CURRICULUM: NDC Lactation Fellowship module topics + guest speakers
| Module # | Module title | Guest speaker contribution: video + transcript |
|---|---|---|
| PART A | LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE | |
| 1A | Evolutionary context: Homo sapiens + lactation | |
| 2A | Sociocultural & historical contexts + quotidian patterns of breastfeeding | Dr Julie Smith; Ms Maureen Minchin |
| 3A | Functional anatomy of suck and swallow + airway protection | Dr Nikki Mills |
| 4A | The milk ejection reflex | Assoc/Prof Felicity Davis |
| 5A | Functional anatomy, physiology, mechanobiology of lactation | |
| 6A | Regulation of mammary gland secretion: models and mechanisms | Professor Donna Geddes |
| 7A | Milk composition, mammary microbiomes, and the maternal-infant immune system | Dr Sharon Perrella |
| 8A | Protecting infant development | Professor Jeanine Young; Dr Sharon Perrella; Professor Helen Ball |
| 9A | Whole woman, parent + family care: complexity, transdisciplinary generalism, patient-centred communication | Assoc/Prof Johanna Lynch |
| PART B | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT + MANAGEMENT OF THE MOST COMMON LACTATION-RELATED PRESENTATIONS | |
| 10B | Antenatal preparation for breastfeeding | Dr Stuart Prosser |
| 11B | Initiation of breastfeeding: the first three weeks post-birth | Dr Danielle Freeman (podcast) |
| 12B | Fit & hold: advanced clinical interventions | |
| 13B | Nipple-areolar complex pain, inflammation, and wounds | |
| 14B | Restricted oral connective tissues in infants | Dr Nikki Mills |
| 15B | The fussy breastfed infant + conditioned sympathetic nervous system hyperarousal | |
| 16B | Synchronising breast milk production with infant (or multiple infants') caloric need | Dr Zoya Gridneva |
| 17B | Breast inflammation (stroma): engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis | |
| PART C | ADVANCED ASSESSMENT + MANAGEMENT OF OTHER LACTATION-RELATED PRESENTATIONS | |
| 18C | Breast inflammation (stroma): abscess, galactocoele, phlegmon, fistula | Dr Adam Ofri |
| 19C | Breast imaging in pregnancy + lactation, benign breast disease, idiopathic granulomatous mastitis | Dr Adam Ofri (here & here) |
| 20C | The preterm infant | Dr Sharon Perrella |
| 21C | Infant medical conditions | Dr Leigh Campbell |
| 22C | Perinatal mental health and emotional wellbeing | Dr Johanna Lynch; Dr Rob Purssey; Dr Anita Elias (presenting Tues 15 Sept 26) |
| 23C | Maternal medical conditions | Dr Kate Rassi (here, here & here); Professor Donna Geddes; Professor Pamela Berens (presenting Tues 11 Aug 26); Dr Leigh Campbell (here & here) |
| 24C | Maternal medications + supplements | Associate Professor Treasure McGuire |
| 25C | Maternal nutrition + alcohol | Assoc/Prof Treasure McGuire, Professor Donna Geddes |
| 26C | Non-puerperal induction of lactation, relactation, donor milk | |
| PART D | NURTURING THE EVOLUTION OF COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CLINICAL WISDOM | |
| 27D | Overmedicalisation, paramedicalisation, and overtreatment of the breastfeeding woman and her infant | |
| 28D | Implementation science, interpreting research, pedagogy | Professor Donna Geddes |
| 29D | Ethics, business, and the WHO Code |
Related resources
About The NDC Lactation Fellowship
The NDC Lactation Fellowship: what makes it different
The NDC Lactation Fellowship: upskilling leaders in lactation medicine
The NDC Lactation Fellowship: cost and comparisons
NDC Lactation Fellowship Curriculum (Transitioning from interim 2024-25 curriculum to the final 2026 curriculum)