- Clinical Associate Professor, Director of Pathways to Nursing Program
- College of Nursing
- Phone: 401.874.5327
- Email: dditomasso@uri.edu
- Office Location: RI NEC Room 232, 350 Eddy St., Providence, RI, 02905
Biography
Diane DiTomasso, PhD, RN, IBCLC, FAWHONN, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island, where she focuses on advancing evidence based care through research, teaching, and clinical practice. Her scholarship is focused on human lactation and has contributed to a clearer understanding of infant weight patterns, maternal experiences, and milk expression practices to support breastfeeding success. Her studies and systematic reviews have informed clinical guidelines, and are widely used by clinicians, educators, and researchers working to strengthen maternal child health.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. DiTomasso is the founder of Lactation Services Rhode Island, an in home practice created to expand access to outpatient lactation support. Working directly with families allows her to stay closely connected to the day to day challenges and opportunities in infant feeding, and this clinical perspective continues to inform her teaching and research. She remains dedicated to strengthening lactation care through thoughtful inquiry, collaboration, and a commitment to families.
Dr. DiTomasso’s work has been disseminated nationally and internationally through her publications, teaching, and presentations for organizations such as AWHONN, GOLD Learning, and the International Lactation Consultant Association. She authored the breastfeeding chapter in the 2023 AWHONN Core Curriculum for Maternal Newborn Nursing and contributed to key national position statements on nursing workforce diversity and academic preparation. Her sustained contributions to research, education, and practice have earned numerous awards, including the 2025 AWHONN Award of Excellence in Scholarly Education and induction as a Fellow of AWHONN in 2024.
Research
Breastfeeding, lactation, breast milk expression, breastfeeding outcomes, IBCLC practice
Education
PhD, Nursing, University of Rhode Island
MS, Nursing, University of Rhode Island
BS, Nursing, University of Rhode Island
Diploma, Newport Hospital School of Nursing
Selected Publications
DiTomasso, D., Basley, S. & DeSanto-Madeya, S., Palmer, M.G. Information, guidelines, and strategies about breast milk expression for mothers of full-term infants: A scoping review. Journal of Human Lactation (in press).
Lazar Tucker, J. Arcoleo, K., DiTomasso, D., Oaks, B.M., Cabral, H. & São-João, T. (2025). Hospital breastfeeding support during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Worsening care for Black, Hispanic, and Asian mothers. Maternal & Child Health Journal (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s1099502504123-5
DiTomasso, D., & Quigley, A. (2023). Implementation of a loaner scale program to monitor infant weight and enhance lactation care. Journal of Human Lactation, 39(3), 495-499. https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344231160704
DiTomasso, D., Wambach, K. Roberts, M., Erickson-Owens, D. Quigley, A., Newbury, J. (2022). Maternal worry about infant weight and its influence on artificial milk supplementation and breastfeeding cessation. Journal of Human Lactation, 31(1), 177- 189. https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344211000284
DiTomasso, D. & Cloud, M. (2019). A systematic review of expected weight changes in full-term breastfed newborns after birth. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 48(6), 593–603. htttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2019.09.004