Speaker profiles
Effath Yasmin
MA, HDSE, CLEC(USA), IBCLC, BCST (ICSB, SWISS), RCST (Mumbai, India)
Effath Yasmin is India's leading Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and a Bach Flower Practitioner & an International speaker and an award winning Documentary Film Maker. Her special interests lie in Infant Oral, Sucking & Airway Dysfunction, Tongue Tie, Birth Trauma, Craniofacial Development and a range of chronic physical and mental dis-eases. Her approach stems from fundamental truth of human organism is complete and self regulatory and treatment approach is by support to mind body and spirit rather than by intervention. Yasmin serves on many international and national boards and cofounder of International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP) &She has spear-headed & dedicated her life to many projects with a central mission of advocacy, education and awareness for integrative multidisciplinary wellness approach worldwide. Her work has been published in the International Journals & textbook and she writes extensively on print and digital media on the subjects of breastfeeding, parenting & health related subjects. Her international award winning documentary ‘Untying Breastfeeding’ exposes the glaring unseen obstacles to Birth & Breastfeeding that can help restore motherhood and has been widely celebrated over 1400 Cities worldwide. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Metaphysical Sciences.
Kanimozhi Senthamarai
Kannan
MBA, CABCS, CLEC (US), MMHI (NY) Founder, LATCHelp.com
Kanimozhi Senthamarai Kannan is a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Maternal Mental Health counselor(MMH).
With over a decade of dedicated experience, Kanimozhi Senthamarai Kannan a seasoned Lactation consultant and Maternal mental health counselor, recognized for her unwavering commitment to supporting mothers and infants. Armed with the latest information and senior expertise in lactation, she has successfully aided over 8000 mothers and babies in their breastfeeding journey, fostering a nurturing environment for optimal health and bonding.
She is the founder of latchelp.com. Based in Bangalore and Coimbatore, she offers personalized care and guidance to empower mothers with the knowledge and confidence they need for a fulfilling breastfeeding experience, while also addressing any maternal mental health concerns with compassion and expertise.
She is specialized in infant oral function and offers specialized care for babies facing challenges such as cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease, tongue tie, and birth trauma, ensuring that each little one receives tailored support for their unique needs.
Dr. Karthick Annamalai
Dr. Karthick Annamalai is a Pediatrician with 14 years of experience. He did his MBBS at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and went on to complete his MD at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. He was a meritorious student throughout his college days, with several Gold medals to his credit. He is currently the Managing Director of Coimbatore Children’s Healthcare and a visiting neonatologist at many leading hospitals in Coimbatore.
He has been the Secretary of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics for the years 2016-2018. His areas of interest include breast milk banking, infant nutrition and childhood allergies including asthma. He was honoured with the Active Pediatrician Award by the Indian Medical Association in the year 2018 for his active contribution to child health. A breast feeding friendly, empathetic Pediatrician who believes in a holistic approach to children’s health.
M.B.B.S., Pgdip Public Health (Nz), Childbirth Educator Cappa/Lamaze, Lactation Counselor,Infant Massage Instructor
After graduating from Madurai Medical College, TamilNadu, India in the year 2015, she pursued her Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from the University of Otego, New Zealand. While preparing for her exams to apply for Ob-gyn is when she came across an allied field in the area of pregnancy and birth- Childbirth Educator and Lactation Counselor. I then went on to pursue and get myself equipped in it, by getting certified under CAPPA for childbirth education. I have also attended the Lamaze seminar. For lactation, I am certified under Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India. For the love of babies and for the interest in baby massage, led me to find a way to get myself certified in it under the Healthy Mother Program and to be able to be a small part in the feeding journey of many babies through massage as well is definitely satisfying. There is so much I have unlearnt in this journey and there is so much I am continuing to learn in this journey. The start point to all this transition in my professional line, which I am loving, happened through Instagram, to which I will always be thankful.
Dr.Manjari Santhanagopal
Sangheetha is a mom of two, strategy consultant turned Birth Doula. Born and raised in India, she spent several years in the US and UK before recently relocating to her hometown of Chennai. The births of her own daughters, Laya and Swara in the UK opened up a whole new world for her.
Always a passionate feminist, her journey into motherhood opened up a vast universe for her – she channeled this energy into birth work, by becoming a birth doula and a KG hypnobirthing practitioner, she is also on her way to becoming a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and a pre-and perinatal psychology and integrates this into her work.
Sangheetha Parthasarathy
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Dr Shacchee is a Paediatrician who has switched over totally to Lactation Consultancy.
Her journey as a Paediatrician started in 2001 and it brought her in close contact with mother baby dyads, where she discovered her passion for the cause of breastfeeding. After she had her first child, she realised that widespread prevalence of myths and the lack of skilled breastfeeding support in the Indian society makes it difficult for a mother to breastfeed.
This strengthened her resolve to become a trained lactation support person.
She is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant ) and BPNI (Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India) certified IYCF ( Infant and Young Child Feeding) Specialist.
Currently she is associated with BLK Super specialty Hospital where she works with all mother baby dyads and their families and offers them skilled lactation support in achieving their breastfeeding goals . She has special interest in working with mothers with babies in NICUs and guides them in providing their babies breastmilk and/or in transitioning to direct breastfeeding.
She is amongst the founding members of Association of Lactation Professionals India(ALPI), which is a step further towards a goal of making Skilled breastfeeding support a reality in India.
Dr Shacchee Baweja
After completing her Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery in 2006, Dr.Shifa had chosen her Masters in Preventive and Pediatric dentistry and completed it in 2009. On completing her master’s Dr.Shifa worked with a few leading corporate dental centres and had found herself exploring the functions of a removable Myofunctional appliance in children. In 2012, she started her own practice in Coimbatore, WE Little. Her journey there started with understanding the role of epigenetics in crooked teeth and its prevention. In 2013 she had visited Myofunctional Research and Co., Australia for a deeper understanding for Myofunctional therapy in dentistry. Having seen over 350 cases by then with Myofunctional therapy, she began setting her own protocols for children customized to their needs by 2015.
Dr.Shifa with a deep inclination to academics and had been a part the teaching profession alongside her clinical practice for 9 years until 2018. She had presented at IAOM conferences in 2017 and consecutive years. Over the years of practice, she realized the need for promotion of breastfeeding and its role in the optimal development of craniofacial component. In 2017, she was certified at the Tongue Tie Institute, Australia. With an intense passion for Myofunctional therapy she became a member of IAOM in 2017.
In 2019, she completed her Mini-Residency in Pediatric Sleep at Tufts University (BOSTON) and has been active in treating children with SDB (sleep-disordered breathing) and helped improve their sleep quality. In 2020, she completed her Fellowship In Dental Sleep Medicine at Tufts University, Boston.
She was a speaker at India’s first Airway conference organized by ICCMO, in 2020 to speak on Pediatric ariway and sleep.
She is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine(AADSM), International Consortium of Oral Ankylofrenula Professionals (ICAP) and International College of Cranio-mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO).
Along with the other accolades she has received, she has been a prominent speaker at various network organizations to promote breastfeeding and holistic healthcare. In 2020, she founded a Non profit Organization called, The Tongue Foundation, to emphasize on the role of tongue in all stages of life and function. She is active in creating awareness about breastfeeding, oral health disciplines to be followed for good health and pediatric sleep through blogs, talks, lectures and training to mothers, children and professionals.
Over a decade of conservative, non-invasive preventive practice with over 4050 children led her to see the need to create awareness on Pediatric sleep.
Dr Shifa Shamsudeen
Dr. Sonali Santhanam, PhD, MsPT, IBCLC is the Founder of Birth Basix, a platform that supports women through Pregnancy Birth and Postpartum. Dr. Sonali is a Lactation Consultant and a Physical Therapist specialising in women’s health issues. She has over 18 years of experience as a Physical Therapist and has been working closely with women in the perinatal period in this time. Dr Sonali has developed a unique approach to birth preparation with her background as a Physical Therapist, Certifications in Yoga and Yoga Therapy, Birth Educator and Lactation Consultant.
This unique approach offers couples integrative and interdisciplinary care and education to ensure we look at this transition as a metamorphosis for the entire family unit, keeping Mom, Dad and Baby as one Triad. Her Signature offering is simply called “The Birth Workshop” and is a comprehensive childbirth preparation coaching program that looks at all aspects of health, fitness, and birth preparation in pregnancy.
Dr Sonali also has her private practice as a Lactation Consultant offering virtual and in-person Lactation Consultations. She is on the team of an IBCLC Group Practice, based out of the United States. Dr Sonali completed her Bachelors in Physical Therapy from the Kasturba Medical College from Manipal, India in 2003. She completed her Masters in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh, USA in 2005 and PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh, USA in 2013. She was certified as a HypnoBirthing (needs Registered trademark, unable to insert) Practitioner in 2014 and as a Certified Lactation Education Counsellor from Lactation Education Resources, USA in 2016 and as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2019.
She is currently pursuing certifications in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and aims to complete her American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board Certification in Pelvic Health by 2022. She is an instructor for the Evidence Based Birth Instructor Program and is currently an active member and instructor on the prestigious platform. Dr Sonali received the award for the best research by a predoctoral student in 2006 at the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Rehabilitation Research.
Dr. Sonali is always striving to bring more and do more for Expectant Couples, PostPartum and Breastfeeding Families. She believes that women should be placed at the center of the health care model and system when offering care especially during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. A woman centric model of care looks at her needs above anyone elses and aims to keep her safe through preventive care , education and informed decision making.
Dr Sonali Santhanam
Thara Shenoy
Thara Shenoy completed her Bachelors of Occupational Therapy from Manipal University in 2009. After graduating, she worked in Pediatric set up for 2 years, dealing with special children with Autism,Downs syndrome, C.P, ADD, Developmental delays and related issues. She worked in a special school for more than 8 years dealing with these special kids.
After seeing the feeding issues these children face, wanting to help and guide them more on that, she went on to do various certifications on picky eating and feeding problems. She also has certification in infant CST.
From the past 2 years, she is turned her focus more towards kids with feeding issues due to various conditions
Dr. Yue Weng Cheu is the Clinical Director of DP Dental (Kovan) and DP Dental (Orchard). Having completed his BDS degree at the National University of Singapore, Dr Yue received an annual scholarship award from The Pierre Fauchard Academy Foundation. He has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and Fellow of International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Dr Yue has also obtained his membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons, England. Dr Yue has completed the full TMD continuum at Occlusion Connections in the USA and finished his mini-residency on Dental Sleep Medicine with TUFTS University School of Dental Medicine, and continues to lecture and conduct hands-on courses locally and internationally.
Dr Yue Weng Cheu