Scholarship Recipients

Fionnuala Cooney (Dublin, Ireland)

Fionnuala is married with two teenage sons. She is a medical doctor and currently works as a consultant in Public Health Medicine within the Health Service Executive in Dublin, Ireland.

Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world and Fionnuala regards this as a serious public health problem. Fionnuala has been involved in breastfeeding-related research and has been contributing to both policy and clinical support for breastfeeding in Ireland. She is an active member of the BFHI National Breastfeeding Committee and she has also been participating at the local level with both Cuidiú and La Leche League, the two main NGOs involved in volunteer peer breastfeeding counselling services in Ireland.

Fionnuala believes that qualifying as an IBCLC will increase her sphere of influence at the national level in the areas of policy and clinical practice. Her aim is to work with the breastfeeding community to re-establish breastfeeding as the societal norm in Ireland.

Health e-Learning is proud to have supported Fionnuala to reach her goal and she has now successfully achieved certification as an IBCLC in 2019. Congratulations Fionnuala!

Chelsie Robertson (South Auckland, New Zealand)

Chelsie lives in South Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and 3 young sons’ ages 5, 3 and 1.  She has previously been involved with Breastfeeding New Zealand and LLL in a peer counsellor capacity as a mother to mother support person.  This sparked Chelsie’s passion for growing her lactation community in New Zealand. Currently she works as a self-employed primary care midwife, in partnership with women and families, facilitating normal birthing and postnatal care.

Upon successful completion of the IBCLC exam, Chelsie hopes to explore the possibilities of milk banking and milk sharing in New Zealand, focus on being a voice, and advocate for the breastfeeding women around New Zealand.

Health e-Learning proudly supported Chelsie's goal by helping her study during 2014/15 and she successfully achieve certification as an IBCLC in 2015. Congratulations Chelsie!

Denise Rangel-Holbrook (San Antonio, Texas, USA)

Denise lives in San Antonio, Texas with her two kids and husband. She has a strong history working in women's health and a passion for health education. In 2011, after experiencing both the joys and difficulties of breastfeeding, she decided to pursue a path towards becoming an IBCLC. She was accredited as a La Leche League Leader in 2012 and has since helped many mothers on their breastfeeding journey. In 2014 she helped found the Birth and Breastfeeding Alliance, a non-profit organization that provides free health education and support to San Antonio families.

Once qualified as an IBCLC, Denise plans to continue her passion of improving health education and accessibility in her community and looks forward to supporting mothers and babies in her new role.

Health e-Learning proudly supported Denise's goal by helping her study during 2015/17 and she successfully achieve certification as an IBCLC in 2017. Congratulations Denise!

Latonia Anthony (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)

We had a wonderful selection of applicants from many parts of the world this year and again the decision was difficult. We are pleased to annonce the Trudi Szallasi Memorial Scholarship 2013 has been awarded to Latonia Anthony from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA). 

Latonia Anthony is married and has three toddler daughters.   She is a registered nurse, currently working at a long-term care facility.  Although she loves working with seniors, but her passion has always been about working with new mothers and babies.  

She has been a dedicated volunteer for the African American Breastfeeding Network for almost 4 years and serves many roles in the organization, including webmaster, peer advocate & counselor, and advisory council member.  She enjoys educating and empowering families to give their child(ren) the best start in life by breastfeeding.  She would like to become an IBCLC and gain a more extensive understanding of human lactation.  Consequently, she will be a better resource for the families she serves in her urban community.  In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, crafting and going on short road trips.

Health e-Learning proudly supported Latonia's goals by helping her study during 2013/14 and successfully achieve certification as an IBCLC in 2014. Congratulations Latonia!