Listening and Leading: Dr. Malathi Balasundaram on Changing the NICU Landscape

In this episode, Mary hosts Dr. Malathi Balasundaram, a passionate neonatologist and the founder of the Family Centered Care (FCC) Task Force. Malathi shares her inspiring journey from her upbringing in a small town in southern India to her influential role at Stanford University. She discusses her transition to neonatology, her work in improving family-centered care in NICUs, and the formation of the FCC Task Force, which has grown to over 1,200 members globally. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating family-centered care and trauma-informed approaches in medical training and practice, and the collaborative efforts needed to make impactful changes in patient care. 00:00 Introduction to Malathi Balasundaram 00:50 Malathi's Early Life and Education 02:34 Journey to Neonatology 04:46 Founding the Family Centered Care Task Force 09:48 Expanding the FCC Task Force 15:25 Impact and Future Vision of FCC Task Force 19:49 The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care 26:15 Final Reflections and Wisdom LinkedIn Malathi Balasundaram Stanford profile link - https://profiles.stanford.edu/malathi-balasundaram?tab=bio Twitter @Malathineo   FCC TASKFORCE Website: www.Fcctaskforce.org