2025 Conference
Alaska Lactation: Gaining Skills to Support Traditional Feeding
Agenda
Alaska Lactation: Gaining Skills to Support Traditional Feeding
Thursday, April 24th, 2025
0800
Sign in & settle in
Registration table outside of room; Light breakfast options inside room
0815 - 0830 Welcome to the Land & Opening
TBD
Native Land acknowledgement & welcome message from President
0830 - 0930 Data Movement - Current State of Breastfeeding in Alaska
Kathy Perham-Hester, MS, MPH Alaska PRAMS Coordinator
0930 - 0945 BREAK
0945 - 1100 Medications & Breastfeeding: What Healthcare Professionals Should Know
Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP (75 minutes)
1100 - 1215 Galactagogues
Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP (75 minutes)
1215 - 1330 LUNCH Provided
1330 - 1445 Common Digestive Skills, Useful Support Strategies
Melissa Cole, IBCLC (75 minutes)
1445 - 1600 Milk Production Detective Skills
Melissa Cole, IBCLC (75 minutes)
1600 - 1615 BREAK
1615 - 1730 Alaska Native Birthworkers Community - Cultural Competency
Helena Jacobs and Katrina Leary
NETWORKING SESSION AFTER
Friday, April 25th, 2025
0815 - 0845 Mixer/Ice breaker
0845 - 1000 Evaluating Beyond Frenulum: Assessment & Activities for Supporting Optimal Infant Oral Function
Melissa Cole, IBCLC (75 minutes)
1000 - 1015 BREAK
1015 - 1130 Beyond the Basics of Latch: Case Studies for Critical Thinking Skills
Melissa Cole, IBCLC (75 minutes)
1130 - 1200 Annual ABC Membership Meeting
Heidi Koslo, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, IBCLC
1200 - 1315 LUNCH Provided
1315 - 1430 The Recreational Drug/Marijuana Dilemma
Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP (75 minutes)
1430 - 1545 Breastfeeding Guidelines for Non-prescription Drugs & Everyday Products
Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA, CPHP
1545 -1600 BREAK
1600 - 1630 Evaluations for CEs
Meet Dr. Frank Nice
Dr. Frank J. Nice has practiced as a consultant, lecturer, and author on medications and breastfeeding for over 50 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy Administration, Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Public Administration, and Certification in Public Health Pharmacy. He retired after 43 years of government service, including 30 years of distinguished service with the US Public Health Service, 29 years at the Clinical Neurosciences Program, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health; and five years at the Food and Drug Administration. He currently is self-employed as a consultant and President, Nice Breastfeeding LLC and President, Dr. Nice Products LLC. Dr. Nice has authored ten books; over four dozen peer-reviewed articles on the use of prescription medications, recreational drugs, Over-the-Counter (OTC) products, and herbals during breastfeeding; in addition to book chapters. As part of his pharmacy advocacy work, he has researched the use of power, epilepsy treatments, medical missions, work characteristics of healthcare professionals, and health disparities in underserved populations, He has organized over 70 medical missions to Haiti and has been on the ground in Haiti 24 times. During his time in Haiti, Dr. Nice founded and continues to support a school and orphanage for 550 students, including over 50 live-in orphans. Thirty-six of the students and orphans now have the opportunity to go to universities in Haiti to pursue careers in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, agronomy, and public administration after graduating from the school/orphanage. These students are the hope for Haiti in their divisive times.


Meet Melissa Cole, IBCLC
Melissa Cole is a board-certified lactation consultant, neonatal oral-motor assessment professional and clinical herbalist in private practice. Melissa is passionate about providing comprehensive, holistic lactation support and improving the level of clinical lactation skills for health professionals. She enjoys researching and writing, especially on topics such tongue tie and botanical medicine. Her bachelor’s degree is in maternal/child health and lactation and her master’s degree is in therapeutic herbalism. Before pursuing her current path, Melissa’s background was in education and cultural arts, which has served her well in her work as a lactation consultant and healthcare educator. She loves living, working and playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her 3 children.