[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF DR. DANA LOUISE RAPHAEL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Dr. Dana Louise Raphael, who passed away on February 2, 2016, at the 
age of 90. Dr. Raphael will be remembered as someone who lived her life 
with dedication to her community, family, and to her career in the 
field of medical anthropology.
  Dr. Raphael was born on January 5, 1926, in New Britain, Connecticut, 
to Louis Raphael and Naomi Kaplan. From a very young age, education was 
of great importance to Dr. Raphael. She attended Columbia University, 
where she earned both her bachelor's and doctorate degrees. While at 
Columbia University, Dr. Raphael was a protegee of cultural 
anthropologist, Margaret Mead and became one of the first scientists 
that challenged milk formula manufacturers.
  In 1953, Dr. Raphael married the love of her life, Howard Boone 
Jacobson, and as a newlywed, completed her initial field work in India. 
Dr. Raphael soon became a respected medical anthropologist, writer, and 
lecturer. She is well-known for her global work in supporting breast 
feeding and is credited for launching the Doula movement in the United 
States. Dr. Raphael first used the term doula in her 1969 
anthropological study to describe women caregivers during labor and 
childbirth whose function was associated with the success of 
breastfeeding.
  In 1975, Dr. Raphael and Margaret Mead co-founded the Human Lactation 
Center (HLC). The HLC researches lactation patterns around the world 
and is also an NGO with consultative status with the Economic and 
Social Council of the United Nations. Her advocacy allowed her to take 
on companies like Nestle in the 1980s pushing them to become more aware 
of the role producers of formula played in infant mortality in 
developing countries. Dr. Raphael's contributions to these projects 
resulted in the implementation of education programs for young mothers 
to prevent unnecessary deaths of newborns. Her willingness to help 
people was conveyed in her book Tender Gift: Breastfeeding, which was 
published in 1973. The book was a product of Dr. Raphael's own sadness 
of not being able to breastfeed her son and outlined a number of tools 
for women to assist with successful breastfeeding. The book went on to 
be known as the breastfeeding bible by many in the midwife and doula 
community.
  During the last 20 years of her life, Dr. Raphael served on the U.S. 
Board of the Club of Rome where she committed herself to educating 
world leaders on the impacts of climate change.
  She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Yale University, was an 
invited lecturer in the U.S., China, India, and Japan, and was a 
recipient of two Fulbright awards. Throughout her career, Dr. Raphael 
recognized the importance of serving her community and expressed a 
profound love for it. Her contributions to women around the world will 
be her legacy. She is survived by her sons, Seth Jacobson and Brett 
Raphael, daughter, Jessa Murnin, and her six grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Dr. 
Dana Louise Raphael. Dr. Raphael touched and aided many people 
throughout her life. Her advocacy, deep commitment, and positive 
attitude will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

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