Inside the HMBANA Conference . . .
Every year, I have the pleasure of attending the annual milk banking conference hosted by our accrediting body, the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).
Milk banking is a niche field, and my peer group is small. As a result, it’s especially valuable to spend time in person with colleagues from across the U.S. and Canada. These gatherings strengthen a community already committed to advancing infant health.
This year’s conference brought together more than 200 attendees, including researchers, clinicians, and milk bank professionals from around the world. With an agenda centered on the milk banking ecosystem, sessions explored everything from the commercialization of infant feeding to the global integration of donor milk into newborn care.
This breadth of presentations reflects the scientific rigor behind everything we do.
What it means to be HMBANA-accredited . . .
Often described as nature’s perfect first food, human milk can feel simple and straightforward. And yet, because our donor milk is prioritized for the most medically fragile babies, the standards that guide this work are anything but simple. Every step is grounded in research and designed to ensure safety.
This is what it means to be a HMBANA-accredited milk bank. It’s why hospitals trust our milk while caring for their smallest patients. It’s also why families can depend on us when it matters most.
This year, I was delighted to attend alongside our medical director, Dr. Gina Trachimowicz. A neonatologist who cares for premature babies in neonatal intensive care units, Dr. Trachimowicz understands the critical importance of access to safe donor milk. That firsthand experience is what led her to take on a medical oversight role at our milk bank.
Now, she’s contributing to the body of work that continues to advance milk banking globally, this year presenting on increasing donor milk use in a community hospital setting.
The human side of science . . .
Among the many expert voices, one presentation stood out. Parents Senonca and Van shared their journey with their son, Sevan, who was born at 24 weeks weighing less than 2 lbs. Now two years old, he sat happily nearby as his mother spoke—a quiet testament to the care that supported him early on.
One moment that stayed with me was when she addressed milk donors and their families directly: “You don’t know it, but you are part of our story.” It was a powerful reminder that every donation changes lives.
What comes next . . .
Another highlight of every conference is the opportunity to visit a fellow milk bank.
Over the years, I’ve visited many milk banks, and every one offers something to learn. Ours has spent twenty years growing and evolving, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished.
At the same time, it’s inspiring to see how others have expanded. It shows what more we could do for the families we serve with additional space and scaled-up equipment. Mothers’ Milk Bank WGL is a great example. And we’d be remiss not to mention their “Christopher Walken” walk-in freezer. It was easily one of the more memorable stops along the way.
As we move beyond our 20-year anniversary, I find myself thinking about how far we’ve come—and how much further we can go.
