Katrina B. Mitchell

Trained in a rigorous New York City surgery program and later in breast oncology at the country’s top cancer center, Dr. Katrina B. Mitchell was headed toward a career in academic medicine. But after becoming a single mother who returned to work at five weeks postpartum, breastfeeding provided the lifeline to her tiny infant at home and resulted in a career-altering turn. Alongside her surgical practice, she began to build a large breastfeeding medicine and lactation clinic as well as to pursue further training to treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Today, she is the world’s expert on the intersection of lactation with surgery and breast cancer, and has authored over fifty academic manuscripts and multiple book chapters. She has lectured in Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia and is a frequent speaker with the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Described as a “force of positive disruption in the lactation world,” Dr. Mitchell uses her unparalleled breast expertise to challenge age-old misconceptions and advocate for change in the field. Her website, The Physician Guide to Breastfeeding, has become a leading resource for physicians, lactation consultants, and new families alike.