From Research to Clinical Care
How the UC Davis Maternal and Child Nutrition Master’s Program Prepares Future IBCLCs
This month, we are celebrating World Breastfeeding Month by sharing one student's path from bench researcher to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
For many graduate students, doctoral training focuses on generating new knowledge through research. But at UC Davis, students interested in maternal and child health have an opportunity to go one step further by learning how to translate that research into meaningful support for families.
The UC Davis Department of Nutrition offers a Master of Advanced Study in Maternal and Child Nutrition (MCN). A distinguishing feature of the program is its comprehensive lactation curriculum, coursework and clinical internships providing a pathway toward becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
For recent graduate Dr. Alana Chaney, the MCN program became an integral part of her doctoral and career journey.
Shifting Passion in Nutrition Research
Alana Chaney, MS, PhD, IBCLC, discovered the UC Davis community as a masters student intern in the University of California Plant Agricultural Biology Graduate Admissions Pathways, or PABGAP, program. During her summer internship, she was introduced to the Graduate Group in Nutrition Biology and the faculty involved in translation and nutrition policy research. Desiring to move beyond bench science, she found her true passion was conducting research that had a more direct connection to improving people's lives.
"Their research helped me see that nutrition could be studied in a way that connected more directly to people, communities, and public health," Chaney said. "That was what ultimately drew me to UC Davis."
Discovering the Masters in Maternal and Child Nutrition Program
While pursuing her doctorate, Chaney found out about the Masters in Maternal and Child Nutrition Program from a fellow PhD student and friend, who had recently earned their IBCLC credential. She was immediately intrigued.
"What stood out to me was the opportunity to gain both specialized knowledge and hands-on clinical experience in maternal and infant nutrition," Chaney said. "While my PhD training gave me the skills to research breastfeeding and other maternal and child health issues, the MCN program allowed me to better understand how that knowledge is applied when working directly with families."
The MCN program combines coursework in maternal nutrition, infant feeding, and mentored clinical placements that prepare students to sit for the IBCLC exam.
Connecting Research to Real World Care
For Chaney, becoming an IBCLC means being able to support families in a way that is closely connected to her community and issues she cares deeply about.
Historically Black mothers in the United States experience lower rates of breast-feeding. "My desire to better serve my community inspired me to pursue the IBCLC credential," she said. "Becoming a trusted source of support for families was very important to me."
Her doctoral research and clinical research experiences complemented each other in unexpected ways.
Chaney's dissertation focused on individual and community factors and their association with breastfeeding outcomes. Working directly with families helped her understand and see those factors first hand, something she notes she would not have gained from literature reviews and data analysis alone.
During clinical rotations she worked with families with a range of backgrounds and experiences including same-sex couples, migrant families and families formed through surrogacy. These valuable experiences reinforced that lactation support is never one size fits all.
"When families feel seen and understood, it helps build trust and makes the care much more meaningful," Chaney said.
Building Better Researchers and Clinicians
By completing her PhD and clinical training simultaneously, Chaney was constantly engaging in conversations with location professionals that sparked new research questions based on first hand experiences from her colleagues. These experiences solidified her commitment to improving the collaboration between researchers and clinicians.
“Bringing those perspectives together can help ensure that breastfeeding research is better targeted to families’ needs.”
Maintaining a Maternal and Child Health Research Perspective
Having just completed her PhD, the MCN program, and successfully passing the IBCLC examination, Chaney has begun the next chapter of her career as a 2026 Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There, she works with the Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control Team, conducting nutrition research with broad public health impact.
Looking back, she encourages students interested in lactation and maternal-child health to take advantage of the opportunities the MCN program offers.
"My advice would be to go for it," she said. "Becoming an IBCLC is challenging, but it is also a very rewarding experience. Push yourself during your clinical training, ask questions, and seek opportunities to work in different lactation settings. You can learn a great deal from coursework and mentors, but families will also teach you so much."
For students interested in careers in nutrition, lactation, healthcare, or public health, the UC Davis Masters in Maternal and Child Nutrition Program offers more than a pathway to the IBCLC credential. It provides an opportunity to connect research with evidence-based care and prepares graduates to improve the health of mothers, infants, and families wherever their careers take them.