Cardiology Fellow Aishwarya Vijay, MD, is the primary author on a Viewpoint article in JACC, coauthored by Professor of Medicine Sharon Cresci, MD. The paper argues for stronger support for medical trainees experiencing postpartum lactation, and Vijay references her own experience returning to work 8 weeks postpartum.
The paper identifies recurring, well-documented barriers: no dedicated pumping time or space, lack of peer and leadership support, and lack of formal workplace policies. It proposes a practical framework built around three pillars: proactive communication before returning to work, formalized scheduling of pumping breaks at the start of each clinical rotation, and regular check-ins throughout. The authors also highlight that while federal law (the 2023 PUMP Act) requires private pumping spaces, it leaves timing and frequency unspecified, creating inconsistent implementation.
This viewpoint makes a compelling case that supporting breastfeeding among physician trainees is a systemic issue with real consequences in medical training. The failure to support new mothers during training risks driving talented physicians out of the field entirely. By framing lactation support as an ethical and professional standard rather than an individual accommodation, this paper pushes medical training programs, accrediting bodies, and hospital leadership to take concrete, proactive steps rather than relying on vague goodwill or patchwork solutions.