Aliza Juliette, Founder and Director
Aliza is the Founder and Director of International Doula Institute. She began the development of this program after many years as the director of Main Line Doulas, a unique doula practice working with only the most elite doulas located just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. International Doula Institute was created out of a need to train doulas to practice at the very highest level. Aliza was not satisfied with the status quo, and it’s her goal to raise the bar for the next generation of competent, caring doula care in the United States, Europe and beyond through the trainings of International Doula Institute.
Aliza was the head of curriculum development for four online schools before founding IDI. Aliza brings her vast experience working with clients as a doula in the field and very unique experience managing a large doula team that provides thousands of hours of care monthly, along with her experience in curriculum development. It is truly her passion to help those who want to become a doula. These three very specific sets of skills have come together to bring you the International Doula Institute.
Dr. Natashia Conner, PhD
Director of Lactation Education
Dr. Natashia Conner is our esteemed Director of Lactation Education at the International Breastfeeding Institute. She plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of lactation education.
Holding a Ph.D. in Health Education and Promotion with a specialization in Behavioral Health from Walden University, Dr. Conner’s educational background is impressive and wide-ranging. She also earned a Master of Science in Health Education and Promotion, with a focus on Public Health, from the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. Her foundational education in maternal and child health was established with a Bachelor of Science from Union Institute and University, complemented by an Associate of Applied Business in Medical Administrative Technologies from Cincinnati State Technical & Community College.
When asked what Dr. Conner loves about her work at IDI, she tells us,
“I love being about to be a part of the change in our communities by diversifying the field of human lactation thereby increasing the representation of BIPOC individuals who provide care and support for lactating families across the world. ”
With over a decade of experience in the field, Dr. Conner has developed a broad expertise that spans local and state government, community-based organizations, local boards of health, faith-based organizations, and both public and private health agencies. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), she has become a recognized authority in health program planning, health equity, and community health initiatives, with a particular focus on addressing health disparities within diverse populations.
A dedicated advocate for racial and health equity, Dr. Conner has devoted much of her career to promoting these values through education and policy advocacy across the United States. Her personal life mirrors her professional dedication, with a bustling household of five children and three pets, and her background as a US Navy Veteran infuses her leadership style with discipline and a profound sense of duty. Dr. Conner’s multifaceted career is a testament to her commitment to improving maternal and child health through education, advocacy, and leadership.
Maria Silver Pyanov, CPD, CCE
Maria Silver Pyanov, CPD, CCE, is a dedicated birth worker supporting families since 2007. As a mother to seven earthside children, including three preemies, she’s experienced a variety of birth scenarios both personally and professionally.
As a certified postpartum doula, certified childbirth educator, trained birth doula, community doula, trained birth assistant, and volunteer, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her curriculum development both for birth work and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
With the support of IDI, the Maternal Wellness Center, and her doula partner Camille Barnes, she developed the BIPOC Birth Work Circle and Scholarship fund which supports both BIPOC birth workers and families in the community. The BIPOC Birth Work Circle is a two-time recipient of Philadelphia’s Community Action Network, PhillyCAN, mini grants designed to support local organizations and businesses committed to improving maternal infant health outcomes in Philadelphia.
She believes all pregnant people and their families deserve equity in medical care and birth support and is excited to bring evidenced based DEI training to IDI.
Dr. Shilpee Aggarwal, BSC, PhD
Dr Shilpee Aggarwal is a qualified nutritionist who founded Dr Shilpee Nutrition in 2010 after 8 years of commercial experience as an in-house nutritionist in the food industry. Nutrition education is her passion and as a highly personable nutritionist she harnesses her depth of knowledge and creativity to bring nutrition to life to many audiences. She also enables companies to bring health to the forefront of their businesses, to communicate health, substantiate claims and to drive healthy new product development.
Trained in the U.K. Dr Shilpee obtained her BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool. Recognizing her passion for food and nutrition she went on to gain her MMedSci in Nutrition from the University of Sheffield. Being bitten by the nutrition bug she then achieved a PhD in Nutrition from Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh where she researched the impact of breakfast on nutritional status and cognition in children.
Dr Shilpee started her career as a nutritionist for Kellogg’s at their European headquarters in the U.K. where she was the lead nutritionist for Special K, Corn Flakes and All-Bran. Educating the entire sale, marketing and food service teams on nutrition was also a key accomplishment there. She then took up the position of the first ever Company Nutritionist at the UK’s leading smoothies brand Innocent Drinks, Ltd. Dr Shilpee successfully lobbied the Department of Health to get smoothies accepted as 2 of your 5-A-DAY portions of fruit and vegetables. With 8 years of commercial experience under her belt she founded Dr Shilpee Nutrition in London, U.K. Her clients included, Coca-Cola, Graze, Little Dish, and a number of leading PR agencies. Relocating with her husband and two young children to Philadelphia her clients include Oath Care, Mainline Doulas, The Philadelphia Ballet as well food brands.
Of all her achievements Dr Shilpee is most proud of the challenge of feeding her children aged 9 years and 6 years. Delivering a first born who was tiny and underweight was her most humbling moment, and this life changing experience as both a nutritionist and a mother is the one she is most grateful for.
Dr Shilpee Aggarwal lives in Erdenheim, PA with her husband and her tall and robust 9-year-old son and fussy eater 6-year-old daughter.
Donna Sinnott, BBA, IBCLC, CD, CPD
Foundational Instructor for International Breastfeeding Institute and International Doula Institute
Donna Sinnott, with the titles of IBCLC, CD, CPD to her name, is proud to share that she has amassed over 25 years of experience in counseling nursing mothers. Her own journey into motherhood in 1992, marked by an incredible birth experience thanks to certified nurse midwives, took an unexpected turn with the challenges of breastfeeding. This challenge was not something she was prepared for. It was her husband, Paul, who stepped in after days of struggle, suggesting a visit to a Lactation Consultant. That enlightening and empowering sixty-minute session not only changed her course but also enabled her to successfully breastfeed her two children, Cori and Kyle.
Embarking on her professional path when Kyle was just six months old, Donna began as a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, also taking on roles as a labor and postpartum doula. Her dedication and love for helping mothers soon propelled her to the pinnacle of lactation certification, becoming an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Beyond her role as the foundational instructor of the course, Donna works full-time in a hospital renowned for its 92% breastfeeding initiation rate. She estimates that she has supported over 30,000 moms and babies throughout her illustrious career. Teaching is a passion for Donna, and she is committed to creating course materials guiding her students every step of the way, equipping them with the tools necessary to complete the course and profoundly impact the lives of others.
Randi Coen Gilbert, MA, E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP, CD
Randi Coen Gilbert, MA, E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP, CD, founder of Yoga Mamas. Randi began teaching yoga in 2000 after having her second baby. She credits a full yoga practice, including mindfulness, to saving her as a new mom. Certified at the 500 hour level in 2003 she began to specialize in pre & postnatal yoga. In 2012 she became a birth doula and trained in Yoga Therapy for 2 years. Randi has a Master’s Degree in Drama Therapy from NYU. She has volunteered as a Child Advocate for over 20 years through CASA. Once an empty-nester in 2019, Randi fulfilled a lifelong dream and studied yoga and visited spiritual sights in India for 6 weeks.
Randi’s work on the pain management team as a therapist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, gave Randi deep awareness of the hospital environment with expertise in dealing with discomfort. Her Masters Degree from NYU in Drama Therapy built her foundation in creatively addressing mental health and relationship needs.
Randi Coen Gilbert has spent over 20 years as a child advocate and yoga teacher. Always strongly wanting mothers to get the best start possible, she became a doula in 2012. These passions blend in her prenatal and postnatal classes. She knows that Moms are not only benefiting physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually, which in turn leads to better birth outcomes and benefits their babies. She loves that her students had a great birth experience due to the tools they learned in yoga class, that they made some of their closest friends in class, and how the lessons are also helping them in their parenting.
As a teacher Randi wants to break down barriers of access to yoga practice and to quality pre & postnatal care. Randi speaks to the discrepancies our system of class and race have on birth in her teaching, and advocates for all families, also encouraging students to check out organizations like Black Mamas Matter Alliance who ‘envision a world where Black moms have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during and after pregnancy and the Maternity Care Coalition whose mission is to ‘ improve the health and well-being of pregnant women and parenting families, and enhance school readiness for children 0-3.’
Randi feels it is important to honor and give credit to her teaching lineage from Shri Yogendra in Classical Hatha Yoga through YogaLife Institute. She had the honor of studying with Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra along with other Indian teachers and students at The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India in 2019.
Meghan Massaro, Registered Dietitian RD LDN
Meghan Massaro, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition Sciences from West Chester University and completed a dietetic internship at Immaculata University. Meghan has been a Clinical Dietitian at The Chester County Hospital since 2011, working as a part of the interdisciplinary team to provide care for patients ranging from premature infants to the elderly. She is a mom of four boys, all of whom were born at The Birth Center at Bryn Mawr. In her spare time, Meghan loves to stay fit and exercise with her children.
Marsha Sims, Author and Professional Organizer
Marsha Sims, owner of Sort-It-Out, Inc., runs a program that helps people get organized affordably, in just 15 minutes a day. She is the coauthor of four organizing books: “Organizing Your Day,” “Smart Office Organizing,” “5 Days to a Clutter-Free House,” and “10 Time Management Choices That Can Change Your Life.” She can be reached at: www.sortitout.net, marshasims1@gmail.com, and 305-467-8564.
Additional education, support, and overall contribution to the training came through conversations and submissions by:
Refuge Midwifery (based in Philadelphia); https://www.refugemidwifery.com
Amy Millar of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission for People With Disabilities;
Lauren Alden
Latoya Maddox
Dominique Howell of Liberty Resources
Doula Camille Barnes
Social Worker Ashley Jones, BA
and additional professionals and community members.