Meet Alicia Simpson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Simpson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, how does your business help the community?
When people ask me how Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support helps the community, I like to tell them about our absolute obsession with keeping families healthy, not just today, but for generations to come. My core purpose as a non-profit organization is to advance health equity and dismantle medical poverty by closing the devastating gaps in our healthcare system. I focus my energy on the families who need it most, ensuring that preventative care and quality wellness support are never treated as luxuries reserved only for the wealthy.

To make a true, long-term difference, I intentionally set my income eligibility criteria broader than standard government assistance programs. I do this specifically to catch the working poor, meaning those families who earn too much to qualify for state aid, but too little to afford private care. By providing them with free medical nutrition therapy, adult and pediatric nutrition counseling, and family-centered lactation support, I keep them from slipping through the cracks of a fractured system. I want to build a future where a family’s zip code, race, or economic status never dictates their health outcomes.

A major pillar of my work is actively fighting birth inequities across Georgia. I refuse to stand by while maternal and infant mortality rates remain disproportionately high, particularly for Black women, who face a vastly higher risk of pregnancy-related complications. Through specialized initiatives like my Diabetes in Pregnancy Program, I provide critical clinical tools, hospital-grade pump rentals, and prenatal guidance to ensure safer pregnancies and successful postpartum journeys. I am also incredibly proud of launching community networks like The Latch Lounge and hosting accessible virtual classes to give parents real, evidence-based education on latching, positioning, and maternal nutrition.

By stepping in during pregnancy and early infancy, I help families build a strong, lifelong foundation that prevents childhood obesity and lifestyle-related chronic illnesses down the road. I also take this education to the next generation through youth initiatives like my Taste Explorers Summer Camp, where kids learn to love nutritious food early on. Whether I am guiding a mother through a difficult feeding journey, supporting a patient managing a chronic illness, or creating spaces where local parents can find real community connection, my goal remains exactly the same. I am here to cultivate a healthier, fairer, and more equitable world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My professional journey hasn’t followed a straight line, but every twist and turn has shaped the leader, advocate, and practitioner I am today. Before I built my career in public health and nutrition, I was a rock star in the fast-paced world of pharmaceutical sales. I knew how to navigate the corporate landscape, communicate with healthcare providers, and drive results. But despite that success, I felt a deep, persistent calling toward something more profound—a desire to be on the front lines of community health and reproductive justice rather than just the commercial side of medicine.

Making that pivot wasn’t easy. It required starting over and anchoring myself in rigorous academic and clinical training. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and a Master of Science in Health Science with a focus on Nutrition and Dietetics from Georgia State University, graduating with high honors. Along the way, I became a Registered Dietitian and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I even went on to pursue my PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Public Policy, specifically researching how major healthcare policies impact birth outcomes right here in Georgia.

What sets me apart from others is this exact intersection of corporate strategy, rigorous clinical scholarship, and grassroots community passion. I don’t just understand the science of nutrition and human lactation; I understand the systemic policy barriers that keep vulnerable populations from accessing care. I’ve taken my knowledge into higher education, serving as a clinical coordinator and adjunct professor to shape the next generation of maternal and child health professionals. I have also stepped into the legislative arena, serving as a fellow with the Georgia Women’s Policy Institute where I co-led advocacy teams to introduce maternal-infant health legislation directly to state senators.

The achievement I am most proud of is founding Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support back in 2012. For well over a decade, I have served as the Executive Director, transforming a vision of healthcare equity into a living, breathing reality. I am incredibly proud of developing and managing vital initiatives like our Diabetes in Pregnancy Program, which is backed by prestigious organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and SisterSong. Through this program and our Healthy Families initiatives, we secure funding and design clinical frameworks to support underserved and rural populations when they need it most.

The biggest lesson I have learned along the way is that sustainable change requires moving from theory to practice. It isn’t enough to publish books or speak at national conferences—though I have been honored to do both. True impact happens when you establish deep roots in the community and actively build trust with the people you serve.

If there is one thing I want the world to know about me and the Pea Pod Nutrition brand, it is that we are relentlessly committed to human rights and reproductive justice. My story is proof that your past experiences don’t limit your future impact; instead, they give you a unique toolkit to solve complex problems. I took the grit and strategic drive from my corporate sales days and channeled it into a life’s work of protecting mothers, infants, and families. Pea Pod Nutrition is here to ensure that health equity is not just a policy goal, but a daily reality for every community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were coming to visit me in Atlanta, I would want them to experience the city exactly the way I love to live it: active, outdoorsy, grounded, and filled with incredible plant-based food. We would spend the week playing tourist in my own backyard, mixing high-energy running, biking, and kayaking with moments of deep yoga zen and the absolute best vegan eats the city has to offer.

We would kick off the trip on Monday by exploring the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. I would have us rent bikes or just lace up our running shoes to cruise through the vibrant neighborhoods of Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward. For lunch, we would stop by the municipal market style spaces or local spots along the trail to grab a plant-based bite, taking in all the public art, murals, and energy of the city. Later that evening, we would wind down with an open-air rooftop or patio drink to catch the skyline views as the sun sets.

Tuesday would be all about nature and getting out on the water. We would head just a little bit north of the city center to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. I would pack up a couple of kayaks for a serene, gorgeous morning paddling down the river, surrounded by trees and wildlife. Afterward, we would head into the city to play tourist and fuel up with a massive, comforting vegan meal, perhaps trying out legendary local spots like Soul Vegetarian or grabbing innovative plant-based comfort food that proves you don’t need dairy or meat to have a world-class culinary experience.

Wednesday would be our dedicated yoga and wellness day. I would take my friend to a morning flow at a local community studio or find an outdoor pop-up class in one of Atlanta’s gorgeous green spaces like Piedmont Park. Spending the afternoon walking under the massive canopy of trees in the park feels like an escape from the city altogether. For dinner, we would hit a vibrant neighborhood like Little Five Points or East Atlanta Village to check out the eccentric local shops, dive into the indie music culture, and enjoy a relaxed dinner at a vegan-friendly pub or café.

On Thursday, we would take our bikes out to the Silver Comet Trail or head east to Stone Mountain for a challenging trail run. The granite views and forested paths are perfect for anyone who loves a good sweat in the great outdoors. To reward ourselves, the evening would be dedicated to a high-end, curation of Atlanta’s best vegan night scenes, hunting down the latest plant-based pop-ups, modern vegan bistros, or dairy-free ice cream shops.

We would spend Friday and the weekend diving into the deep history and culture that makes Atlanta so unique. We would visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which are both profoundly moving and essential to understanding the heartbeat of this city. We would round out the week by hanging out at local farmers markets, grabbing fresh juices, listening to live street musicians, and toast to the perfect week with local craft brews or artisanal cocktails in a cozy, tree-lined courtyard. By the time my friend leaves, they would see Atlanta not just as a bustling metropolis, but as a lush, active, and deeply soul-stirring haven for the adventurous spirit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The work we do at Pea Pod Nutrition is only possible because of the amazing community of volunteers, the tireless work of our board of directors and our amazing staff and health care providers.

Website: https://www.peapodnutrition.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peapodnutrition/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciasimpsonphd/

Twitter: https://x.com/peapodparents

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeaPodNutrition/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@peapodnutritionus

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