Prof. Diane L. Spatz
Professor of Perinatal Nursing & the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, United States
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Presentation title: A call to action: Improving human milk & breastfeeding outcomes by prioritizing effective initiation of lactation
Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN is Professor of Perinatal Nursing & the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania sharing a joint appointment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a nurse scientist in lactation and founder of its Lactation Program & Mothers’ Milk Bank. Internationally recognized for her work on the use of human milk and breastfeeding, particularly in vulnerable populations, Dr Spatz has been PI or co-investigator on over 50 research grants, including several from the NIH. She has authored and co-authored over 210 peer-reviewed publications and written numerous book chapters related to human milk and breastfeeding as well as position statements for many professional organizations.
Dr Spatz is also the recipient of numerous awards including: the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and in 2019, Dr Spatz received AWHONN’s Distinguished Researcher Award and has been named Nurse of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Dr Spatz is Past Chair of the American Academy of Nursing’s Expert Panel on Breastfeeding and their representative to the United States Breastfeeding Committee.
