Susan Fuchs, MS, IBCLC

Program Director/Clinical Instructor

Susan Fuchs is an international board certified lactation consultant with a background in nutrition. She was in one of the first cohorts of Drexel’s Lactation Certificate program while obtaining her graduate degree in nutrition. She was then a preceptor for the program while working at WIC (Women, Infants and Children), an adjunct clinical instructor and is now the program director. Having been part of many aspects of the program, she can see it, not only through the eyes of the faculty but also the students. Through this lens, she works to empower the students to grow their skills and confidence while helping families throughout the clinical sites and the community.

Susan is also a clinical lactation consultant at Jefferson Health NJ and is on their Baby Friendly committee. She is a part of multiple professional lactation organizations, both locally and nationally. She is a board member of LEAARC (Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee), where she works to advance the global development of lactation education with a team of passionate lactation advocates. She also guest lectures and speaks at a variety of events and classes, looking to create an interdisciplinary approach to lactation care.

With a 20-year background of working with special needs children and being a mom herself, Susan looks to empower all families on their feeding journeys, no matter their goal, and provide them education and resources to make the best decisions for their families.

When not working, Susan likes to travel, garden, and spend time in the woods with her daughter.

Jabina Coleman

Jabina Coleman is a reproductive psychotherapist, Black maternal health researcher, and nationally recognized advocate committed to advancing health equity for Black birthing people and families. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice and is an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).

As co-founder of Breastfeeding Awareness & Empowerment (BAE) Culture and the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color, Jabina has led transformative initiatives to bridge the gaps in maternal mental health and lactation support. In her current role as director of health equity, training and quality improvement, she leads institutional change efforts, builds inclusive training curricula and supports the implementation of equity-focused health care programs.

A published author, adjunct professor and sought-after speaker, Jabina is known for her impactful voice in the national conversation on maternal health justice. Her signature phrase, “Everyone wants to hold the baby, who will hold the mother?®”, serves as the foundation of her work—demanding systemic change, amplifying the voices of Black birthing people and creating communities grounded in justice, care and accountability.

Robin Gardiner

Robin Gardiner, MS, RD, IBCLC, brings her experience as both a lactation consultant and a registered dietitian, helping individuals and families develop personalized plans to meet their goals in her respective roles. As a lactation consultant, she works in the hospital setting and collaborates across the care team to support patients in a wide variety of circumstances. As a dietitian, Robin works in the outpatient setting at a private practice, specializing in eating disorders. She prioritizes leading with empathy and compassion with all of her patients and clients, working with people during their most vulnerable days.

Robin is a graduate of the Drexel Lactation program, which she completed as a specialization/concentration of her Master of Science in nutrition and dietetics in 2021. She lives in South Portland, Maine, with her husband and dog, Lupe.

Amanda Gilson

I am a Philadelphia native with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health from Temple University (2007), a diploma in nursing from Aria Health School of Nursing (2012), and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Pennsylvania State University (2013). Since 2015, I have worked at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, primarily in the Neonatal ICU, and have also served as a per diem critical care nurse since the spring of 2023. I was co-chair of the hospital’s breastfeeding committee from 2019 to 2021, where I worked to promote evidence-based breastfeeding practices and support for families.

My passion for lactation support began after my own challenges with breastfeeding following the birth of my first child in 2017. Motivated to help other mothers facing similar struggles, I pursued Drexel University’s lactation program, starting in the fall of 2018. After welcoming my second child in 2019, I applied my growing expertise to achieve a successful breastfeeding journey. Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I completed the program in the summer of 2020 and became an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in December 2020.

Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science in nursing as a women’s health nurse practitioner at Drexel University, with plans to graduate in June. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time at the Jersey Shore with my husband, daughter, son and our beloved pitbull, Skye. I am also an avid crafter and sports enthusiast, finding joy in DIY creative projects and spending time on the soccer and softball fields.