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Medical Staff
Christina Smillie MD, FAAP, IBCLC, FABM
Christina Smillie our founding physician, devotes full time to clinical practice at Breastfeeding Resources, while finding occasional time to speak both nationally and internationally. Board certified as both pediatrician and lactation consultant, she is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Dr. Smillie believes strongly in the innate instincts of both the mother and the baby. She has two adult children and one grandchild.
Laurie Rubel APRN, IBCLC
Laurie Rubel has been with us since 2016. Her experience in family medicine at a federally qualified health center in New York City has given her a broad perspective on breastfeeding issues. A thoughtful and experienced clinician, she approaches each family with an inquiring clinical mind and a compassionate heart, helping mothers navigate their complex breastfeeding and feeding issues. The mother of three previously breastfed children, her kids keep her on her toes!
Beth Iovinelli RN, BSN, IBCLC
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Beth Iovinelli comes to us from a large pediatric practice where she served as both a pediatric nurse and director of their lactation program. Beth has been in maternal child health for almost 25 years, and has been certified as an IBCLC since 2000. Her experience as a labor and delivery nurse, a postpartum nurse and lactation consultant, and as RN in a regular pediatric office, keeps us in touch with the real world beyond our walls. She works with us fulltime, and additionally spends a day a week as a nurse lactation consultant at Greenwich Hospital. She is sought out frequently to share her knowledge of breastfeeding and lactation, as teacher and speaker for both mothers and professionals. The mother of two adult children, she loves travel, volunteers every summer as a nurse for the Hole in the Wall Camp for kids with cancer, and sings weekends for a rock ‘n roll band.
Administrative Staff
Lisa Papp Terifay
Lisa Papp Terifay spans both the administrative and clinical sides of our practice. A welcoming and cheerful receptionist, she is both tech savvy and breastfeeding knowledgeable. She takes on a wide variety of techy projects for us, and most importantly, organizes and facilitates our weekly mothers’ support group. The mother of three previously breastfed children, she for many years was a volunteer leader for La Leche League International, giving her broad experience supporting breastfeeding mothers.
Valerie Wilke
Valerie Wilke works part-time to provide BFR with administrative assistance and tech support. She maintains our Patient Portal, which helps our patients to communicate their needs and to understand the services of our practice. She handles a variety of office management tasks and supports the delivery of patient care by interfacing with our medical records company, creating informational materials and building connections to community services. When our Front Desk or Mom’s Group needs back up, Valerie happily fills in. A former La Leche League leader, her passions include childbirth support, parent education and maternal mental health.