Paula Meier, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the director for clinical research and lactation in the neonatal intensive care unit and is a professor of women, children and family nursing and a professor of pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She has worked as a practitioner and researcher in the area of human milk, lactation and breastfeeding for premature infants and their mothers since 1975. Meier has conducted numerous externally-funded research and demonstration projects, and currently serves as the principal investigator for a 5-year, $2.76 million, NIH-funded study, "Health Outcomes and Cost of Human Milk Feedings for Very Low Birthweight Infants." She has published over 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and serves as a member of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation and of the Health Advisory Council for LaLeche League, International.

Melissa Millinger is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds a certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). She operates a private practice in Central Illinois, where she offers neuroaffirming psychotherapy with a focus on perinatal mental health, grief and loss, as well as supporting neurodivergent individuals and families. As an individual diagnosed late with AuDHD, Melissa values authenticity in her personal and professional life. She actively engages as a volunteer, advocate, and educator at both local and state levels, and collaborates with various local agencies to enhance knowledge among providers, ultimately aiming to improve family outcomes.