Gabriela Buccini

Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Health
Expertise: Maternal and child health and nutrition, Breastfeeding, Lactation, Infant feeding, Food insecurity, Early childhood development, Health disparities

Biography

Gabriela Buccini is a UNLV School of Public Health professor who researches maternal and child health and nutrition, including breastfeeding and infant feeding, food insecurity, and early childhood development inequities. She is certified as a lactation consultant (IBCLC) by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners.

An epidemiologist and speech pathologist by training, Buccini's work focuses on helping new mothers overcome challenges. She has worked in multiple countries to understand different breastfeeding environments, learn how culture can affect policymaking processes, and examine how maternal/child health nutrition education and counseling programs can be better implemented and sustainable over time.

Buccini's research has explored topics including the relationship between pacifiers and exclusive breastfeeding, the influence of maternity leave on breastfeeding, ultra-processed food consumption among infants, childhood obesity, and pathways for scaling up evidence-based early childhood and nutrition programs in low-income settings and vulnerable populations. Her findings have been published in Annals of the New York Academy of Science, International Breastfeeding Journal, Maternal and Child Nutrition, and Journal of Poverty.

Education

  • Postdoctoral training, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health
  • Ph.D., Nutrition in Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil
  • M.S., Nutrition in Public Health, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Gabriela Buccini In The News

K.T.N.V. T.V. ABC 13
"Las Vegas Morning Blend" hosts Elliott Bambrough and Jessica Rosado join UNLV's EARN-FS team as they discuss free workshops and breastfeeding support in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Breastfeeding Coalition.
Giddy
Learn how to navigate the different state laws on nursing your baby outside your home.
City Cast Las Vegas
The nationwide formula shortage hit Las Vegas hard: According to the Nevada Independent, we were the number one metro area with a formula deficiency in May. And while production was brought back online this weekend, supplies are expected to remain tight until at least June 20th.

Articles Featuring Gabriela Buccini

woman seated indoors
People | April 25, 2022

One of the biggest rewards of public health, according to Gabriela Buccini, is the ability to make the world better for so many – in her case, mothers and babies.