Scholars

 

Name:

Julia Kim
Education:

BS, Clinical Nutrition, University of California, Davis

RD, Registered Dietitian, Napa State Hospital

MPH, Master of Public Health, University of Illinois
PhD Program:

Division of Nutritional Sciences
Research Interest:

Ms. Kim is developing and pilot testing a breastfeeding curriculum to meet the needs of African-American adolescent mothers in Champaign County that may reduce the breastfeeding disparity that exists among African-American mothers and other ethnicities. Ms. Kim is also developing a breastfeeding subjective norm instrument. She envisions her future conducting community-based breastfeeding interventions, teaching classes on maternal and infant nutrition, and influencing breastfeeding public policy to promote breastfeeding culture and increase breastfeeding rates.

MPH Practicum Experience:

In the Maternal and Child Health division at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Ms. Kim worked to increase breastfeeding rates and promote breastfeeding culture in Champaign County. Her main project was to recreate the breastfeeding friendly certification training for businesses and daycares, requiring an in-depth overview of current breastfeeding practices, breastfeeding laws in Illinois, Department of Child and Family Services’ infant and toddler feeding practices and information on handling breast milk. Ms. Kim trained daycare providers at Chesterbrook Academy to become breastfeeding friendly certified through the public health district.
Advisor:

Dr. Sharon Donovan
Posters and Presentations:

Kim, J.H. & Donovan, S.M. (2016). Semi-structured interviews to identify breastfeeding facilitators and barriers among African-American women in Champaign County. Poster session presented at the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation, Stellenbosch, SA.

Kim, J.H., Donovan, S.M. (2015). Breastfeeding Facilitators and Barriers among African-American Women in Champaign County: A Pilot Study. Poster presentation, Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program Symposium 2015, Urbana, IL.

Awards:
  • 2016-17 American Public Health Association (APHA) Maternal and Child Health Student Fellow
  • 2016 Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program Seed Grant titled "African-American Breastfeeding Needs Assessment Using the PEN-3 Cultural Model" $9,682
  • 2015, 2016, 2017 Margin of Excellence Award
  • 2015 Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program Seed Grant titled "Breastfeeding Facilitators and Barriers Among African-American Women in Champaign County: A Pilot Study" $8,742
  • 2013-2018 Graduate Fellow Award, Illinois Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention Program Fellowship
Service/Leadership:
  • May 2016-Present GOAL Project Volunteer
  • Nov 2015 Panelist, Hot Topics Dialogues: Race, Gender, and the Movement for Birth Justice
  • June 2014-Dec 2015 Breastfeeding Outreach project with the community
  • Aug-Sep 2014 Advised patients, Avicenna lifestyle and nutritional services
  • Developed training for “Baby-Friendly: certification for day cares and assisted in implementation of the annual Mommy and Baby Expo, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Publications:

Monaco M.H., Kim J., Donovan S.M. (2016) Human Milk: Composition and Nutritional Value. In: Caballero, B., Finglas, P., and Toldrá, F. (eds.) The Encyclopedia of Food and Health vol. 3, pp. 357-362. Oxford: Academic Press.