GOLD Lactation Conference News
Welcome to GOLD Lactation 2021! My name is Cynthia Good. I'm an IBCLC, mental health care provider, speaker, and author who is passionate about lactation education. As Program Chair for GOLD Lactation, I'm so excited to have you join us for an amazing opportunity to expand your knowledge, improve your clinical skills, and enhance your personal growth. We've developed our program to support the 4000+ members of the GOLD community in our shared goal of improving the quality of care we provide our clients and helping them meet their lactation-related goals.
Working behind the scenes of GOLD Lactation 2021 is exciting for me because I share GOLD's dedication to making a meaningful difference in the work of lactation supporters and in the lives of the families we all serve. Building this program is a labor of love, listening, commitment, research, and accountability. Every member of Team GOLD cares deeply about lactation and its powerful impact on human health and development. We seek and review feedback and suggestions from delegates around the world who work in different settings and hold a wide variety of lactation-related credentials and roles. We consult the global wisdom, expertise, and experience of our professional advisory committee. We dive deep into research, hot topics, and social media networks to identify cutting edge information and gaps in knowledge and practice. And we actively track how well our program outcomes match our intentions. In short, we keep our finger on the pulse of the lactation field so we can meet your dynamic needs as you strive to meet your clients' dynamic needs. We are here for you!
This year our GOLD Lactation program reflects numerous changes in both the world and the field of lactation support, such as the impact of the pandemic; the growing need for lactation professionals to provide skilled support for complex cases; the increasing use of technology; updates in our understanding of lactation physiology, immunology and endocrinology; the needs of the newest generation of parents; and the increasing recognition of the critical importance of inclusive care that supports the family as a whole. Our program provides information and skills that we all need to challenge stigma, recognize and counter biases, and increase equitable access to quality lactation support for all communities.
I'm looking forward to learning from 43 expert speakers—from diverse backgrounds across 11 different countries—to grow my professional knowledge and skills. I hope you'll join me!
