Medela Announces 2011 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence to Nationally Recognize Exceptional Breastfeeding Advocates

MCHENRY, Ill., March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Medela today announced the launch of the 2011 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence – an exciting expansion of the Lactation Consultant Hall of Excellence.  The program will now honor the hard-work, dedication and best practices of lactation consultants, as well as other professional and community breastfeeding advocates. The Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence inductees will be announced during World Breastfeeding Week in August 2011 and will be awarded with grants to support breastfeeding related research, continuing education or charities.

"Since the program's inception in 2006 our lactation consultant nominees have shared so many encouraging stories about collaborative advocacy efforts to help mothers breastfeed.  Their experiences have inspired us to also honor other breastfeeding advocates.  We know that working together, from hospital to government agencies, to the community, we can help better support breastfeeding mothers nationwide," said Carolin Archibald, vice president, breastfeeding business, Medela, Inc. "We hope that in honoring these committed breastfeeding advocates we can raise awareness of their efforts and further promote breastfeeding and the benefits it provides."

Call for Nominations Opens March 1, 2011

Nominations will be taken online between March 1 - March 31, 2011.  Full program guidelines and nomination forms can be found at BreastfeedingHallofExcellence.com. Nominees may now be eligible in one of three categories:

• Lactation Consultants (LC):  as in previous years a nominee in this category must be a practicing International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) in the United States and be nominated by a peer and breastfeeding mother for their role as an exceptional professional. 
• Professional Breastfeeding Advocate:  the professional breastfeeding advocate is not a board- certified lactation consultant; however, fully supports breastfeeding in their professional position.  This advocate is nominated by a peer and breastfeeding mother for their outstanding work in supporting breastfeeding.
• Community Breastfeeding Advocate:  The community advocate is someone who works either locally, regionally or nationally to support breastfeeding. In their professional position, however, the advocate does not solely serve the breastfeeding population.  

2011 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence Inductees

Inductees are chosen by an independent judging panel comprised of respected lactation consultants, professional and community breastfeeding advocates. The panel is solely responsible for judging entries and selecting the program inductees.

This year, three nominees will be chosen, one in each category.  Inductees will receive a 2011 Breastfeeding Hall of Excellence plaque and a $5,000 grant to fund research, continue education, purchase equipment for use in their practice or donate to the breastfeeding charity of their choice.

About Medela:

Medela provides the most technologically advanced, superior-quality breast pumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world. A longtime champion of breastfeeding, Medela is the only company to develop products based on research by the world's leading lactation experts.  As a result, Medela's breast pumps are the number one choice of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities worldwide, including 80 percent of U.S. hospitals.

Medela has developed an extensive line of products to meet the diverse needs of nursing mothers.  These products include hospital-grade, double and single electric and manual breast pumps; breastfeeding accessories such as pump cleaning products, breast care products and specialty feeding devices; and maternity and nursing intimate apparel.

Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson in Zug, Switzerland, Medela continues to grow under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves customers through a worldwide network of distribution partners in more than 90 countries and its 15 subsidiaries in the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, France, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, China and Spain. The company entered the United States more than 25 years ago; its U.S. headquarters are located in McHenry, Illinois.

SOURCE Medela