GOLD Learning Tongue-tie Online Symposium 2021 - Day 1 Fundamental Skills

Rebecca Russo Hill, PhD, DNP, RN, FNP-C earned her BSN from the University of Rhode Island in 2006, her MSN and post-master’s certificate in nursing education from Duke University in 2010, her DNP from Duke University in 2013 and her PhD in Nursing from Boston College in 2021. Rebecca is a family nurse practitioner and certified as a lactation counselor and nurse educator. She is the current program director of prelicensure nursing programs at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA. Rebecca’s dissertation research focused on symptoms of problematic feeding in infants with tongue-tie. She will collaborate with other health profession disciplines to advance the state of the science surrounding infant feeding, tongue-tie, and frenotomy. Her dissertation research has provided the foundation for a lifelong program of research to improve health care for mothers and their children. She is currently studying the effects of frenotomy on non-nutritive sucking mechanics.

Rebecca is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the National League for Nursing (NLN) and Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). Rebecca resides in Massachusetts, raising three children alongside her husband Jonathan.

Karese, like many parents, suffered in silence while her children struggled with the symptoms of undiagnosed sleep and breathing issues. One visit to a pediatric dentist changed the trajectory of their lives. Already a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Karese, trained with Sandra Holtzman, Lois Laynee and Sarah Hornsby to establish her orofacial myology knowledge. With this initial training and numerous others, in a few short years she has not only resolved all her children's issues, but helped hundreds of patients, children and adults alike, discover how great life can be functioning on full. Her private practice, The Myo Spot is now a leader in the quest for myofunctional therapy awareness and public education. Her latest published book, Accomplished, delves into how to sleep better, eliminate burnout, and execute goals. Karese's mission is to transform and positively impact as many households as possible through dynamic breath, brain and body work.

Leslie has been providing lactation support in Central New Jersey for over 18 years - as a La Leche League (LLL) leader since 2002, an IBCLC at Mercer County WIC from 2014 to 2016, and as a private practice IBCLC since 2011.

Leslie grew up in New York and New Jersey. She graduated from Cook College/Rutgers with a BS in Biochemistry, and from Rutgers University/UMDNJ with a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Leslie's difficulties with early breastfeeding, the help she received from LLL, and challenges with returning to work laid the foundation for her understanding of the importance of skilled and compassionate lactation and infant feeding support.

Melissa Cole is a board-certified lactation consultant, neonatal oral-motor assessment professional and clinical herbalist in private practice. Melissa is passionate about providing comprehensive, holistic lactation support and improving the level of clinical lactation skills for health professional. She enjoys teaching, researching and writing about wellness and lactation-related topics. Her bachelor’s degree is in maternal/child health and lactation and her master’s degree is in therapeutic herbalism. Before pursuing her current path, Melissa’s background was in education and cultural arts, which has served her well in her work as a lactation consultant and healthcare educator. She loves living, working and playing in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her 3 children.

Kate is a Chartered Physiotherapist who works with infants, children and adults with oral myofunctional disorders.

She is Co-Director of the National Tongue Tie Centre where herself and her husband Justin, Consultant Paediatrician, lead a Team offering specialist services in a dedicated family centred environment.

Having trained at the University of Liverpool, she worked in both Leeds and Southampton, where she led and delivered the regional neonatal service for pre-term and high-risk infants, before moving to Ireland. She is a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and is an IBCLC.

Kate has travelled many times over the last few years, mainly to the USA, to undertake further training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy and Autonomic Nervous System Therapeutics.

Justin is a Consultant Paediatrician and a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH) and a Fellow of the Faculty of Paediatrics, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and is registered with the Medical Council (Number 171584) under the Specialist Division for Paediatrics.

He has spent thousands of hours on continuing education having attended numerous conferences and courses on tongue-tie, predominantly in the States, in order to be at the forefront of care for infants, children, and adults. He is also a board member of the International Consortium of Ankyloglossia Professionals (ICAP).

Justin's interest in Tongue Tie dates back to 1999 when his first daughter was born. At 5 days old she had her tongue tie divided in Southampton. Six children and four tongue ties later, he returned to Southampton to start his training in how to divide tongue ties himself. He has been treating tongue ties since 2008 and running a dedicated tongue tie clinic since 2010 and established the National Tongue Tie Centre with his wife Kate, Physiotherapist in 2017. Currently, Justin, Kate and the Team would assess and manage Tethered Oral Tissues in over one thousand children and adults each year.