About Us

In 2005, Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank, Inc., was established to improve health outcomes for premature and ill infants, foster better health for Indiana’s children and decrease health care expenditures. The milk bank receives human milk from carefully screened donors, pasteurizes, freezes and distributes it throughout Indiana and the Midwest. As a non-profit, community-supported entity, IMMB is the first and only donor human milk bank in Indiana.

For some, mothers’ milk is a gift like no other. As part of a nationwide network of lactating mothers working to help infants in need of human milk, we give these mothers a way to share the gift that only they can provide—the medicine-like mothers’ milk that ailing infants and others thrive on for life-giving nutrition.

Strategies:

1) Increase availability of pasteurized donor human milk for ill and premature infants
2) Recruit and screen potential human milk donors
3) Provide pasteurized donor human milk processed according to Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) guidelines
4) Educate the community about enhanced health outcomes for infants receiving human milk
5) Increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding in Indiana
6) Facilitate research with human milk and subsequent health outcomes

While the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank is still in its early years and holds a future rich in promise and potential, the history of the milk bank is abundant with loyalty to our mission, progress and growth. The milk bank is supported by various community partners, grants and individuals who donate everything from financial support and sponsorship to rocking chairs and human milk.
Support from mothers who contribute milk, volunteers who contribute time and community partners who contribute financial support and in-kind donations has allowed us to flourish. We have distributed thousands of ounces of milk to hundreds of babies and others who need it to survive—and we’ve only just begun.

With seven milk drop-off sites across Indiana (and growing!) and community partners across the Midwest, we’re expanding our reach and planning for a future of sustainability. As a result, we outgrew our original office and moved into our new, 3,000 square foot facility in May 2010. With thousands of ounces of milk passing through our offices each month, we continue to expand our reach throughout the Midwest, our vision for the future and our commitment to sharing the gift of mothers’ milk.

Staff

Janice Sneider O’Rourke, MPA, RD, Executive Director

Since 2007, I have served as the Executive Director of the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank. I have a long history of advocacy for infant and child nutrition and health care. I received my Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University, completed my Dietetic Internship at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan and have been a Registered Dietitian for over 23 years. I received my Master of Public Affairs from IUPUI, and am currently a PhD Candidate in Philanthropic Studies through the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. I spent over 11 years in public service with both the Arkansas Department of Health and the Indiana State Department of Health before I moved to the nonprofit sector. I see the milk bank as the perfect blending of my interest in infant nutrition, my love for public health, and my knowledge of nonprofit organizations. I see the potential to create better health outcomes for infants and children as I work to help the IMMB reach our greatest potential through growth and expansion and progress towards a time when all babies that need it will have access to the gift of mother’s milk.

Carissa Hawkins, BA, Donor Outreach Coordinator

I am a breastfeeding Mama! I am also a Donor! I’m responsible for all things donor: community outreach,marking communication and most importantly shepherding potential donors through the approval process. I graduated from IUPUI with a Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies. Since graduation, I’ve been working in care coordination for a healthcare company but I am so thankful to be using my skills for such a worthy population. Aside from spending time with my new baby girl, I volunteer with the Junior League of Indianapolis. Feel free to contact me: chawkins@immb.org

 

Terry Jo Curtis, IBCLC, Pasteurization Coordinator

The mammalian philosophy of human milk for human babies is a well-defined holistic statement I use to make a healthy point on breastfeeding. Realizing every woman was created to breastfeed, there are circumstances that occur that prohibit mothers from producing this life-saving resource for their babies. IMMB fills this need by providing pasteurized donor human milk to inpatients and outpatients in need. Working as the IMMB Pasteurization Coordinator allows me to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of the human milk we distributed. This is the important bridge that fulfills the link to premature or ill babies who need pasteurized donor human milk when moms cannot use their own human milk for various reasons.

In addition to my work at IMMB, I am the founder of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition. Together with organizations such as IMMB, the IBBC strives to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in the African-American community.

Board of Directors

John P. Countryman, WMS
Countryman Wealth & Asset Management of RAYMOND JAMES
IMMB Board Chair
Through my planning practice, I work with my clients to develop intergenerational planning strategies for their families.  What could be more important than ensuring that future generations of children have the opportunity to begin their lives with the nourishment provided through mothers’ milk?  Promoting and educating mothers on the many benefits of breastfeeding extends two generations back within my family beginning with my grandmother, Betty Ann Countryman, one of the early and organizing members of the La Leche League and former IMMB board member.  The work of the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank represents an extension of the efforts of the La Leche League as we endeavor to deliver mothers’ milk to infants and families who otherwise would not have this option available to them.

 

Mica Wilson
IMMB Board Vice Chair
I joined the board of the Indiana Mother’s Milk Bank in January of 2010 because I believe in the health benefits of human milk for babies, which translates to healthy children, and in turn, a healthy community.  I enjoy the board because it is a dynamic group of people from physicians, to lactation specialists, to business people, to moms like me.  Our mission to provide the best possible nutrition for ill and premature infants is what drew me in, and knowing that we provide a service that is so valuable for families at stressful times in their lives is what keeps me engaged.

 

Mary-Ann Schmutte, IBCLC
La Leche League Leader
IMMB Board Secretary
I have been working with breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 30 years.  Joining the board of IMMB was for me, a natural extension of my interest. I enjoy being a part of a collaborative effort of professionals from various fields all working toward a common goal of helping infants receive the benefits of human milk.

Howard B. Harris, M.D.
Neonatologist, Retired
IMMB Medical Director
A founding board of directors member and current Medical Director, I have been involved with IMMB since its establishment, which marked a great achievement for improving the health of our state’s infants and children.  As director of the Methodist NICU for many years, we used PDHM almost exclusively for all our preterm infants. It is extremely well tolerated and our rate of NEC was very low.  Several studies have shown that this decreased incidence of NEC is related to the use of human milk.  Our preemies grew quite well because of less need to cut back on feeds due to feeding intolerance.

 

Mary Weber, MSN, NEA-BC
Director, Maternal and Child Health
Indiana State Department of Health
IMMB Immediate Past Board Chair
As a founding board member of IMMB and the immediate past president, I have been extremely involved with the organization since its inception.  I currently serve as the Director of the Division of Maternal and Children Health for the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) and have over twenty years of experience in leadership roles in the maternal and child health field.  I am a Registered Nurse, received my Master’s degree in Nursing Administration from Indiana University, and am a board-certified Nurse Executive Advanced.  Throughout my career, and currently at ISDH, I strive to develop community partners in addressing not only access to quality health care, but also the social, emotional, environmental, and economic determinants that affect the health of our community.
My strong belief that collaboration drives innovation transcends through my personal and professional lives, actively serving on many volunteer boards, including the Indiana Perinatal Network, the Indiana University National Center of Excellence for Women’s Health, and Covering Kids & Families.

 

Steven S. Ivy, PhD
Senior Vice President
Indiana University Health
It has been my privilege to serve as a founding Board Member of IMMB.  The work of the IMMB improves the health and lives of our most vulnerable infants; this is a very high calling!  One of my favorite aspects of my Board responsibilities focuses on recruiting and orienting new Board Members to our responsibilities to sustain and enhance this important work.  IMMB is indeed worthy of contributions of money and time because of its outstanding results.

 

Marya Strand, MD, MS
Medical Director, University Hospital Nurseries
Indiana University School of Medicine
I am a neonatologist at IU Health and more importantly, the mother of four boys.  I have been on the Board of Directors since IMMB began and have loved seeing the growth of the organization.  I get the unique and rewarding experience of seeing first-hand the benefits of delivering pasteurized donor human milk to premature and ill infants in the NICU.

 

Brianne Kirkpatrick, MS, CGC
St. Vincent Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetics
As the mother of two young children and a prenatal genetic counselor at St. Vincent Women’s Hospital, I appreciate the niche that the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank fills for babies and mothers in need of human donor breast milk. I was a “donor mom” for the IMMB during my first child’s first year of life, never expecting that later I would have need for my second child to be a human donor breast milk recipient due to complications both she and I experienced after delivery. I am very grateful for the existence of the IMMB and am pleased by the opportunity to both learn and share by serving on the Board of Directors.

 

Margie Pyron  MS, RN, LCCE
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Women & Children Services
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital
I am currently a Clinical Nurse Specialist at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.  As a recent addition to the IMMB Board of Directors, I am excited to be involved in one of our state’s hidden health care treasures.  During my 24-year nursing career I have witnessed the struggles and successes of premature babies trying to survive. With my specialty being maternal and child health, I cannot imagine better experiences than being involved in improving the health and well-being of these babies through the work IMMB does every day. Available breast milk can be the life line for survival.

 

Aly Schroeder
IMMB Education, Outreach, & Promotion Committee Chair
I am a busy mother of two who, after ten years in broadcast news, left my career in television to focus more on my family. In addition to being fully involved in my children’s lives, this time has given me the chance to work with several amazing organizations, IMMB included. I really enjoy sharing my media and public relations knowledge in order to help draw attention to the wonderful things happening in Indianapolis. In addition to my board position, I am also a member of the Junior League of Indianapolis and part of the marketing committee for my boys’ school.  As a former breastfeeder, I am proud to be a part of the Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank and help spread the word about the great work they do in support of breastfeeding and the use of human milk.

 

Susan Para, IBCLCr
La Leche League Leader
I am a mother of six children, including twins, who were all breastfed babies.  With my first child, I knew very little about nursing – we just did it, and luckily had very few problems.  When my second child was very little, I was harassed for nursing in public and thus my advocacy for nursing mothers, children and human milk in general was born.  I am a La Leche League Leader, Certified Birth Doula, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.  I currently serve on the La Leche League Alliance for Breastfeeding Education staff as the Continuing Education Credentialing Administrator and as the Area Coordinator of Leaders for La Leche League of Indiana.  Working with the IMMB Board I will continue to serve the mothers and babies in the community, ensuring mother’s milk is available for those in need.

 

Melissa Harkins-Rose, RN, JD
Insurance Operations/CHRRG
Indiana University Health
I am a registered nurse and attorney working for Indiana University Health.  Most importantly, I am a mother of two healthy and beautiful girls—both testaments to the benefits of breast milk.  I am excited to serve on the IMMB board of directors to help make safe donor breast milk accessible and available to families and babies in need of the best nutrition on earth.

Contact Us

Indiana Mothers’ Milk Bank
4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 120
Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
phone (317) 536 – 1670
toll free (877) 829 – 7470
fax (317) 536 – 1676
info@immb.org
View Larger Map