Debra Nawracaj
MSN, APRN, FNP-C, IBCLC, CWS
Debra Nawracaj is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Family Nurse Practitioner, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with more than 45 years of nursing experience and over 40 years specializing in lactation and breastfeeding medicine.
Her career has been dedicated to supporting women, infants, and families through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding challenges, and newborn care. Debra has extensive experience caring for high-risk maternal-infant dyads in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including NICU, PICU, CTCU, postpartum, antepartum, and pediatric care. She has worked at several leading Chicago-area hospitals, including the University of Chicago Medicine, where she has provided advanced lactation care, breastfeeding education, and clinical support since 2012. Throughout her career, Debra has been instrumental in developing and strengthening hospital-based breastfeeding programs and evidence-based lactation policies.
She has served in leadership roles supporting Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative implementation, staff education, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her passion for breastfeeding advocacy extends beyond direct patient care and includes mentoring healthcare professionals, teaching nursing students, facilitating postpartum support groups, and promoting culturally sensitive, family-centered care. Debra earned her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Northern Illinois University and graduated with honors from Benedictine University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a 4.0 GPA. She has been an IBCLC since 1994 and remains actively involved in professional organizations and breastfeeding advocacy initiatives throughout the Chicago area. Debra’s approach to care combines clinical expertise, compassion, and personalized education to help families feel confident and supported during their feeding journey. Her mission is to empower parents with evidence-based guidance while creating a warm, nonjudgmental environment where every family feels heard, respected, and cared for.
Lauren E. Amore
DNP, MBA-HM, APRN, AGNP-C, CNE, CWS
Lauren Amore’s path to nursing has been both intentional and deeply personal. With a foundation in business and healthcare leadership, she earned her MBA in Healthcare Management before pursuing her clinical training through Marquette University, where she completed her MSN. She later obtained her post-master’s certificate as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Chatham University. She also holds a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential, is a Certified Wound Care Specialist (CWS), and completed advanced study in Medical Anthropology through Harvard University, shaping her understanding of culture, health, and the lived experience of patients. Her clinical background is diverse and grounded in high-acuity care.
Lauren has worked across hospice, med-surg, women’s health, lactation, and wound care, with additional experience in critical care settings, including the ICU. She has trained and practiced within leading institutions such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital and University of Chicago Medical Center, experiences that continue to inform her clinical judgment and standards of care. In addition to traditional primary care, Lauren has pursued advanced training in functional medicine and peptide-based therapies, allowing her to integrate evidence-informed, personalized approaches into her practice. She is particularly focused on metabolic health, hormone balance, and long-term disease prevention, bridging conventional medicine with innovative, patient-centered care.
Lauren is the founder of Amoremedix, a modern primary care practice offering in-clinic, mobile, and telehealth services designed to bring high-quality care directly to patients in the way that best fits their lives. She is also the co-founder of Humble Helper, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families through times of transition and loss. Across both ventures, her work is rooted in a commitment to accessibility, dignity, and health equity. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: care should meet people where they are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
This perspective is further shaped by her doctoral and seminary training, where she earned both a PhD and ThD, deepening her focus on holistic care, justice, and the integration of meaning into healing.
Lauren’s work reflects a belief that modern healthcare can be both clinically excellent and deeply human—innovative in approach, yet grounded in compassion.
