Thomas Hale PhD RPh is a distinguished professor emeritus and former associate dean of research at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. As the founding member of the InfantRisk Center, Dr. Hale is recognized as a leading authority in lactational pharmacology and perinatal medication safety.

His pioneering work has significantly advanced the understanding of the use of medications by pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, helping to establish critical guidelines that prioritize maternal and infant health. Dr. Hale is also a prolific author, contributing extensively to the literature in his field, further solidifying his impact on both clinical practice and research.

Kaytlin Krutsch PhD PharmD MBA BCPS is the Director of the InfantRisk Center of Excellence and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at TTUHSC School of Medicine. At the InfantRisk Center, Dr. Krutsch’s goal is to listen to mothers' concerns, design research that addresses their questions, and create a comprehensive information cycle that empowers families.

Dr. Krutsch is passionate about enhancing healthcare experiences for mothers. She emphasizes the importance of understanding which medications transfer into breast milk, ensuring that mothers (and their healthcare providers) can make informed choices about their health without compromising their infants' safety. Dr. Krutsch believes that mothers deserve better answers to their medication inquiries and healthcare experiences that foster respect for their needs and well-being.

Dr. Krutsch is a leading voice in the field of lactation pharmacology as a vital part of women’s health. She co-authors the best-selling manual on lactational pharmacology, Hale’s Medications and Mothers’ Milk, alongside Dr. Thomas Hale. Dr. Krutsch is an award-winning public speaker with lectures that have been translated into more than 25 languages. Dr Krutsch advocates for lactating women on numerous other research and clinical platforms, including drafting the first lactation data elements for USCDI+ with the Office of the National Coordinator and collaborating with the FDA’s Office of Clinical Pharmacology.

Christine D. Garner PhD RD completed her doctorate Nutrition at Cornell University, where she was an NIH Doctoral Trainee in Maternal and Child Nutrition. She was trained as a Registered Dietitian at the University of California San Francisco, where she also worked for several years as a Pediatric Clinical Dietitian.

Garner’s interests involve maternal and child health from a nutritional perspective. The majority of her research has centered on maternal obesity and breastfeeding, and she has used a combination of statistical and qualitative methods to investigate research questions pertaining to these topics.

Teresa Baker MD graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern and completed her residency training at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, TX. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Dr. Baker has a combined private and academic OB/GYN practice with the University Physicians at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Amarillo. She is interested in teen pregnancy, postpartum depression, and promoting preventive medicine for the women of the Texas Panhandle, as well as Resident and Student education and serves as the Residency Director.

Palika Datta PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Tech University School of Medicine. She completed her Ph.D. in All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Dr. Datta did postdoctoral work at TTUHSC School of Pharmacy before joining the InfantRisk Center 10 years ago. She has broad experience in conventional biochemistry and molecular biology techniques: Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, Microarray, Protein expression, purification in mammalian and bacterial cell culture system. Dr. Datta runs and supervises our highly sophisticated clinical pharmacology laboratories. For the past decade, Dr. Datta has been dedicated to answering one of the most critical questions posed by breastfeeding mothers: "How much of my medication is being transferred into my milk?”

Dr. Datta is an integral member of the IRC team, specializing in identifying which medications transfer into breast milk and quantifying these transfers to provide precise recommendations. Her dedication to research is fueled by a deep commitment to ensuring that every mother has access to accurate, evidence-based guidance.  

Dr. Sarah Ayers received her PharmD from West Virginia University School of Pharmacy and completed the two-year pharmacotherapy residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock. She holds a joint appointment as Assistant Professor in the Adult Medicine Division at the TTUHSC School of Pharmacy and as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

At the InfantRisk Center, Dr. Ayers works under the mentorship of Dr. Kaytlin Krutsch on obstetric and lactation pharmacology, contributing to drug information, research, and publications including Hale's Medications & Mothers' Milk. She is passionate about ensuring pregnant and breastfeeding mothers have access to accurate, evidence-based information to make informed decisions about medication safety for themselves and their infants.

Jonathan Craddock is a seasoned Web Developer and Database Administrator with over a decade of experience, currently serving as Programmer Analyst Extraordinaire at TTUHSC. He has excelled in developing and maintaining we solutions that streamline health data management, thereby enhancing patient care. He has significantly contributed to the health sector by developing applications like the InfantRisk center's patient management software and Biorepository for remote volunteer consent and mobile applications like InfantRisk and MommyMeds. 

His work not only optimizes data integration and security--adhering to HIPPA standards--but also significantly reduces operational times and improves user engagement. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an avid science fiction reader, enjoys writing, and is fascinatred with ancient civilizations and their mysteries. His unique blend of analytical skills and creative pursuits drives his continuous learning and practical problem-solving in his professional projects and personal interests. 

Nichole Campbell MSN APRN NP-C AQH serves as the Nurse Practitioner at the InfantRisk Center. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, obtained in 2016, and brings a wealth of experience from Emergency Medicine, Headache Medicine, and Family Practice. As a mother of three breastfed children, Nichole is passionate about supporting breastfeeding mothers through research and advocacy, empowering them to make well-informed decisions for their families.

Alicia Nelson RN BSN IBCLC is a Registered Nurse and Lead Telephone Advisor at the InfantRisk Center. She’s been an integral part of the team since she joined in 2019. Alicia became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in 2024 and holds a BSN from West Texas A&M University and an ADN from Amarillo College. With over ten years of experience in pediatric care, Alicia has a strong passion for supporting moms and babies, making her a perfect fit for the center’s mission.

In her role, Alicia has stepped into key leadership responsibilities, mentoring our nurses and providing expert guidance in the call center. She also plays a vital part in our research efforts, helping with informed consent and supporting moms in contributing samples to the biorepository.

Alicia’s true passion is in educating and empowering mothers throughout their breastfeeding journey, ensuring they have the knowledge and support they need for a healthy start. Her expertise, dedication, and compassionate care are at the heart of what makes the InfantRisk Center so effective.

Sandra Lovato RN is a Registered Nurse and telephone advisor for the InfantRisk Center. She received her ADN from the Amarillo College of School of Nursing in May of 2008. She began working at the InfantRisk Center in November of 2013 as a Senior Adviser for Dr. Hale. Since she began working under Dr. Hale, she has learned a lot about the effects of medications and their passage into breastmilk. She is glad to be a part of such a valuable and important resource for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and seeks to help mothers have a long, healthy breastfeeding relationship with their child.

Sally Bain RN has been a key part of the InfantRisk Center team since 2019. Her nursing journey began at Amarillo College, and she went on to earn her BSN from West Texas A&M in 1998, building deep expertise in NICU care along the way. At InfantRisk, Sally focuses on guiding mothers and healthcare providers worldwide through questions about medications and breastfeeding. She's passionate about making sure families have the knowledge they need to make safe, informed choices, and her commitment to staying current on medication safety is invaluable to our mission. Sally truly embodies our dedication to supporting mothers and babies. 

Katie Boatler, RN, earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Texas A&M University. She began her nursing career in Pediatrics, where she developed a passion for supporting mothers and babies and gained firsthand insight into the unique needs of breastfeeding families.

At the InfantRisk Center, Katie serves as a Clinical Research Nurse and Lead Clinical Coordinator, supporting the development and implementation of clinical research initiatives. Her role includes coordinating clinical studies, overseeing day-to-day research operations, managing participant recruitment and follow-up, maintaining regulatory compliance, and collaborating with investigators and research partners. She also contributes to the Center's efforts to expand human milk research and improve the evidence available to guide medication use during lactation.

Katie is passionate about advancing research that addresses gaps in lactation science and translating that research into meaningful resources for breastfeeding families and healthcare professionals. She is committed to the InfantRisk Center's mission of providing reliable, evidence-based information to support informed decisions about medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Laxmi Donikini MS graduated from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. She currently serves as a Research Associate with the Milk Biorepository at the Infant Risk Center. In this role, she works in a research laboratory focused on medication safety for breastfeeding mothers and their infants. Her work focuses on quantifying the transfer of medications into breast milk using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and other laboratory techniques. Laxmi takes great pride in contributing to this important research, which supports pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to make informed decisions for their health and their children’s well-being

Dr. Levi Campbell is an Assistant Professor in the Practice Management Division of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Amarillo and a clinical pharmacist with TTUHSC Managed Care, specializing in complex chronic disease management.

At the InfantRisk Center, he supports maternal-infant pharmacology research through study development, data analysis, and peer-reviewed publications that guide safe medication use during pregnancy and lactation.

A TTUHSC PharmD graduate with residency training at the VA North Texas Health Care System, Dr. Campbell is an award-winning educator and mentor whose clinical expertise and leadership strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and advance the Center’s mission to provide evidence-based medication information to families and healthcare professionals. Through his faculty appointment in the School of Pharmacy, he further strengthens collaboration between the InfantRisk Center and other TTUHSC schools and clinical programs, integrating pharmacy expertise into interdisciplinary maternal-infant health research.

Skye McLaurin-Jiang MD MPH FAAP is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo. Dr. McLaurin-Jiang  grew up in Amarillo, Texas and completed medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She competed Pediatrics residency at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2017 and then a NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in 2020. Since 2017, she has also clinically practiced as a pediatric hospitalist and newborn nursery attending. Her clinical and research interest center on maternal child health, health equity, provision of breastfeeding care, and newborn screening practices.

Dr. Stephanie Stroever is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. She is an epidemiologist and biostatistician with expertise in clinical research methodology, study design, and advanced statistical analysis.

Dr. Stroever has extensive experience leading and collaborating on interdisciplinary research across a range of clinical specialties, with particular interests in maternal health, healthcare epidemiology, and evidence-based medicine. Her work focuses on applying rigorous research methods to complex clinical questions and translating findings into meaningful improvements in healthcare.

At the InfantRisk Center, Dr. Stroever contributes expertise in research design, epidemiology, and biostatistics to support studies advancing the understanding of medication safety during pregnancy and lactation. She is committed to strengthening the evidence base that informs clinical decision-making and improves outcomes for mothers and infants.

Kaci Bohn, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and holds a co-appointment in the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from West Texas A&M University and her PhD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center before joining the faculty at Harding University College of Pharmacy. While at Harding, Dr. Bohn's research focused on maternal and child health, with an emphasis on medication safety, breastfeeding support, and evidence-based educational interventions. Her scholarly work has included the development of a children's medication safety curriculum for preschool settings, creation of a clinician-friendly comparison of key galactagogues to support breastfeeding education, and evaluation of perceptions of breastfeeding support among faculty at Colleges of Pharmacy across the United States. In 2019, Dr. Bohn returned to Amarillo to join the faculty at the Texas Tech School of Pharmacy, where she teaches endocrine physiology and pharmacology, including pregnancy and lactation. Her teaching and research interests are closely connected to her personal experiences and longstanding commitment to maternal and child health. 

Raised by a women's health nurse practitioner who was among the first lactation consultants in the Texas Panhandle, Dr. Bohn was exposed to breastfeeding advocacy and education from an early age. Combined with her own experiences as a breastfeeding mother, this foundation inspired her commitment to supporting mothers and promoting successful breastfeeding outcomes. Her work has expanded to include medication safety during breastfeeding, with a focus on developing evidence-based educational resources that help clinicians and mothers make informed decisions about medication use during lactation. She is especially passionate about teaching pharmacy students the importance of medication safety during breastfeeding and preparing future pharmacists to provide compassionate, evidence-based guidance that supports the health and well-being of both mothers and infants.

Shaun Wesley, MD, MHPE, FACOG, is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. He completed his residency at TTUHSC in Amarillo before completing his fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a Master of Health Professions Education at the University of Rochester.

Dr. Wesley is passionate about improving maternal and fetal health through evidence-based medicine, patient education, and shared decision-making. He believes that women deserve clear, reliable information to make informed decisions about their healthcare, particularly when navigating complex medical conditions and medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Through his work with the InfantRisk Center, he hopes to provide a clinical perspective that helps bridge the gap between research and everyday patient care.

His research interests include medication safety, maternal medical complications, and pregnancy outcomes. Dr. Wesley has published in several peer-reviewed medical journals and has received multiple awards recognizing his commitment to medical education, clinical excellence, and compassionate patient care.

Rachel Anderson MD is an assistant professor of pediatrics. She graduated from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 2013 and completed her Pediatric residency at TTUHSC Amarillo in 2016. She has interests in Foster Care, breastfeeding, child abuse and neglect, and other disorders in pediatrics.

Todd Bell MD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics although he is double boarded in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. He received his MD from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine cum laude in 2001. He completed a combined general internal medicine and general pediatrics residency in Durham, North Carolina at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Bell has extensive research experience, particularly in influenza, infectious diseases, and dysautonomia.

Amanda Griffin MD graduated from University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed her residency training in Pediatrics from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Her practice includes direct patient care as well as supervision and education of residents and students in the outpatient clinic, newborn nursery, and inpatient ward. She also serves the same roles in a clinic for children with special healthcare needs.

Dr. Griffin also helped establish and presently supervised a breastfeeding clinic in the Department of Pediatrics. She supervises a Board Certified Lactation Consultant and helped expand the access of our patients to lactation services in our community. She is a Pediatric hospitalist and admits and cares for inpatients of private pediatricians in Amarillo.