USLCA is excited to annouce the members of its first ever WHO Code Committee! In 2025, USLCA implemented a WHO Code Committee. The purpose of the WHO Code Committee is to assure that the USLCA remains compliant with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes by reviewing and evaluating potential speakers, sponsors, vendors, and revenue opportunities.
Sponsorship evaluation includes but is not limited to an assessment of organizational websites, WHO Code compliance statements, social media presence, affiliations with other companies, and Code compliance for the specific campaign to be used in USLCA publications.
Speaker evaluation includes but is not limited to a review of website and social media presence, IBLCE application materials, conflicts of interest, any known prior WHO Code violations, and the presence of a personal WHO Code statement.
The rubric utilized for both sponsorship and speaker applications is based on the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and the most updated requirements set forth by IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners).
If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us using the form below.
Dawn Baltz MSN, RNC-NIC, IBCLC, RLC
WHO Code Committee Chair
– Florida –
Dawn Baltz has more than 30 years of experience in nursing with a primary focus on maternal child health. Having experienced her own struggles with breastfeeding and through the support of two IBCLCs, she was able to realize that there was so much more to supporting mothers and their infants. She continued to work with mothers and infants at a hospital that was on a path to Baby Friendly and then at a Children’s hospital (that had a Lactation team) while working on her education and clinical skills hours to sit for her IBCLC. Since becoming an IBCLC, she has continued to work with mothers and infants in a Children’s hospital and currently at a Baby Friendly Initiative Hospital. She is the lactation team leader, provides lactation care to the mothers and infants in an inpatient setting and also in the outpatient office. Mrs. Baltz also triages breastfeeding issues for moms who call the Lactation warm line and provides on-going staff education and guidance on lactation. She has served as the Recording Secretary for the Florida Lactation Consultant Association for 4 years and is currently serving as their treasurer. She is also a participant and Board Member at large for the Tampa Bay Breastfeeding Taskforce.
She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida, a Master’s of Science in Nursing Education from Walden University, is certified in Neonatal Intensive Care nursing and well as being an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.
Nicole Longmire BS, MPH, MAED, IBCLC, PMH-C
Committee Member
– Florida –
Nicole Longmire is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with a background in education and public health. In addition to being a private practice owner in sunny Florida, Nicole has also worked for WIC and in supporting families abroad as a military spouse. She has served as a founding member of the inaugural USLCA WHO Code Compliance Committee and now joins the team as the Professional Development Coordinator. As a public speaker and an outspoken advocate for maternal health and the advancement of the lactation profession, Nicole is looking forward to planning and executing engaging professional development opportunities for USLCA members.
Alanna Kate Cruz, MS, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC
Committee Member
– New York –
Alanna Kate Cruz (she/her) is a public health professional, researcher, writer, organizer, and clinician (an IBCLC and Speech-Language Pathologist). She has more than a decade of experience working with families who require additional support with breastfeeding/lactation, have been diagnosed with pediatric feeding disorders, and experience challenges maintaining adequate nutrition and barriers to accessing healthcare services, due to systemic disadvantages.
She is a doctoral student at Boston University School of Public Health and currently works as a researcher with Duke University Health on a study to understand specific challenges that families face during the NICU to community transition process. She is an Assistant Editor with the Journal of Human Lactation, serves as a Governing Councilor at APHA, and is the Co-Chair for the Feeding Matters Physician Outreach Task Force.
She received her MA in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences from Temple University and MS in Global and Migrant Health Policy from CUNY School of Public Health. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts and will be relocating to Rhode Island in the Summer 2026.
Lourdes Santaballa
MS, IBCLC, FILCA, CLAAS
Committee Member
– Puerto Rico –
Lourdes Santaballa is an activist, organizer, peer counselor, community-based lactation consultant, podcaster, researcher, mentor, and trainer living and working in Puerto Rico. She has previous experience in the domestic violence, housing equity and reproductive rights/infant feeding movements. Lourdes is an IBCLC and has a master’s degree in clinical nutrition. Co-founder of Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI), an intergenerational organization focused on increasing breastfeeding, leadership and training and gender equity in traditionally marginalized communities, with a focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery and against binary and colonialist backlash. She’s an expert on infant and young child feeding in emergencies, food justice and security during the 1000 days, the WHO Code on Marketing, and complex clinical skills in lactation. You can listen to her weekly podcast, Teta y Pecho: Lactancia Interseccional on all of the major platforms.