Our diverse Milk Bank team works together to screen donors, process donor milk safely and deliver life-saving nutrition to medically fragile infants in the hospital.
Director
Our director oversees the Milk Bank’s daily operations and strategic initiatives. They also supervise scientific studies and manage administrative tasks.
Dr. Michael Pitino, PhD
Dr. Michael Pitino earned his MSc and PhD in nutritional sciences from the University of Toronto (U of T). His research explored new processing methods for donor milk banking. He led a preclinical evaluation of high-pressure processing (HPP), an alternative to traditional pasteurization that better preserves the nutritional and bioactive components of donor human milk. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, he joined Sinai Health in 2024. Today, Dr. Pitino is an assistant professor (status-only) in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine. He manages the Milk Bank’s day-to-day operations and leads translational research to maximize the nutritional quality and benefits of donor human milk for vulnerable preterm infants. He is a principal investigator of the ongoing High-Pressure Processing of Donor Human Milk to Improve Fat Absorption in Preterm Infants (HiPP) study, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed research articles. Driven by a deep commitment to infant health, Dr. Pitino is working to expand the Milk Bank’s reach across Ontario and Canada so that every vulnerable infant who needs donor human milk can access high-quality nutrition.
Medical director
Our medical director oversees the care of donor human milk to ensure it is safe and of high quality.
Dr. Sharon Unger, MD
Dr. Sharon Unger is the medical director of the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank. She is a neonatologist at IWK Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto (U of T). She is also a mother of three teenage daughters. Dr. Unger is from New Brunswick and attended Dalhousie University Medical School. After completing her paediatrics residency on the East Coast, she completed fellowship training in neonatal-perinatal medicine at U of T. She was a principal investigator for the Donor Milk for Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (DoMINO) trial, the largest blinded randomized controlled trial in donor milk used to supplement mother’s milk. This trial provided the evidence required to launch the Milk Bank. Dr. Unger has received continuous funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for more than a decade. She is one of the primary investigators for the MaxiMoM: Maximizing Mothers’ Milk Program of Research.
Nurse practitioner
Our nurse practitioner supports clinical decision-making.
Carol Cheng, MSc, NP-Paediatrics, NNP-BC, C-ELBW, C-NNIC
A certified lactation consultant since 1993, Carol has a clinical passion for breastfeeding, breast milk nutrition and dedicated support for the families of preterm infants. Her expertise has been instrumental in advancing measures like the Baby-Friendly Initiative and in improving the complex feeding needs of preterm infants. Known for her precision, efficiency and deep neonatal knowledge, Carol has shaped the next generation of caregivers since 1997 by serving as a respected preceptor and mentor through her cross-appointment with the University of Toronto. She has also contributed to research as a site investigator on neonatal pain studies funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Carol worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Sinai Hospital for 38 years until retiring from full-time practice in 2025. She has since joined the Rogers Hixon Ontario Human Milk Bank at Sinai Health, where she continues to advance the health of preterm infants through her invaluable work and ongoing research.
Lactation coordinators
Lactation coordinators screen and train new milk donors. They offer support and education to current and prospective donors on breast/chestfeeding, pumping hygiene and proper milk expression and storage.
Production supervisor
Our production supervisor oversees our lab operations, maintains equipment and manages the production team.
Diet technicians
Our diet technicians manage all incoming milk donations. They prepare, process and test donor human milk before it is distributed to hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) for medically fragile infants.
Marketing and communications specialist
Our marketing and communications specialist expands awareness of the Milk Bank’s mission by developing and sharing impact stories across our channels.
Administrative assistant
Our administrative assistant manages clerical tasks, organizes schedules and assists with daily operations.