Amanda DeWeese was pregnant with her oldest child when she began her graduate studies toward an MPH in maternal and child health at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health (USF COPH).

She had just earned two undergraduate degrees in 2008 from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in health promotion and Spanish.

The Northwestern Pennsylvania native, originally born in South Korea, said the USF COPH’s maternal and child health MPH program seemed like the best fit for her because not only could she relate, having just become a first-time mother, but it was also a chance to practice her public health passion in breastfeeding and supporting perinatal mental health.

“USF was definitely the best school with the best programs!” DeWeese said.

“Maternal and child health impacts the entire community,” she said. “We need to protect the rights and health of our most precious population.”

After earning her MPH in 2013, DeWeese became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a title she’s held since 2017, and has also been an active La Leche League (LLL) leader since 2013.

She’s since launched her own private practice as an IBCLC, Sidekicks Lactation, where she provides evidence-based clinical lactation care and education, both in person and virtually.

“I love working with parents and babies!” she said. “I am constantly learning new things.”

She’s been helping families in the Tampa area with breastfeeding for almost 10 years, something she personally knows the ins and outs of as a mother to her, now, five sons.

“My breastfeeding journey began when my eldest son was born a preemie in 2010,” she says on her website bio. “With support from some great local LLL leaders, my son and I enjoyed a long and healthy breastfeeding relationship.”

The birth of her second and third sons provided her experience in tandem and triandem breastfeeding.

“Days after my fourth son was born, I received exciting news that I had passed the IBLCE exam,” DeWeese said. “With the help from my own little sidekicks, Sidekicks Lactation was born!”

In her role as an editor and research consultant for Sidekicks Editing and Research, she said she works primarily on dissertations and manuscripts for publication.

“I started out as a LLL Leader and wanted to be able to provide higher level care,” she said. “For editing and research, I’ve always enjoyed learning and writing. When I was given the opportunity to start writing and editing with one of my undergraduate professors, it seemed like such a natural fit.”

DeWeese said that owning her own private practice while also raising her five homeschooled sons has been her proudest professional achievement to date.

Her future career plans include expanding the practice to include collaboration with other birth workers.

DeWeese credits the information and skills she obtained while earning her MPH from the USF COPH to helping her achieve her personal career goals.

She’s particularly thankful to the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Russell Kirby, USF Distinguished Professor and Marrell Endowed Chair, and Dr. Deana Wathington, USF COPH affiliate professor and medical director of the Volusia Volunteers in Medicine in Daytona Beach.

One of the highlights of her time as a student, she said, was being able to include her baby in her capstone class project.

Being a new breastfeeding mom working toward a graduate degree was no easy feat, but she said the support she received at the USF COPH helped, something that she says only confirmed she had made the right choice for her degree path.

“I was able to exclusively breastfeed two babies (into toddlerhood) while completing my MPH degree with the support of my fellow students and faculty!” she said. “It was a wonderful experience with a lot of exciting opportunities.”

Alumni Fast Five: 

What did you dream of becoming when you were young? 

Prima ballerina.

Where would we find you on the weekend? 

The hockey rink!

What is the last book you read? 

“Thirteen Reasons Why,” by Jay Asher.

What superpower would you like to have? 

Flying.

What’s your all-time favorite movie?  

That’s a tough one. I think I’d have to go with “The Blind Side.”

Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health