Dr. Raylene Phillips shares how a lifelong love of babies led her to enter medicine at age 50 and help transform NICU care through whole-infant, family-centered connection. 

Episode Highlights

  • 04:56 – Starting medical school at 50
  • 11:11 – The sacred hour for mother and baby
  • 14:52 – Whole person care and personality in a neonate
  • 22:39 – Advice for parents in building a trust foundation

Meet Our People

Dr. Raylene Phillips, MD

Neonatology

Dr. Raylene Phillips is a neonatologist at Loma Linda University Health whose work has helped shaped how hospitals care for their most vulnerable patients. As a mother and foster parent to newborns awaiting adoption, she gained deep insight into the unique needs of infants. Her commitment to advocating for the proper care of babies led her to neonatology just as the field was beginning to recognize the impact of parental presence on infant outcomes. Dr. Phillips has since advanced neuroprotective, family-centered developmental care, emphasizing gentle handling, skin-to-skin contact, and the measurable benefits of a parent’s voice and touch. At LLUH, she has championed early bonding during the “sacred hour” and promotes environments that protect preterm infants from stress while supporting healthy development. In leadership and education roles, Dr. Phillips continues to advocate for care models that support infants, their parents, and care teams.

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