GOLD Speakers

Mariana Colmenares Castaño, MD, IBCLC

• Country: UK

Biography:

I was born in Mexico City, and from an early age I was fascinated by animals and nature. I studied medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), and found my passion as a pediatrician doing my residency at the National Pediatric Institute. When my first child was born I witnessed the lack of knowledge and commitments with breastfeeding within the medical profession so I decided to specialize in breastfeeding medicine. Certified as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2011. I am member of the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and a proud founding member of the National Lactation Consultant Association of Mexico (ACCLAM), where I served on the Board of Directors as Education Coordinator (2014-2019). I am part of board director for the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine for 3 year period (2019-2022) and recently named as secretary for the ABM.
I am member of the team for Breastfeeding Country Index BFCI, a project from Yale University and Universidad Iberoamericana. I am consultant for the National Health Institute in Mexico and have collaborated with UNICEF in breastfeeding projects and part of the steering committee for the WHO. I have speak at national and international conferences, co-published numerous articles and co-authored a chapter for the National Academy of Medicine. My commitment is contribute to a medical profession better prepared to support breastfeeding and support students to become IBCLC.