NYLCA Board

The officers of the Executive Board of the New York Lactation Consultant Association voluntarily serve a two-year commitment. An officer must be a member of the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYLCA) and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). NYLCA members can vote for candidates for the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Events Coordinator, Communcations Coordinator and Treasurer at the Annual General Meetings in June.

Juleen Johnson, IBCLC

President

Bio coming soon

Paula Utilla, IBCLC

Vice President

Paula Utilla is a dedicated IBCLC with extensive experience supporting prenatal and postpartum lactation in underserved communities. She began her career as a La Leche League Leader and WIC Peer Counselor, later establishing the first prenatal lactation program at Brooklyn Birthing Center in 2008. In 2010, she founded The First Latch, a home-visit practice focused on addressing diverse breastfeeding challenges.

Since 2014, Paula has served as Jamaica Hospital’s first full-time IBCLC, playing a key role in the hospital achieving Baby-Friendly accreditation in both 2017 and 2023. She also created New York’s first and only IBCLC Clinical Internship program within a hospital setting, which boasts a 98% exam pass rate.

Beyond her clinical work, Paula is a leader in the lactation community. She serves as the Vice President of the New York Lactation Consultant Association (NYLCA) and is a Board Member of the New York State Breastfeeding Coalition (NYSBC), where she advocates for policy changes that support equitable access to lactation care.

Paula’s contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including the U.S. Lactation Consultant Association’s 2022 Change Maker Award and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. She remains committed to increasing access to quality lactation support, mentoring future IBCLCs, and advancing policies that improve breastfeeding outcomes for all families.

Margot Hodes, Margot Hodes, EdD, MA, IBCLC, CCE, CHES

Treasurer

Margot Hodes considers it a privilege to play a small role in each expectant family’s big journey into parenthood. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certified Cooperative Childbirth Educator (CCCE), Full Spectrum Doula and Certified Health Education Specialist. She received her Ed.D. in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and taught as an adjunct faculty member there for many years. She also has her Masters in Counseling from New York University and has worked in schools, community health centers and other non-profit agencies with parents, families and adolescents toward their goals of achieving healthier living. Margot is a board member of CEA/MNY (the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York) and volunteers her time for the Doula Project. Margot teaches Childbirth Education, Breastfeeding Preparation and Newborn Care classes privately and for Stork and Cradle and Pregnancy and Parenting. She also teachers Jewish Baby 101, a class for expectant parents who are planning to raise a Jewish child, at the Town and Village (T&V) Synagogue along with the synagogue clergy. She also runs a biweekly breastfeeding support group at T&V.

When she’s not doing home visits for lactation support or teaching classes, Margot enjoys yoga, watching Project Runway, and discovering the ever- expanding variety of food options on the Lower East Side, where she lives with her husband and two sons. She is also a reluctant Star Trek fan.

Heather McFadden, IBCLC

Secretary

Heather McFadden has over 10 years experience as an IBCLC and has been a member of NYLCA since 2010. She has a thriving private practice offering home visits, virtual consults, and prenatal breastfeeding classes. In addition to her private practice, Heather currently works as an IBCLC in a New York City hospital and teaches prenatal breastfeeding classes for Columbia University's Work/Life program. She has led breastfeeding group clinics at multiple pediatric practices in New York City. Heather has a published article in the Clinical Lactation Journal, has been consulted by Parents Magazine and Today's Parent, and was a guest speaker at the NYC Breastfeeding Leadership Council Conference of 2019. She is a proud La Leche League Leader.

Rasheena Moss, IBCLC

Communications Coordinator

Bio coming soon

Dana Hilsenrath, IBCLC

Education & Events Coordinator

Dana was initially drawn to lactation work after the birth of her twin boys and her own challenges with breastfeeding. She became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in order to provide families with the evidence-based, judgement-free support they need to realize their own breastfeeding goals. Her philosophy is that all families deserve to make an informed decision as to what their ideal breastfeeding journey entails. This will differ from person to person, baby to baby, and family to family. She draws upon her experience providing families with in-home breastfeeding support through her private practice, Westchester Lactation, as well as her experience working in the busy Lactation Department at NYU Langone Medical Center, to serve the families of Westchester, NYC, Long Island, and lower CT. Dana is also the founder of Lactivents, a company dedicated to creating unique, high-quality lactation education experiences that highlight diverse voices and perspectives, empowering lactation care providers to better support families.