Speakers

Conference Speakers

Featuring:
Kathy Dettwyler, Ph.D.; Kay Hoover*, LLLL, MEd, IBCLC, FILCA; Shannon Lilienthal, BA, IBCLC; Maureen Minchin, BA, MA, TSTC; Elizabeth Shotwell*, MEd; Marah Sollenberger*, LLLL, IBCLC; Michael Virts, DDS

*denotes a La Leche League Leader
**denotes a retired La Leche League Leader

Kara Fontes*
Kathleen Eckhaus**
Liz Gliot*
Heather Haney
Jason Jacobs
Jennifer Jacobs*
Shelly Karver*
Holly Keich

Rachel Leskosky
Annette Maier
Alyssa Mierta*
Lorraine Mishler*
Jennifer Moquin*
Kristina Pasquale*
Karen Shaw*
Carol Smith *


CERP Faculty Bios

Kathy Dettwyler, PhD, is a biocultural anthropologist who has been conducting research on breastfeeding, weaning, and child growth and health since 1981. She teaches at the University of Delaware and is a frequent speaker at LLL and lactation conferences. She is known for her thought-provoking but amusing presentations.

Kay Hoover, LLLL, MEd, IBCLC, FILCA, and husband Charlie are the parents of three sons and the proud grandparents of three grandsons. Kay has been an LLL Leader for 45 years. Kay has worked as a private practice lactation consultant, a hospital lactation consultant, the lactation consultant for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, for The Center for Childhood Obesity Research at The Pennsylvania State University, and for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. She has presented workshops at national and international conferences and is a co-author of The Breastfeeding Atlas. Kay currently works at Riddle Hospital in Media, PA as their lactation consultant.

Shannon Lilienthal, BA, IBCLC, has been a private practice lactation consultant for 12 years. She also currently works as a hospital-based lactation consultant and has been teaching breastfeeding classes for a local hospital for over 10 years. Shannon has volunteered as a breastfeeding counselor with Nursing Mothers Advisory Council and has served on the Dauphin County Breastfeeding Coalition, the South Central PA Lactation Consultant Association, and the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition. She and her husband Chris are proud parents of 2 sons.

Maureen Minchin, BA, MA, TSTC, is a medical historian and health educator. Maureen Minchin has been involved in global efforts to promote evidence-based infant feeding for decades, and is internationally recognized for her pivotal role in creating the lactation consultant profession. She has been a consultant to international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She has educated health professionals, including through creating university-based courses in the UK and Australia, and she is an editorial board member for the open-access online International Breastfeeding Journal.

Elizabeth Shotwell, MEd, is first and foremost the mother of three energetic sons, spanning three different development stages and ages (toddler, grade-schooler, adolescent). When she is not enjoying her time wrangling her three boys, she is a high school teacher and adjunct college instructor. Elizabeth’s research interests include the impact of attachment styles on brain development, understanding how children learn, and the intersection between technology and our relationship with the outdoor world. She is currently working on her dissertation focused on the impact of outdoor education in schools.

Marah Sollenberger, LLLL, IBCLC, is the mother of five children and was inspired to help other mothers in their breastfeeding journeys by the support she received in the early days of breastfeeding her oldest child. Marah serves as an Associate Coordinator of Leader Accreditation and the Area Professional Liaison for LLL of Eastern Pennsylvania. Aside from breastfeeding, Marah is passionate about her family, photography, babywearing, gardening, CrossFit, and sewing.

Michael T. Virts, DDS, and wife Kristen are the parents of two young sons. Dr. Virts has successfully helped hundreds of mother-infant dyads nurse more comfortably through tongue and lip revision with a laser in the office setting, without sedation or general anesthesia. He practices with the office of Dr. David Hasson, DMD and Associates in Mt. Airy, MD. Dr. Virts is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, an Associate Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a member of the American Society for Dental Ethics and the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals. He is also a Dean’s Faculty member at the University of Maryland Dental School, and is a Past President of the Maryland Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Virts has received numerous awards for ethical practice, compassionate care, and leadership in the dental profession.