About

Anna Sadovnikova, PhD, IBCLC, MPH, MA is a NIH-funded mammary gland biology and breastfeeding medicine trainee in the MD/PhD program at UC Davis (currently in the third year of medical school). Her research interests include improving diagnosis and management of conditions affecting the nipple-areolar complex, defining the biological mechanisms underlying low milk production, and developing simulation-based learning experiences in clinical lactation. Anna’s education and contribution to science can be found here.

Anna is committed to training all health professionals in clinical lactation. She was the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of LiquidGoldConcept, a simulation-based learning company that developed and sold high-fidelity breast, breastfeeding, and newborn simulators for clinical lactation training of health professionals. In her ongoing role as the Program Director for the Pathway 3 Global Mentorship Program, she oversees the program’s mission and vision and serves as the Chief Mentor for aspiring lactation consultants.

Anna maintains an active clinical lactation practice as a board-certified lactation consultant, providing advanced breastfeeding and lactation support. Her area of expertise includes resolving chronic nipple and breast pain, increasing milk production, and improving latch and pumping technique over telehealth. Anna is an active member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the United States Lactation Consultant Association.

University of California, Berkeley

BA, Molecular and Cell Biology, Comparative Literature, 2013

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

MPH, Human Nutrition, 2015

MA, Russian, Eastern European, Eurasian Studies, 2015

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners

IBCLC, 2018 [L-97068]

University of California, Davis

PhD, Nutritional Biology (Requirements completed March 15, 2022, Degree conferral: June 9, 2022)

MD (candidate), 2025