Diane L. Spatz, Ph.D., RN-BC, FAAN, will be the keynote speaker for the McDowell Stafford Lectureship Series in Child and Family Health, and will provide educational and community presentations on Thursday, April 30, at Illinois State University.

Spatz is a professor of perinatal nursing, the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition, and the faculty advisor to students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She is the director of the lactation program and a nurse researcher at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She also serves as faculty for the Sigma Theta Tau and Johnson & Johnson Maternal Child Leadership Academy.

Spatz is an internationally renowned clinical nurse scientist who has translated the science of human milk and breastfeeding worldwide. At the CHOP, Spatz developed the breastfeeding resource nurse program to better educate and train nurses to provide the most current and evidence-based care to families.

Diane L. Spatz, Ph.D., RN-BC, FAAN

Diane L. Spatz, Ph.D., RN-BC, FAAN

For the educational presentation, Spatz will present “Translating the Science of Human Milk and Breastfeeding Into Clinical Practice,” which will examine the impact of breastfeeding and how to incorporate it into clinical practice. This event* will be from 1–4:30 p.m. in the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center.

“Breastfeeding Is a Public Health Issue-Solutions for Improving Breastfeeding in the United States” will be the topic of the community presentation, which will be at 7 p.m. in the Circus Room of the Bone Student Center. This community lecture will enhance participant knowledge of why the mommy wars undermine the health of our nation. Every person in the United States has a role in supporting and protecting the health of our nation. There will be a reception with light refreshments following the lecture.

These events are free and open to the public; however, you must register as space is limited. College of Nursing faculty and students, and RNs who work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), obstetrics, and gynecology (OB/GYN) offices, and pediatric offices are encouraged to attend. For more information or to register for these events, call Amy Irving at (309) 438-7418.

These events are sponsored by the Marion McDowell Stafford Lectureship Series Fund, Harold K. Sage Foundation Fund, and Illinois State University Foundation.

* This activity has been submitted to the Ohio Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The Ohio Nurses Association (OBN-001-91) is an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Call Amy Irving at (309) 438-7418 for more information. The faculty and planning committee have declared no conflict of interest. Criteria for successful completion include attending the entire session and completing and turning in an evaluation form. There is no commercial support for this event.