Ana Maria Linares DNS, RN, IBCLC
Associate Professor
Ana Maria Linares graduated in 1981 and received her degree in midwifery from the University of Chile. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Science degree in 2006 from the University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. She obtained her RN license in Kentucky in 2009 and the credential as International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2012.
Dr. Linares previously worked as an associate professor at the University of Tarapaca in Arica-Chile, where she served as the Dean at the College of Midwifery and taught the courses of obstetrics and neonatology. She joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky, College of Nursing in 2009. Dr. Linares has a program of research on health disparities with an emphasis on the promotion of breastfeeding that has been funded by intramural and extramural grant awards. She is conducting several studies on breastfeeding in Kentucky, including a randomized, controlled trial among Hispanic women and their family support person to access the effectiveness of an innovative and community-based, family-centered intervention that seeks to enhance exclusive breastfeeding. Additionally, she is involved in global health research, leading a multi-site international study to define the socio-cultural determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in Latino American countries. Dr. Linares has disseminated findings in peer-reviewed publications and oral/poster presentations at national and international conferences.
Dr. Linares has been awarded the Breastfeeding Champion Award from the Breastfeeding Improvement Network Kentucky Lactation in 2014, and the Terry Jo Curtis 2016 Award by the US Breastfeeding Consultants Association (USLCA), which is delivered to relevant, national researchers working with vulnerable populations. Dr. Linares received a teaching and research award from the Fulbright Scholars Program that took her to Peru for four months in 2019. As a Fulbright Scholar, she implemented a study to understand determinants of iron deficiency anemia in Peruvian children and its association with infant feeding practices. Additionally, she collaborated with the University of San Marco of Lima and the National University of Ica, Peru, presenting lectures, seminars, and mentoring graduate students and colleagues.
Based on her expertise in human lactation and disparity population research, she is serving as a member of the Culture, Respect, Assess/Affirm, Sensitivity, and Self-awareness, and Humility (CRASH) Committee, United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC); and a member of the Research Team, International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA).
Contact Information
Phone: (859) 323-4726
Fax: (859) 323-1057
Email: am.linares@uky.edu
Office: 435A COLLEGE OF NURSING
Education
Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Texas, Health Science Center, 2007
DNS, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, 2006
Pre-doctoral fellowship, University of Texas, Health Science Center, 2005
BS, Universidad de Tarapaca, 1998
Diploma, Universidad de Chile, 1991
BS, Universidad de Chile, 1981
Interests
OB nurse, breastfeeding advocate
Predictors of prenatal care initiation and violence against women in the prenatal period