Thamara Ferrugem, BS, IBCLC

Thamara joins the lactation program from the Formula and Human Milk Technician team.  Prior to joining CHOP's team, she oversaw operations as a Manager for WIC in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2020. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a WIC Public Health Nutritionist providing trilingual (English, Spanish and Portuguese) nutritional education and lactation support to diverse families.

Before moving to the United States, Thamara worked in Brazil at a national neonatal screening program providing nutrition counseling to children with special needs including down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Areas of interest and past experience include early treatment of metabolic diseases including congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, sickle cell anemia, congenital adrenal Hyperplasia, and cystic fibrosis.

Thamara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from Paulista University, GO/Brazil. Currently is pursuing a graduate certificate in Herbal Therapy in Functional Nutrition, and is preparing to start her studies to become an IBCLC. Additional training includes - Human Milk Dispensary Management (APAN/Brazil), WIC Hemocue Certified and ServSafe.

When she is not at work, Thamara is cooking up Brazilian recipes, traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her husband.