Equitable Lactation Care in Minnesota:
Perspectives from Research and Community Action

While Minnesota's breastfeeding initiation, continuation, and exclusivity rates are among the highest in the United States, we see large disparities by race and ethnicity. This presentation will offer an overview of current statistics on breastfeeding and breastfeeding support in Minnesota; share key results of research on inequitable breastfeeding during the hospital stay within one hospital system in Minnesota; and highlight efforts of the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition and its members as they work toward creating environments where breastfeeding is valued and supported to achieve natural infant feeding equity in all Minnesota communities.

Speaker Bio:

Tiffany (Tipper) Gallagher (PhD, IBCLC) is a breastfeeding researcher currently using electronic health records to examine inequitable breastfeeding care during the postpartum hospital stay. She earned her doctorate in Nursing and a graduate minor in Public Health from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in May 2025, and is currently a President's Postdoctoral Fellow in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Tipper has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 2015, and spent 6 years as a clinical lactation consultant at Hennepin Healthcare and in private practice. In addition to her research, she works part-time as the Interim Executive Director of the Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition. Tipper lives in New Ulm, Minnesota, with her partner, their blended family, three cats, and two dogs.

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MPHA Health Equity Committee meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of the month from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Currently all meetings are virtual. Meetings are open to MPHA members and non-members who want to learn more and take action on advancing health equity in Minnesota. 

For more information about the Health Equity Committee,  please email healthequity@mpha.net and we will get back to you! The committee is co-chaired by Madison Anderson, Erica Fishman, and Sara Rogers.