, you will have access to the recordings up until 30 days after the event in the platform. After 30 days, you may request the recording for a particular session from your coach or Technical Assistant Guru (TAG).
Yes, you may use your phone to access the sessions. Simply put our website link on your web browser.
To log in please use the email address added to register for the conference.
All CHAMPS National hospitals and partners can attend this free virtual Conference.
Please use the technical chat support room and one of vFair's representatives will help you. Alternatively, you can email 2024champsnationalconference@getvfairs.io.
No, the CHAMPS National Virtual Conference does not offer continuing education credits or units.