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About this Certificate
The Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program is housed in the Department of Nutrition and allows students to meet the eligibility requirements to complete the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Exam and, once students pass the exam, work as a credentialed IBCLC. The MSU Denver Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program is a residential program. There is not an online option for this program. Engaging in the classroom with peers and faculty members deepens the learning experience, broadens perspective, and will strengthen your professional network.
There are three pathways to become qualified for the IBCLC exam, according to the International Board of Certified Lactation Examiners (IBCLE).
For more information on the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program, please contact the Department of Nutrition at [email protected].
What is an IBCLC?
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants function and contribute as members of the maternal-child health team. They provide care in a variety of settings while making appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community support resources. Working together with mothers, families, policymakers and society, IBCLCs provide expert breastfeeding and lactation care, promote changes that support breastfeeding and help reduce the risks of not breastfeeding.
What can an IBCLC do?
IBCLCs typically work with patients as advanced practice clinicians. They work independently and as members of the maternal-child health team to manage clinical lactation concerns for mother, baby, and family units.
More information can be found on the IBLCE website.
As baby formula shortages persist, breastfeeding education gets a boost
A new lactation-training program at MSU Denver prepares students to support nursing moms
Lactation Journal Club
This is a great place for students to network with IBCLC’s and others who work in maternal and child health. Attending Lactation Journal Club will keep you abreast of recent developments and updates in the field of lactation support. Additionally, 2 CEUs will be provided for each journal club attended.
Lactation Journal Club will meets monthly. Check out our upcoming events below!
You can register to attend the events that interest you at the link below:
Lactation Journal Club Events
Tuesday September 10, 2024 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus with Dr. Stacy Miller.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the state of breastfeeding in Colorado
- Identify populations at risk for breastfeeding cessation in Colorado
- Devise strategies to address barriers to breastfeeding initiation and duration in Colorado
More information coming soon!
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Registration:
- Register to attend at this link: http://commerce.cashnet.com/MSUDenverEM_NUTM
Wednesday November 6, 2024 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus with Dr. Kelly McMullen.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify where in Colorado there are underserved populations of breastfeeding couplets
- Summarize strategies to support breastfeeding in underserved communities
- Identify and collaborate with resources in your community
More information coming soon!
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Registration:
- Register to attend at this link: http://commerce.cashnet.com/MSUDenverEM_NUTM
Tuesday February, 4 2025 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus with Dr. Maya Bunik, MD, IBCLC.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Learning Objectives:
- Identify potential causes of blebs, clogged ducts, mastitis, and breast abscesses
- Discuss treatment protocols for blebs, clogged ducts, mastitis, and breast abscesses
- Establish care plan for lactating people who experience blebs, clogged ducts, mastitis, or breast abscesses
Check out this article for more information on the topic.
Registration:
- Register to attend at this link: http://commerce.cashnet.com/MSUDenverEM_NUTM
Tuesday March 4, 2025 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus with Dr. Maya Bunik, MD, IBCLC
Check back for more information soon!
Tuesday April 1, 2025 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus
Check back for more information soon!
Lactation Journal Club Event Archive
Thursday May 2, 2024 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Speaker:
Mari Foster, LCSW, IMH-E, Infant Mental Health Specialist
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the universal needs of mothers and birthing people
- Identifying the continuum of perinatal mood disorders
- Demonstrating the impact of perinatal mental health on individuals, interpersonal relationships, and institutions
- Applying tools and solutions for action oriented approaches to positively impact their respective practices and communities
- Reviewing and understanding their group baseline intercultural development assessment
Literature to be Discussed:
Wednesday April 10, 2024 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Learning Objectives:
- Define tethered oral tissues including lip tie, tongue tie and buccal tie.
- Discuss origin of tethered oral tissues
- Summarize treatment options for tethered oral tissues
- Evaluate the potential effects of tethered oral tissues on breastfeeding
- Discuss pros and cons of release of tethered oral tissues related infant feeding
Literature to be Discussed:
- Breastfeeding improvement following tongue-tie and lip-tie release: A prospective cohort study
- Aerophagia induced reflux in breastfeeding infants with ankyloglossia and shortened maxillary labial frenula (tongue and lip tie)
- Safety and efficacy of maxillary labial frenectomy in children: A retrospective comparative cohort study
- The buccal frenum: Trends in diagnosis and indications for treatment of buccal-ties among 466 healthcare professionals
- Bottle-feeding and gastroesophageal reflux disease improvement after restrictive tethered oral tissues release
- Clinical Consensus Statement: Ankyloglossia in Children
Registration:
- Register to attend at this link: http://commerce.cashnet.com/MSUDenverEM_NUTM
Tuesday February 6, 2024 from 3PM – 5PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the sources of vitamin D
- Outline the metabolism of vitamin D and its physiological role
- Describe the effects of vitamin D deficiency and associated risk factors
- Examine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and current dietary intake
- Review the effects of maternal versus infant vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status and bone health
- Discuss alternative vitamin D supplementation strategies to ensure nutritional vitamin D sufficiency in breastfed infants
Registration:
- Register to attend at this link: http://commerce.cashnet.com/MSUDenverEM_NUTM
Literature to be Discussed:
Wednesday November 8, 2023 from 5PM – 7PM in West Classroom 248 on MSU Denver’s Campus.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Registration:
- Please register for the event at the link provided in the paragraph above Lactation Journal Club Events.
Literature to be Discussed:
- The article that will be discussed is Clinical Practice Guideline Revision: Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation
Speaker:
- Kelly McMullen, MD, CLC
- Attending Family Physician
- Lowry Family Health Center, Denver Health
- Co-Chair, Lactation Task Force, Denver Health
- Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine University of Colorado School of Medicine
This session provides:
- 2 CEU’s for IBCLC
- 2 CEU’s for RDN
- 2 CEU’s for RN
Thursday October 12, 2023 from 5PM – 7PM in the CAVEA Theatre at the Jordan Student Success Building on MSU Denver’s Campus. Light refreshments will be provided.
Cost:
- $40 for general public
- $10 for students
Registration:
- Please register for the event at the link provided in the paragraph above Lactation Journal Club Events.
Literature to be Discussed:
- The article that will be discussed is Addressing Racial Inequities in Breastfeeding in the Southern United States.
- The articles provided for background information are:
Facilitators:
- Catherine S. Sullivan, MPH, RD, LDN, IBCLC, FAND, Director, Assistant Professor Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Julie Theriault, MA, CLSSBB, Accreditation and Training Manager
This session provides:
- 2 CEU’s for IBCLC
- 2 CEU’s for RDN
- 2 CEU’s for RN
Staff Directory
Jennifer Bolton, PhD, RDN, IBCLC
Professor | Lactation Program Director
[email protected] 303-615-0990MSU Denver Baby Café
The MSU Denver Baby Cafe’s are lactation support groups in the community and free to any community members who would like to participate. We offer groups in both Spanish and English, lactation support and community for postpartum parents. MSU Denver partners with these sites to provide a well-rounded experience to our lactation students as well as serve our community.
Day: Mondays
Time: 11:00AM – 12:30PM
Location: 1100 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Day: Mondays
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: 601 N. Broadway Room 408, Denver, CO 80204
There is free on-site parking in the garage attached to the building.
Lactation support can be provided in Spanish – this is a bilingual group.
More information can be found here.
Más información aquí.
Day: Fridays
Time: 9:30AM – 11:30AM
Location: 500 Cooperative Way, Brighton, CO 80603 in the Community Room or the United Power building.
Mission and Goals
The mission of the Lactation Program at MSU Denver is to prepare diverse students for successful careers in maternal and child health and wellness as well as eligibility for the IBCLE credentialing exam to become an IBCLC through quality, in-person education that is culturally sensitive and instills a desire for life-long learning.
To prepare competent entry level lactation consultants in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
Program Prerequisites
Prerequisite courses – These courses are required to be completed before the program begins in August:
- Biology
- Human Anatomy
- Human Physiology
- Nutrition
Co-requisite courses – These courses are required to be completed by May when the lactation program is complete:
- Introduction to Clinical Research
- Infant Child Growth and Development
- Psychology or Counseling Skills or Communications Skills
- Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology
The Program Director or Manager cannot inform a student if their prerequisites will be accepted by IBCLC. Please visit their website and review the criteria for acceptance.
Corequisites
Prior to applying for the IBLCE exam, all candidates must complete education in 14 health science corequisites (including the prerequisites above). This general education must be completed prior to applying for the exam. See the required courses below.
For more information please review the Health Science Education Guide.
Additional subjects that will be met through program content:
- Medical documentation: content provided in program orientation
- Medical terminology: content provided in program orientation
- OSSHP: required prior to beginning NUT 4990/5990-Lactation Internship-provided through Healthstream modules
- Ethics: required prior to beginning NUT 4990/5990-Lactation Internship-provided through Healthstream modules
- Safety: required prior to beginning NUT 4990/5990-Lactation Internship-provided through Healthstream modules
- BLS: all students must take a AHA CPR/BLS course prior to beginning NUT 4990/5990-Lactation Internship
Admission and Application Requirements
Students can be accepted into the in-person IBCLC program for a Fall start term.
The Fall Application Cycle opens on December 1st, 2024.
For Fall, the deadlines are as follows:
Early application deadline: February 15th, 2025.
Priority deadline:April 15th, 2025.
To apply for the in-person Undergraduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training you must already be an MSU Denver undergraduate student or you must be accepted to MSU Denver as a Non-Degree Seeking Student. You can complete MSU Denver’s undergraduate application here: Undergraduate Admission Application.
After you have been accepted as an undergraduate student, you must complete the Undergraduate Lactation Certificate Program Application in Qualtrics.
- Complete Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Nutrition courses
- No minimum GPA Requirement
- No Application Fee (International Students must pay a $50 application fee)
To apply for the in-person Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students accepted into the program with a CPA lower than a 3.0 must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during the first semester of the program.
Here are the steps to complete an application:
Application fees for prospective, domestic students to apply to Master’s Programs and Graduate Certificates at MSU Denver will be waived starting 10/1/2023 through 10/1/2025.
- Complete Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Nutrition courses
- Complete the online Graduate Admission Application
- In addition to the Graduate Admission Application, you will be required to submit the supplemental Graduate Lactation Certificate Program Application in Qualtrics.
- Submit Official Transcripts directly from all colleges and universities attended to Graduate Admissions at [email protected] *MSU Denver official transcripts do not need to be requested
If you have already been admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training program, you will be required to submit the supplemental Graduate Lactation Certificate Program Application in Qualtrics.
Students admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training are non-degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students do not qualify for financial aid. If you are enrolled in the MSND or another graduate program, you may qualify for financial aid.
MSU Lactation Handbook
Current students should be familiar with the MSU Lactation Handbook
Tuition and Fees
The proposed tuition for the Undergraduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training is $400/credit hour for residents and $450/credit hour for non-residents. Please note, there will be an increase in tuition for academic year 24-25. Mandatory fee are outlined below.
| Credit Hour | Auraria Bond | Intercollegiate Athletics | Campus Recreation | Tivoli Park Facility | Clean Energy | Student Affairs | Student Technology | Phoenix Center | Metro Bond | Health & Wellness | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $8.70 | $3.50 | $27.80 | $107.50 | $358.20 |
| 2 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $17.40 | $3.50 | $55.60 | $107.50 | $394.70 |
| 3 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $26.10 | $3.50 | $83.40 | $107.50 | $431.20 |
| 4 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $34.80 | $3.50 | $111.20 | $107.50 | $480.20 |
| 5 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $43.50 | $3.50 | $139.00 | $107.50 | $516.70 |
| 6 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $52.20 | $3.50 | $166.80 | $107.50 | $588.20 |
| 7 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $60.90 | $3.50 | $194.60 | $107.50 | $640.10 |
| 8 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $69.60 | $3.50 | $222.40 | $107.50 | $676.60 |
| 9 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $78.30 | $3.50 | $250.20 | $107.50 | $713.10 |
| 10 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $87.00 | $3.50 | $278.00 | $107.50 | $749.60 |
| 11 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $95.70 | $3.50 | $305.80 | $107.50 | $786.10 |
| 12 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $104.40 | $3.50 | $333.60 | $107.50 | $846.50 |
| 13 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $113.10 | $3.50 | $361.40 | $107.50 | $883.00 |
| 14 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $121.80 | $3.50 | $389.20 | $107.50 | $919.50 |
| 15 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $130.50 | $3.50 | $417.00 | $107.50 | $956.00 |
| 16 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $139.20 | $3.50 | $444.80 | $107.50 | $992.50 |
| 17 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $147.90 | $3.50 | $472.60 | $107.50 | $1,029.00 |
| 18 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $156.60 | $3.50 | $500.40 | $107.50 | $1,065.50 |
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The proposed tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training is $500/credit hour for residents and $550/credit hour for non-residents. Please note, there will be an increase in tuition for academic year 24-25. Mandatory fee are outlined below.
| Credit Hour | Auraria Bond | Intercollegiate Athletics | Campus Recreation | Tivoli Park Facility | Clean Energy | Student Affairs | Student Technology | Phoenix Center | Metro Bond | Health & Wellness | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $8.70 | $3.50 | $27.80 | $107.50 | $358.20 |
| 2 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $17.40 | $3.50 | $55.60 | $107.50 | $394.70 |
| 3 | $50.80 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $26.10 | $3.50 | $83.40 | $107.50 | $431.20 |
| 4 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $34.80 | $3.50 | $111.20 | $107.50 | $480.20 |
| 5 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $56.90 | $43.50 | $3.50 | $139.00 | $107.50 | $516.70 |
| 6 | $63.30 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $52.20 | $3.50 | $166.80 | $107.50 | $588.20 |
| 7 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $60.90 | $3.50 | $194.60 | $107.50 | $640.10 |
| 8 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $69.60 | $3.50 | $222.40 | $107.50 | $676.60 |
| 9 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $78.30 | $3.50 | $250.20 | $107.50 | $713.10 |
| 10 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $87.00 | $3.50 | $278.00 | $107.50 | $749.60 |
| 11 | $78.70 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $95.70 | $3.50 | $305.80 | $107.50 | $786.10 |
| 12 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $104.40 | $3.50 | $333.60 | $107.50 | $846.50 |
| 13 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $113.10 | $3.50 | $361.40 | $107.50 | $883.00 |
| 14 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $121.80 | $3.50 | $389.20 | $107.50 | $919.50 |
| 15 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $130.50 | $3.50 | $417.00 | $107.50 | $956.00 |
| 16 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $139.20 | $3.50 | $444.80 | $107.50 | $992.50 |
| 17 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $147.90 | $3.50 | $472.60 | $107.50 | $1,029.00 |
| 18 | $102.60 | $47.80 | $38.60 | $6.60 | $10.00 | $91.90 | $156.60 | $3.50 | $500.40 | $107.50 | $1,065.50 |
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Financial Aid
Courses in the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program are not eligible for College Opportunity Fund (COF) at the undergraduate or graduate level.
If you are enrolled in a degree program, you may receive financial aid. However, if you are only enrolled as a certificate student you will not be eligible for financial aid.
Scholarships
- MSU Denver Student Travel and Professional Development Funding
- Earn & Learn
- Annual Department of Nutrition Lactation Scholarship (more information to come)
Pathways
Pathway 1 is primarily meant for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), Registered Nurses (RNs) or other recognized health care professionals.
This pathway requires a minimum of 95 hours of lactation-specific education including 5 hours of communication skills and a minimum of 1,000 hours of lactation-specific clinical practice. Lactation-specific clinical practice hours can be obtained in an appropriate setting to include hospital, birth center or community clinic. More details on Pathway 1 can be found on the IBLCE website.
*Pathway 1 can be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.
To see how MSU Denver meets this pathway requirement, please review the curriculum below.
Pathway 2 is a comprehensive academic program in human lactation and breastfeeding that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee. Pathway 2 requires a minimum of 95 hours of lactation-specific education including 5 hours of communication skills within the five years prior to IBCLC examination application, and a minimum of 300 hours of directly supervised lactation-specific clinical practice along with the completion of all lactation internship competencies.
*Pathway 2 can be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.
To see how MSU Denver meets this pathway requirement, please review the curriculum below.
Curriculum
In the Pathway 1 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 4950 and NUT 4970). Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in their healthcare-related places of employment under the coordination and direction of the Department of Nutrition.
In the Pathway 1 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 5950 and NUT 5970). Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in their healthcare-related places of employment under the coordination and direction of the Department of Nutrition.
In the Pathway 2 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 4950 and NUT 4970). Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in hospitals and outpatient lactation practices under the supervision and direction of the Lactation Program director and facility IBCLC. In order to complete the 300 hours of lactation internship, the student will enroll in 12 credits of NUT 4990-Lactation Internship.
In the Pathway 2 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 5950 and NUT 5970). Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in hospitals and outpatient lactation practices under the supervision an d direction of the Lactation Program director and facility IBCLC. In order to complete the 300 hours of lactation internship, the student will enroll in 12 credits of NUT 5990 – Lactation Internship.
IBCLC Exam Information
The IBCLC Exam is offered twice per year.
Spring Offering – Apply in the Fall, registration opens mid-September to October
Fall Offering – Apply in the Spring, registration opens mid-April to May
Students are eligible for the exam after all education courses and supervised hours are complete.
The MSU Denver Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program is unable to confirm whether all prerequisite coursework required by the IBCLE has been completed. Students must reference the Health Science Course Handbook in order to confirm required prerequisite courses.
Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program
Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program
For initial candidates the cost is $660.
Giving
Thank you for considering a gift to MSU Denver's Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program and student scholarships.
Your tax-deductible donation will be used to help the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program continue to provide a quality and competitive lactation education and scholarships to students.
Connect with Us
Want more information?
For more information on the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program, please contact the Department of Nutrition. Click below to send us an email!
Email UsDepartment of Nutrition
Phone:
303-615-0990
Office Location:
West Classroom 254
Office Hours:
8:00am – 5:00pm
Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Nutrition
Campus Box 33N
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362