Bellevue Woman’s Center receives international recognition for excellence in lactation care
NISKAYUNA, N.Y. — The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) and the International Lactation Consultant Association® (ILCA®) have recognized Bellevue Woman’s Center for excellence in lactation care.
Part of the Ellis Medicine system, Bellevue Woman’s Center has received the 2026 IBCLC Care Award in recognition for staffing professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) certification and for providing a comprehensive lactation support program for breastfeeding families. In addition, Bellevue demonstrated that it has completed activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
The award is granted for two years ending April 30, 2028.
“This recognition reflects the dedication and compassion of our maternity and lactation teams, who work every day to support mothers, babies, and families during an incredibly important time in their lives,” said Kelsey Munn-Wilson, RD, IBCLC, CDN, Community Lactation Consultant and Community Education Manager at Bellevue. “We are deeply committed to providing family-centered care and ensuring families have access to the education, support, and resources they need both during their hospital stay and after they return home.”
Neelam Jawad, MBBS, MCPS, IBCLC, Chair of the Board of Directors of IBLCE, recently shared, “IBCLCs bring skilled, compassionate care to families during some of their most vulnerable moments. They provide more than clinical support—they offer reassurance, confidence, and compassion when it matters most. We proudly recognize and deeply appreciate the CARE Award recipients for the heartfelt difference they make every day.”
IBCLCs focus on preventive care, so they are available during pregnancy to assess and provide information on how to successfully initiate breastfeeding. They continue that assistance after the baby is born by helping families overcome breastfeeding challenges, providing accurate information, and continuing to support them as their baby grows. They assist families returning to work or school, help families in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby or nursing a sick or premature infant, and help train nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.
“Congratulations to the 2026 IBCLC Care Award recipients!” said Maxine Scringer-Wilkes BN, MN, RN, IBCLC, President of ILCA. “Thank you for your continued commitment to promoting, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding by employing IBCLCs.”
Bellevue Woman’s Center is the only facility in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area currently recognized with the IBCLC Care Award. Bellevue is the Capital Region’s only stand-alone women’s health facility and is known for its personalized, family-centered approach to maternity care. It offers a full spectrum of support services for growing families, including childbirth education, lactation support, and coordinated maternal and newborn care.
“This recognition reflects Bellevue’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional, compassionate care for mothers, babies, and families across every stage of the childbirth experience,” said Bellevue Site Director Ashley Dobbs. “From our nurses and lactation consultants to our physicians, midwives, and support staff, this award speaks to the collaborative, family-centered culture we work hard to create every day.”
For more information about Bellevue Women’s Center, visit bellevuedelivers.com.
ABOUT ELLIS MEDICINE
Ellis Medicine is a 438-bed community and teaching healthcare system serving New York’s Capital Region. With five campuses — Ellis Hospital, Bellevue Woman’s Center, State Street Health Center, Mohawk Harbor and the Medical Center of Clifton Park — and approximately 2,700 employees, Ellis Medicine is proud to provide a lifetime of care for patients. Ellis offers an extensive array of inpatient and outpatient services — including cardiac, cancer, emergency, mental health, and women’s services.