Dr. Diane Spatz

Professor

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Biography

Dr. Diane Spatz is the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition and a Professor of Perinatal Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She also holds a joint appointment as a nurse scientist-lactation at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). An internationally recognized expert in human lactation, Dr. Spatz is a principal investigator or co-investigator on 50 research grants funded by the NIH and has authored or co-authored 285 peer-reviewed publications along with numerous book chapters related to human milk and breastfeeding. She developed a widely adopted 10-step model for human milk breastfeeding for vulnerable infants which has been implemented in NICUs across the United States and worldwide. Dr. Spatz is also an influential educator, having taught over 1,000 nurses in the Breastfeeding Resource Nurse course at CHOP and provides prenatal and post-delivery lactation education. Her work aims to improve breastfeeding outcomes for mothers and infants globally and includes significant contributions to clinical practice guidelines and position statements for various professional organizations. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including being named an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from AWHONN in 2025.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Pennsylvania

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.6
GRE General
Verbal
Required:162
Quantitative
Required:162
Overall
Required:162
GMAT
Total Score
Required:728
Overall
Required:728
TOEFL
Total
Required:115
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative background
Application Checklist
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation (2-3)
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
Specialization Notes

Wharton Doctoral programs cover fields like Finance, Marketing, Management, and Operations, Information and Decisions.