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 Assistant 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.  

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.

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. Currently, she is working towards her IBCLC certification. 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.

Shyanne Hefley Ph.D. is the Clinical Research Unit Director at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, where she collaborates closely with the InfantRisk Center to support clinical lactation trials. Before assuming the directorship, Dr. Hefley served as the Clinical Research Director at Amarillo Center for Clinical Research for three years. 

Dr. Hefley earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from TTUHSC's School of Pharmacy, where her research focused on understanding the effects of ischemic stroke on the human blood-brain barrier, utilizing brain microvascular endothelial cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Her post-doctorate experience included developing novel treatments for rare nephropathies, with a particular emphasis on gene therapies. During her fellowship, she also gained experience as a clinical research coordinator managing trials investigating investigational drugs for nephropathies.

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. 

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 graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. She started her journey in Pediatrics, where she quickly grew passionate about supporting moms and their babies, learning firsthand about their unique needs. Now, at the InfantRisk Center, Katie is dedicated to advancing research that helps breastfeeding moms make informed choices. She loves working alongside families and healthcare professionals, ensuring everyone has access to the best resources and information on lactation and medication safety. 

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.