GOLD Learning Speakers

Dr. Yale Nogin is the creator of The Hero Dad™ Program taught at Piedmont and Kennestone Hospitals in Atlanta, GA and is the author of The Hero Dad’s Infant Manual. He has been teaching classes for expecting, new and adopting fathers over the last 15 years and counting.

His program focuses on empowering men with relevant principles, skills, systems and behaviors that earn respect from their partners which enable the couples to co-create a relaxed home environment. Being a new father with an Infant management system, post-partum support skills, and a system for “listening to understand” help new fathers feel confident and willing to participate early on which helps keep them invested in their family.

Dr. Nogin is passionate about preventing the fatherlessness epidemic from getting worse. The time surrounding birth is a crucial time to equip men with skills to help navigate the many changes and responsibilities that come with being a parent and partner so men want to come home at night.

Yesenia (she/her) graduated from Bastyr University in 2013 with a Master of Science in Midwifery. Bastyr University, a natural medicine school, offers the only regionally accredited Master’s degree for direct- entry midwifery in the nation. She balances this scientific education with ancestral and intuitive knowledge and a respect for informed choice. Currently based in San Antonio, Yesenia is opening her own homebirth practice, Alumbramiento Midwifery, and is active in American Indians of Texas as a Family Health and Wellness Specialist. In addition, she serves on the Midwives Alliance of North America Board as Director of Professional Development. Midwifery is a vehicle to bring positive change into the world. In order for that to happen, we need midwives who are as diverse and the people they hope to serve. In precepting midwifery students, she has strived to be compassionate and exacting to graduate capable midwives who will be a credit to the communities they serve.   

In her free time, you may find her walking with her pup, Yoli, reading, doing crossword puzzles or enjoying good food and company. If she is off-call, chances are she is traveling the world to gain different perspectives on life.

Ying-Tang Ng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Husson University School of Pharmacy in Bangor, Maine. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Wingate University School of Pharmacy in Wingate, NC. Post graduation, Dr. Ng completed her pharmacy practice residency at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, FL and pediatric specialty residency at Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy in Amarillo, TX. Prior to joining Husson University, Dr. Ng practiced at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC as a clinical pharmacist and at Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM) in Detroit, MI as a clinical pharmacy specialist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). At CHM, Dr. Ng also served as the Post-Graduate-Year (PGY-1) residency coordinator for 1st-year residents. Dr. Ng is a Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She is currently an active member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group (PPAG).

Became an RN, 1994. PhD in medical sciences Uppsala University, Sweden, 2012 (The name of the thesis: Kangaroo Mother Care - Parents’ experiences and patterns of application in two Swedish neonatal intensive care units).

Currently one of two Head nurses at the NICU in Uppsala, Sweden and are responsible for nursing care research, education and nursing care improvement. Also an associate professor at Uppsala University. Is an active researcher within research area around neonatal care and has about 30 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Yvonne LeFort has been a family physician for over 25 years and is based in Auckland New Zealand. She is a graduate of Dalhousie Medical School and University of Calgary Family Medicine in Canada. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine since 2013.

She has been involved in helping breastfeeding mothers and babies for 18 years. Her specific interest in tongue tie and its management was nurtured through her association with Dr. Evelyn Jain who was a true pioneer in the recognition of the importance of breastfeeding and the impact that untreated ankyloglossia can cause on the breastfeeding experience.

Dr. LeFort has established a private Breastfeeding Clinic in Auckland New Zealand providing comprehensive lactation care for mothers and their infants. Her service includes the management of tongue tie and involves a lactation consultant for parallel breastfeeding support.