I was born in Akron, Ohio from an Italian father and an American mother,and moved to Rome via Peru, when I was 4 years old because my father was transferred here by Goodyear Tires. In 1965 my father went into business for himself and left Goodyear but ended up staying in Italy for a total of 25 years, so,of course I am bi-lingual. I went to the American Overseas School and then to the States for college (Union College, BS in Psychology in 1976) and graduate school at NYU (Master of Arts in Educational Psychology in 1980)at which time I moved back to Rome.
I became interested in lactation in 1984 when I had problems breastfeeding my first child. The following year I became a La Leche Leader and continued in my volonteer position until 1995 when I received my diploma as a lactation consultant from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. I am in private practice here in Rome. I do home visits to new mothers when they are having problems, I collaborate with a center that teaches pre-natal and post natal classes, I do subject skilled translations and in-service training for health professionals.I had 4 children, all of them breastfed!