2011 - Isabella Knox, MD, EdM
Dr. Knox is a neonatologist at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), Seattle Children’s Hospital, Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett and Overlake Hospital. She is also an associate professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine. Since moving to Washington State from Connecticut, she has established herself as one of the leading physicians in for her knowledge and treatment of frenotomies, which is a minor surgical procedure to alleviate ankyloglossia (also known as tongue-tie), a congenital oral anomaly that can often impede a successful breastfeeding relationship between mother and baby. Indeed, staff at UWMC credit Dr. Knox with having brought the concepts of frenotomy and donor milk into discussion at the UWMC neonatology department. Dr. Knox is a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a founding member of the International Association of Tongue-Tie Professionals and sits on the Board of the Pacific Northwest Human Milk Bank.
2010 - Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH
At the time of this award presentation, Dr. Maxine Hayes has been Washington State’s Health Officer for 10 years. She has been a tireless advocate for families, and holds a special place in her heart and her work for mothers and babies. She has used her role to promote important preventative health measures and further the understanding of the importance of breastfeeding.
From 1988 to 1993, Dr. Hayes was the Assistant Secretary in the Department of Social and Health Services responsible for parent-child health. When the program moved into the Department of Health (DOH), Dr. Hayes moved to oversee the entire Community Family Health Division. Her oversight led to an integrated vision of prevention in DOH, including the view of breastfeeding as not only critical to the health of the newborn but a protective factor for the mother as well. In 2002, she was a member of the consultation review team for CDC in the publication of the Guide to Community Preventive Services “Interventions to Improve Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes of Pregnancy”. In 2003, she received the Hero of Healthcare Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Health Foundation. And in 2006 she was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.
2009 - Sheila Kingsbury, MD
Dr. Sheila Kingsbury is a Naturopathic Physician, Lactation Consultant and Registered Herbalist. As a graduate of Bastyr Universitys naturopathic medicine program and a Licensed Primary Care Provider in Washington State, Dr. Kingsbury has extensive training in Pediatrics, Maternity and Post-partum care and Botanical Medicine. Dr. Kingsbury is the Chair of the Botanical Medicine department at Bastyr University and regularly teaches courses in Botanical Medicine, Lactation and Pediatrics. Dr. Kingsbury was the chair of the Seattle-King County Breastfeeding Coalition for three years and is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, American Herbalists Guild, and The American Botanical Council. Prior to her medical training, Dr. Kingsbury worked in the public health field and as a labor support doula and a Lactation Consultant.
2008 - Ellie Graham, MD, MPH
Dr. Graham works as a pediatrician at Harborview Medical Center, the University of Washington Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the UW medical system. She has developed successful programs to foster culturally-tailored and ethnically diverse community health programs, such as "EthnoMed" and "Community House Calls." She has drawn attention to important issues affecting Maternal and Child Health, with a particular focus on medical practices that support breastfeeding mothers.
2007 - Anne Montgomery, MD, FAAFP, FABM, IBCLC
Dr. Montgomery is a board-certified Family Physician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, currently practicing at Sacred Heart Medical Center and Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane. She became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 1997, and has supported numerous breastfeeding families throughout her career.
Among her peers, Dr. Montgomery is known as a breastfeeding expert and has assisted numerous health care providers in the medical management of their lactating patients. She is passionate about birth and breastfeeding advocacy, and lectures frequently on these subjects. She was a member of the South Sound Breastfeeding Task Force while living in Olympia.
Dr. Montgomery is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, and a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). She sits on the AAFP Breastfeeding Task Force and participated in the writing of the AAFP position paper on breastfeeding. In addition, Dr. Montgomery was an accredited La Leche League Leader, served as a Medical Associate for La Leche League International and on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
2006 - Jay Fathi, MD
Dr. Jay Fathi is recognized as an outstanding family physician, teacher, and community leader. He currently serves as Chief of Family Medicine at Swedish Medical Center, is a physician at the 45th Street Community Health Clinic, and teaches as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine in the University of Washington Family Medicine Network. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Fathi is a devoted husband and adoring father of two breastfed boys.
As Co-Chair of the Washington Academy of Family Medicine's Committee on School and Child Health, Dr. Fathi garnered support for legislation to protect women's right to breastfeed. He also helped educate fellow physicians about the importance of breastfeeding to maternal and child health.
As the Chair of Family Medicine at Swedish Medical Center, Dr. Fathi's leadership was instrumental to the success of the first day-long lactation training at Swedish last year. He also helped establish and serves as Chair of the Lactation Quality Improvement Committee at Swedish Medical Center. The committee aims to ensure evidenced-based lactation education, policies, and practices at Swedish Medical Center. These activities are significant, as hospital practices and policies strongly influence women's success with breastfeeding.
Dr. Fathi's work to affect policy change and increase support for breastfeeding in the community and within the medical profession, significantly improves the health and well-being of our children and communities.
2005 - MaryAnn O'Hara, MD
Dr. MaryAnn O'Hara, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington, a Board Member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, a member of the United States Breastfeeding Committee, Chair of the WA Academy of Family Physicians' Committee on Child Health, and Co-chair of the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. With graduate degrees in both public health and social anthropology, she has studied scientific and cultural aspects of breastfeeding, and is a noted researcher on breastfeeding issues.
MaryAnn is known as a passionate, articulate, and dedicated advocate for mothers and babies. In addition to caring clinically for families, she works to improve knowledge about and support for maternal-child health and breastfeeding in the medical profession, in the community and in health policies. She helps educate other physicians by mentoring residents, lecturing at medical conferences and contributing to medical literature. She gives hours of her time by providing commentary to the press, appearing on news and radio programs, responding to inaccuracies and unsupportive messages about breastfeeding and attending endless meetings locally, nationally and internationally.
MaryAnn is a key link between breastfeeding advocates, the public, and the scientific community.
As Joan Danison, the other co-chair of the Breastfeeding coalition of Washington shares, "There are few people as humble in attitude, genuine in presentation, and compassionate in action. I feel deeply honored to be counted among her colleagues. She has been and continues to be, a personal mentor and an exemplary model to her fellow medical practitioners."
It is with deep respect that the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington establishes the MaryAnn O'Hara, MD, Physician Leadership Award in honor of Dr. MaryAnn O'Hara. This award will be presented each year to a medical student, resident, or physician who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to maternal and child health through advocacy of breastfeeding education and support in the community, and within the medical profession.