Championing Breastfeeding at Every Touchpoint
For over two decades, Dr. Daniel Bruckner, a board-certified pediatrician at Balboa Pediatrics in Encino, California, has modeled what it looks like when lactation support is not an add-on—but a cornerstone of pediatric care. His practice seamlessly integrates lactation services into every level of care, creating a model that improves outcomes and strengthens trust with families.
Dr. Bruckner employs an in-house IBCLC team, offering families immediate, expert care without needing outside referrals. His patients benefit from unlimited lactation follow-ups, prenatal counseling, and developmental-stage-specific support—all provided within the familiar setting of their pediatric office. This approach has helped families not only initiate breastfeeding but sustain it, with continuation rates at 3, 6, and 12 months exceeding national benchmarks.
But Dr. Bruckner’s impact extends well beyond the exam room. For more than 15 years, he and his team have led a free, community-based breastfeeding support group, creating an inclusive and informed space for families to connect, ask questions, and build confidence in their feeding journeys.
His office also serves as a training ground for the next generation of lactation professionals. From ongoing staff education to mentoring aspiring IBCLCs, Dr. Bruckner ensures that clinical excellence and compassion go hand-in-hand. One current mentee—a former patient—was inspired by the care she received as a new parent and is now training under the same roof that helped her succeed.
As one parent shared,
“I would not have made it past the first few weeks without the support I received here. Being able to see the same lactation consultant and my pediatrician in one place made all the difference.”
Dr. Bruckner’s steadfast advocacy, educational leadership, and community-centered model show what’s possible when pediatric care fully embraces lactation support. His dedication has helped countless families reach their breastfeeding goals—and raised the bar for how physicians can lead in maternal and infant health.