Master of Arts News

Karin Cadwell, Ph.D.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:40:31 GMT

Doctors Nashwa Samra, Amal El Taweel and our own Professor Karin Cadwell recently published their research findings, “The Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care on the Duration of Phototherapy of Infants Re-admitted for Neonatal Jaundice,” in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. Out of the 50 jaundiced infants studied at an oasis hospital in Egypt, those that received intermittent kangaroo mother care (KMC: held by their mother in skin-to-skin contact which allows on-demand breastfeeding, among other benefits) required significantly shorter periods of phototherapy to recover from jaundice. Although further research is recommended to confirm these results, the study indicates that KMC is a safe, effective treatment to reduce the duration of necessary phototherapy and frees up ICU resources for sicker infants.

Anna Blair, Ph.D.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:22:40 GMT

Dr. Blair spoke on a cruise to Grand Cayman on May 17-21, presenting “Research Updates in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.” At the end of August, she is lecturing on a cruise to Alaska on “Continuity of Care in Breastfeeding: Finding the Path to Best Practice.”

In addition to her responsibilities as M.A. faculty and advisor and chair of the UI&U's B.S. in Maternal Child Health, Dr. Blair performs clinical work at Healthy Children’s center on the cape. She also routinelyvolunteers for dolphin rescue at Cape Cod.

Leslie Korn, Ph.D.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:20:04 GMT

Dr. Korn served as a post-doctoral Fulbright scholar in Mexico for 2009-2010. She was awarded a joint grant from the U.S. State Department and COMEXUS to continue her research with indigenous women on traditional medicine in rural west Mexico. Dr. Korn has published two books this year, the bi-lingualMedicinal Plants of the Jungle/Plantas Medicinales de la Selva, and Preventing and Treating Diabetes, Naturally, the Native Way, with co-author Dr. Rudolph Ryser. Medicinal Plants of the Jungleeducates the reader about both indigenous and biomedical science of 11 of the most important healing plants chosen by the women of Yelapa, Mexico. This book is a product of the women’s community medicine project.

Rachel Martinez, M.A. 2012

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:54:40 GMT

Although she was already an IBCLC-certified practicing lactation consultant and educator, the MA Program provided Rachel Martinez a tremendous opportunity for career growth. While researching her thesis, Prenatal Breastfeeding Education: Impact on the Early Postpartum Period, she was able to apply discoveries made along the way to her work at the hospital throughout the entire process. She observes, “What really surprised me is how the experience showed me what is possible for the work I do and how I can now move forward with it.”

In addition to writing her thesis, Martinez also produced a prenatal breastfeeding education series that has garnered statewide interest. Martinez was invited to present her education series at the Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon’s Annual Meeting in March 2012. Area prenatal practitioners, hospitals, and multiple county WIC offices will be participating in implementing the series.

Martinez acknowledges, “I credit much of what I have gained through the Master’s Program to the supportive and knowledgeable staff, and my classmates who introduced me to varied experiences, perspectives, and camaraderie.” She leaves the M.A. with an extended circle of new colleagues from all over the country to continue to draw upon for a community of practice.

Kristin Casas, M.A. 2012

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:52:38 GMT

According to Kristin Casas’s research, over 400,000 children worldwide in 2007 acquired HIV from their mothers during the pregnancy process or through breastfeeding. Casas’s thesis explored the complex issues involved in determining whether an HIV-infected mother should breastfeed or use formula. In resource-rich countries where formula is safe and readily available it is an easy choice. However, in resource-poor areas, the choice is complicated by the high infant mortality rates for those who do not breastfeed. Casas also found that the highest transmission of HIV occurred in infants who received both breast milk and formula. (The intermittent use of formula inflames the baby’s gut, increasing the likelihood of contracting HIV.) For mothers who choose to breastfeed, there is highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to reduce the chances of the mother transmitting HIV to her nursing baby. By preserving breastfeeding in low-income contexts with the aid of HAART treatment, infants may be able to live longer, healthier, HIV-free lives compared to their formula-fed counterparts. The choice of an HIV-infected mother of whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed a baby is very convoluted. Casas explains, “Although I set out to discover what the safest feeding method would be for an infant born to an HIV-infected mother, the results from studies revealed that it differs for each individual.”

Amy Pizzuti-Brown, M.A. 2011

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:27:03 GMT

Like many woman before her, Amy Pizzuti-Brown’s interest and passion for breastfeeding began when she became a mother. It was only when she was expecting her first child and started reading the abundance of parenting literature did she realize how important breastfeeding is for the long term health of both children and mothers. However, to her surprise she discovered that breastfeeding is hard work, both time consuming and exhausting. It was certainly not the rosy picture of maternal happiness that she once envisioned. Out of this struggle grew her desire to become a support for women like herself and she proceeded to research the steps she would need to follow in order to become a lactation consultant. Ultimately, her search led her to Union Institute & University, which has one of the few programs for lactation consulting in the United States. UI&U set up affiliation agreements with local hospitals and breastfeeding programs for Amy to complete the required internship within her Master of Arts application courses. Amy describes her experience:

“I found the M.A. Program exciting and challenging as I found my way around academia. At the completion of my program, I had interned at a hospital, a non-profit, and a city health department. I believe that it was due to the diversity of job experience in the program that qualified me to be considered for a position as perinatal educator and lactation consultant at Del Sol Medical Center. I am incredibly proud and very excited that my final document, 'Guilt, Breastfeeding and Health Behavior Change' was recommended for both publishing and presenting at an upcoming international conference on breastfeeding."

Karin Cadwell, Ph.D.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:30:46 GMT

M.A. online faculty, Dr Karin Cadwell, had the opportunity to spend time with the Surgeon General on January 20, 2011 during the announcement of The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding.

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin announced 20 key actions to improve support for breastfeeding nationally.

L to R: HC faculty Barbara O'Connor, UI&U & HC faculty Dr. Lois
Arnold, The Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin,
UI&U & HC faculty Cindy Turner-Maffei,
Baby-Friendly USA Trish McEnroe, and UI&U and
HC faculty Dr. Karin Cadwell

Dr. Karin Cadwell works nationally and international to improve maternity practices and increase breastfeeding rate through education, research, collaboration and competency based lactation education through the Healthy Children Project. As faculty for the MA online in Health and Wellness and the BS in MCH Lactation Consulting at Union Institute and University, Dr. Cadwell works with students during their academic journey through their undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Cadwell is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).