In this episode, we sit down with Becky Mannel, a trailblazer in maternal and infant health whose journey began with a personal frustration: being a new mom struggling to breastfeed with no one around to help, not even in a hospital full of physicians. That experience lit a fire that would lead her to become a nationally recognized lactation advocate, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Mothers’ Milk Bank, and a leader in reshaping infant health policy in the state.

Becky shares how she entered the field after years of raising her children at home, and how she gradually carved out a professional path in a space that was still under-recognized and under-resourced. From launching Oklahoma’s first and only human milk bank to spearheading legislation protecting breastfeeding rights, her work sits at the intersection of public health, equity, and systems change.

One of the most powerful moments of the conversation centers around a case study involving a foster infant with failure to thrive. When formula failed and Medicaid wouldn’t cover donor milk, Becky’s advocacy — and a dramatic clinical turnaround — ultimately helped change policy in the state. She discusses how stories like these illustrate why lactation care is not just a personal matter, but a critical public health issue with long-term consequences.

Throughout the episode, Becky reflects on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, listening to stakeholders, advocating with data, and staying rooted in purpose. From beginning-of-life care to the quiet parallels she shares with her husband’s work in cancer and end-of-life care, this conversation serves as a reminder that our systems only function effectively when we center on people and their lived experiences.

If you care about public health, health equity, maternal care, or policy translation or if you just love a good story about someone who turned a personal pain point into statewide impact — this one’s for you.

The GROklahoma Podcast is an initiative of the Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources (OSCTR).