Development of a Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Division Over a Seven-Year Period: An Homage to Dr Ruth A. Lawrence.

Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (BFLM) programs at academic medical centers are uncommon but expanding. Our academic medical center, with a long legacy of leadership in BFLM, established a BFLM program in 2016 and launched a dedicated division in 2022. To describe the strategy, services, measures, and challenges facing our multidisciplinary academic BFLM program in its first 8 years. To support the development of the Division, we proved clinical need, built capacity, and determined key outcomes. We organized partnerships across clinical and research programs and developed leadership and reporting structures. These services and programs coalesced to form the first Division of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine in 2022, including multiple specialties (pediatrics, obstetrics, family medicine, nutrition research, toxicology, public health, dentistry) and provider types (nursing, lactation consultants, physicians, midwife, nurse practitioner, PhD, dentist). Challenges included variable buy-in, staff training, reimbursement, medical record infrastructure, and data reports. Challenges to research included funding and clinical integration. A multidisciplinary BFLM Division at a large academic medical center was formed, spanning our clinical, research, and educational missions. Integration into traditional academic structures brings essential resources, enables participation in medical center leadership, and promotes the sustainability of divisional activities.