Pediatrician Rima L. Strassman, MD, Medical Director of Lactation Services at St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network (SLUHN) and St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital, is among the first group of physicians to become board-certified in breastfeeding and lactation medicine.<\/p>\n
Dr. Strassman was one of about 100 physicians in the U.S. and Canada to pass the Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine pilot certification exam with the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine, which she took in October. Dr. Strassman is the only physician in the region to earn this certification.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been practicing breast-feeding medicine for many years, and this makes it a valid board specialty,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As a specialist in breastfeeding and lactation, Dr. Strassman helps parents and their newborns who may be having difficulty transferring milk diagnose the reason and find a solution. She said the new board certification will help elevate breastfeeding in medical schools. \u201cSt. Luke\u2019s is a big teaching hospital,\u201d she said, \u201cand we have the opportunity to have someone like me teach the next generation physicians more about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Strassman, a pediatrician at St. Luke\u2019s Quakertown Pediatrics, sees breastfeeding patients the St. Luke\u2019s Baby & Me Support Center. As St. Luke\u2019s delivery program continues to grow the demand for breastfeeding support services has increased. St. Luke\u2019s has expanded the services available through the Baby & Me Support Center to Center Valley and Palmerton and has added additional physician and lactation consultant coverage to meet our patients\u2019 needs. Post partum emotion support is also available through the Baby & Me program as well as various support groups and education classes for moms and families.<\/p>\n
Anne Eglash, MD, President of the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine, said Dr. Strassman\u2019s passing the exam \u201cis a testament to her dedication, expertise, and passion for providing the highest standard of care for lactating (parent-child) dyads.\u201d<\/p>\n
About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872,\u00a0St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 300+ outpatient sites.\u00a0 With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.\u00a0 In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school campus.\u00a0 It also operates the nation\u2019s longest continuously operating School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 45 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 400 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke\u2019s, a member of the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.<\/p>\n SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s\u00a0five-star<\/em>\u00a0ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.\u00a0 It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades\u00a0Top Hospital<\/em>\u00a0and a Newsweek World\u2019s\u00a0Best Hospital<\/em>.\u00a0 The Network\u2019s flagship University Hospital has earned the\u00a0100 Top Major Teaching Hospital<\/em>\u00a0designation from Fortune\/PINC AI 11 times total and eight years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.\u00a0 In 2021, St. Luke\u2019s was identified as one of the\u00a015 Top Health Systems<\/em>\u00a0nationally.\u00a0 Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the\u00a0Most Wired<\/em>\u00a0award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. \u00a0The Network is also recognized as one of the state\u2019s lowest cost providers.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by:<\/p>\n Sam Kennedy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pediatrician Rima L. Strassman, MD, Medical Director of Lactation Services at St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network (SLUHN) and St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital, is among the first group of physicians to … Continue reading SLUHN Pediatrician among First to Pass New Exam for Breastfeeding and Lactation<\/span>