Media Advisory – For Planning Purposes – July 2, 2021
Press Contacts:
Tricia Piper-Bennett
Email: patricia@telegraphpr.com
Phone: 415-914-5511
Dr. Diana Lee
Email: dianalee@thewomendoctors.com
Phone: 626-484-1099
LAC+USC opens additional lactation space to support new moms working in healthcare
Los Angeles– On Friday, new moms working at LAC-USC Medical Center will have a new lactation space to privately and comfortably express milk for their infants.
“When I began my residency program as a new mom three years ago, I struggled to find space and time to pump in the hospital,” Dr. Diana Lee, a graduating ophthalmology resident physician and founder of The Women Doctors said. “I knew that my colleagues must be facing similar challenges, but that this was a problem with a tangible solution.”
The new lactation lounge is a result of Dr. Lee and The Women Doctors’ advocacy work, supported by her union, the Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU, to improve the culture surrounding lactation and the transition back to clinical duties. The opening of this lactation lounge demonstrates the significance of clean, private and comfortable lactation space for employees, as well as the understood ROI for employers.
Who: Dr. Diana Lee and Dr. Lawrence M. Opas, LAC-USC Designated Institutional Official, will mark the opening of the lactation lounge with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
What: 17% of female physicians in a 2020 Medscape survey noted concerns around combining parenthood and work. For many new moms, private lactation rooms are critical to promote the health of both mom and baby. Recognizing the need for an additional space, doctors worked with LA County and the hospital administration to complete this project.
Where: LAC-USC Medical Center 2051 Marengo St, Los Angeles, CA 90033. The lactation lounge is located on the 5th floor near the operating rooms.
When: Friday, July 2, 3pm.
Please wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
The Women Doctors is a network created for ambitious women doctors and their allies to identify and solve problems that women face in their professional and personal lives. We work together to inspire positive cultural change in our communities.
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. A local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 18,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
#####
