Why do we need a milk bank in the Northwest? Currently, US milk banks cannot meet the need for donor milk. The closest milk banks are in San Jose, California and Denver, Colorado. This can mean increased transportation costs and time and occasionally limited availability when providing donor milk to our area.
Oregon and Washington have two of the highest breastfeeding rates in the United States with the potential to have sufficient breastmilk donors to serve infants throughout the Northwest region and other parts of the US. A committed group of volunteers is developing a human milk bank to serve the Northwest.
Board of Directors:
- June Winfield, Chair
- Neal Schnitzer, Vice-Chair
- Scotti Weintraub, Secretary
- Kari Russill, Treasurer
- Rebecca Stepaniak, MD, IBCLC, Medical Advisory Committee Chair
- Bethy Annsa
- Maggi Leyburn, RN, IBCLC
- Annette Magner, RN, IBCLC
- Lesley Mondeaux, RN, BSN, IBCLC
- Joanne Ransom, RN, BSN, IBCLC
- Linda Welsh
- Dixie Whetsell, MS, IBCLC
Medical Advisory Council:
Dr. Rebecca Stepaniak, MD, IBCLC, Chair -- Pediatrics
Dr. Helen Bellanca, MD -- Family Medicine
Dr. Nan Dahlquist, MD -- Pediatrics
Dr. Isabella Knox, MD -- Neonatology
Dr. Ann Loeffler, MD -- Infectious Disease
Dr. Sarah Rollin, MD -- Pediatrics
Dr. Nicole Schmidt, MD -- Neonatology
Melissa Stawarz, RD, LD -- NICU Nutrition Services
Ellen Tilden, CNM -- Certified Nurse Midwife
Our planning and board meetings are held the third Monday of every month from 4-6pm at our NWMMB office space in SW Portland. Please contact us if you are interested in participating. To contact board members, please email info[at]nwmmb[dot]org
