Lactation Consultants

Liz Miller, RN, IBCLC

Liz has been a registered nurse (RN) for over 40 years working with moms and babies for most of her career in various roles: a discharge educator for postpartum mothers and babies, a prepared childbirth educator and now as a lactation consultant for 17 years. Liz has been married to her husband, who is retired from Delta Airlines, for 43 years. Together, they have three grown children and a grandson. Liz loves to travel with her family – especially visiting national parks. She loves to plan these trips as well. Liz truly enjoys working with a educating new moms and dads as they begin their journey into parenthood. She feels it is an honor to help a new mother with her baby at a time in her life that she is the most vulnerable. “Just have a mother look up to me and say, ‘thank you,’ means more to me than that new mom will ever know,” Liz said.

Brenda Yoshikawa, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Brenda is from Gulf Breeze, Florida where she grew up sailing on the waters of the Emerald Coast. She graduated from Florida State University School of Nursing and began her career as a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in 1991. After 23 years as a NICU nurse, she began to realize that she was being led to serve the NICU families in a different way. Brenda began to realize she was passionate about helping moms that have been separated from their babies in the NICU the opportunity to still reach their breastfeeding goals.

Hope Richards, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Hope was born and raised in Tallahassee and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Southern University in Lakeland, Florida in April 2020. She started working as a nurse in the Family Care Unit at TMH in October 2020 and was recruited to the lactation team in November 2021. Hope earned her Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) certificate in July 2022 and her International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification in July 2023. Hope is very involved at her church and in her free time, she loves to read, crochet, kayak, hike, paddleboard and spend time with friends and family. Hope loves her job and is passionate about helping moms and babies reach their feeding goals.

Eva Ramos Fernandez,BSN, RN, CLC

Eva is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) through the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practices. She completed her Bachelor of Science in nursing through Central Philippine University. Eva has worked at TMH for almost two decades, with vast experience working with mothers and babies. She is an advocate for breastfeeding and women’s health. Eva is a mother of three amazing daughters. Through her own parenting journey, Eva experienced all the joy, wonder and struggles of breastfeeding firsthand. Eva looks forward to promoting, supporting, equipping and empowering parents in their initial breastfeeding experiences as they encounter issues and challenges while helping them meet their feeding goals with their new baby.

Sue Kelly, RN, IBCLC

Sue Kelly, RN, IBCLC, graduated from Gulf Coast State College School of Nursing in 2019 and started her career on the Medical-Surgical floor. After her daughter faced challenges with breastfeeding, Sue researched solutions and became inspired to help new moms as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She values the bond between mother and baby and aims to provide evidence-based support in their breastfeeding journeys. Sue is completing her final semester in the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of West Florida and is a proud "Mimi" to two grandsons.

Barbara Pruitt, RN, IBCLC

Barbara "Barb" Pruitt, RN, IBCLC, has over 40 years of nursing experience. She began her career with pediatric patients before transitioning to newborn care after five years. Recognizing a need for lactation consulting at her last hospital, she became an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Barb enjoys the individual time she spends with each of her patients to help address their breastfeeding concerns. Originally from Ohio, she now lives in Panama City Beach with her husband, Jerry, to escape the harsh winters. In her spare time, she enjoys cruising and spending time with her grandchildren.