Bianca Beyer Award

My name is Laura Crump, and I am a nursing PhD student at McGill University. I became a nurse to care for others and because I enjoyed connecting with people and learning their stories. I worked for nearly a decade with infants in neonatal intensive care. However, after working for years in this setting I felt that I could do more to improve the breastfeeding support families received and so decided to go back to school for my doctorate. I am currently doing research in two local units on what factors influence breastfeeding and how these can be addressed more effectively. My hope is this research could be translated to other neonatal intensive care units to improve breastfeeding support more widely.  

In addition to my research, I have also attained additional certifications to provide tailored breastfeeding care to parents. I also volunteer at a community organization that pairs mothers with a peer counselor to guide them through breastfeeding and early parenthood. When I am not practicing as a nurse or doing research, I enjoy spending time with my husband and one year old son. I also love exploring new places to eat in my home of Montreal, reading and trying new recipes.