Lactation Consultants

Pat Shelly

Pat Shelly is the founder and director of The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, ASPO Certified Lamaze Instructor, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, and Registered Nurse, Pat has over 25 years of experience in women’s and children’s health. Her background includes work in military hospitals, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Columbia Hospital for Women, corporate and community outreach, home visits, and private practice. Known in the community as “The Breast Whisperer”, she has appeared numerous times in local and national media. She received her BSN from DePaul University and a Masters in Health Care Management from Webster University.

Leslie Axelrod

Leslie D. Axelrod, M.S., R.D., I.B.C.L.C. has worked in the field of Maternal and Child health for the past 20 years.  She has been a certified Lactation Consultant since 2004.  During her career she worked as a pediatric dietitian at the Mayfair Medical Association.   She was also a nutrition educator and worked with a culturally diverse population for the Fairfax County Health Department in the Women, Infants and Children Program.  Leslie’s calm spirit and confidence building attitude make her an effective Lactation Consultant.  She enjoys her practice and welcomes follow up conversations with her clients.

Gina Boling

Gina Boling truly embodies the term ‘multitasker’! Raising three kids, she spends a lot of time working with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and cheering on T-ball teams. Before coming to the Breastfeeding Center in January 2011, Gina spent several years working with new moms and infants in a variety of settings. After spending time working as a La Leche League leader and working in a local hospital assisting new moms with lactation needs, she arrived at The Breastfeeding Center. In her position here she teaches two of the Center’s popular classes. She developed and started the Center’s Supporting the Breastfeeding Mother class and also teaches the Breastfeeding Your Toddler 1 year+. She can also be found in our consultation room providing hands on lactation support for new moms. She felt called to helping other mothers with breastfeeding after she breastfed her own three children including her own set of twins.

Debra Swank

Debra Swank began her career in health care as a registered nurse in 1982, working for many years with infants, children, and young adults with genetic and chronic health problems through West Virginia’s Children With Special Health Care Needs Program.  For the past 17 years, Debbie has worked exclusively in the lactation field, receiving education and completing a lactation internship through Vergie Hughes’ esteemed program, Lactation Education Resources.  As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Debbie enjoys all aspects of lactation consulting, and has a keen interest in the neuroscience of motor learning and motor control for infant milk-feeding skills at the breast.  Debbie is the mother of two adult daughters, the mother-in-law of two sons-in-law, and the grandmother of six most wonderful little ones.