Marika Baptist, M. Ed, CLS

Marika is a LA native living in the midwest. A Mother to two children under five years old, a dedicated wife, and small business owner. She is a health equity advocate, birth and breastfeeding enthusiast and educator. While experiencing pregnancy with both of her children, Marika became passionate about supporting pregnant and nursing families. Realizing that there was a gap in breastfeeding education offered to new families, she joined the cause and since then, she has been apart of the solution. She has five years of experience in the public health sector and has a vested interest in birth and breastfeeding, and now has an interest in exploring breastfeeding initiation and duration it relates to chronic disease management and prevention. Marika currently leads the Indiana Department of Health’s Health Equity Council where she works with her council and many divisions assisting them in creating equitable efforts across program areas such as Chronic Disease, WIC, HIPP, Trauma and Injury, and more. Marika works as a Medical Practice Coach supporting federally Qualified Health Centers with change strategies for clients living with chronic diseases and supporting health center staff to practice a trauma informed approach to care through the Indiana Primary Care Learning Collaborative.