Q&A: MRT-TI student Hamsa Raman bridges lactation and speech pathology
Hamsa Raman
December 2, 2024
Originally from Cary, North Carolina, Mary Rose Tully Training Institute (MRT-TI) student Hamsa Raman completed her bachelor’s degree at UNC Greensboro in 2020 and master’s degree in Speech Pathology at Hampton University in 2023. She is passionate about integrating lactation consulting with speech-language pathology, particularly in supporting Black and Brown mothers, and addressing pediatric feeding and swallowing challenges. In her free time, Hamsa enjoys working out at OrangeTheory, hanging out with friends, and binge-watching reality TV shows.
What motivated you to apply to MRT-TI and become a lactation student?
I was inspired by the opportunity to address healthcare disparities and combine my expertise in speech-language pathology and lactation to better serve underserved and marginalized communities.
What are your career goals after becoming an IBCLC?
I hope to start my own private practice!
What has been your favorite part of MRT-TI so far?
I’ve loved connecting with like-minded peers while learning about something we are all passionate about. Going to clinicals has been great as we have knowledgeable preceptors who help us learn throughout the day.
Hamsa (far right) and MRT-TI classmates at EISLE simulation lab
What is your experience as an MRT-TI scholar?
I’ve been working on various projects, allowing me to be creative and use the knowledge I have learned in class to make resources for various facilities.
What advice do you have for prospective lactation students?
Stay curious and open to learning, build connections with mentors, and remember the impact of providing compassionate, culturally inclusive care.
Housed within the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, the Mary Rose Tully Training Institute (MRT-TI) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation of the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee. In 2016, MRT-TI earned the distinction of becoming the first accredited Pathway 2 lactation consultant training program in the United States. The program is in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at UNC Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health.
– Hannah Larson
