P004911 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2012-01-05 human Rebecca Rigby updated 2025-10-29 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P004911b.htm person Cilento Lady Phyllis Dorothy AACR2 Mother M.D. Medical Mother 13 March 1894 26 July 1987 Place of Birth Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Medical practitioner Journalist Obstetrician Educator Author Phyllis Cilento was a medical practitioner specialising in obstetrics with a passion for educating the public. Through her books and regular columns she became a household name and a leading voice in nutrition and childcare.

In 1931 Cilento established the Mothercraft Association of Queensland. She served as its president until 1946.

She also lectured in mothercraft between 1939-1946 and 1952-1962 at the University of Queensland.

Over her lifetime she published 24 books on family nutrition and childcare and wrote on the same issues in popular newspaper and magazine columns under the pseudonyms "Mother M.D."(1933-1950) and "Medical Mother" (1950 onwards).

Married to medical administrator Sir Raphael West Cilento, she ran her obstetrics clinic adjoined to their property for 36 years.

1918 1918 Career position - House surgeon, Adelaide Hospital 1918 1918 Education - Graduated with M.B. B.S. From University of Adelaide 1920 1921 Malaysia Career position - Lady Medical Officer, British Colonial Service, Teluk Intan 1922 1927 Career position - Worked in private practice, Rabaul, New Guinea c. 1928 1933 Career event - Mothercraft columnist for the Brisbane Daily Mail as Mother M.D. 1929 1929 Career event - President, Queensland Medical Women's Society 1931 1931 Career event - Founded the Mothercraft Association of Queensland 1931 1946 Career event - President, Mothercraft Association of Queensland 1933 1935 Career position - Physician to out-patients, the Hospital for Sick Children, Brisbane 1933 1984? Career event - Mothercraft columnist for the Courier-Mail as Mother M.D. and then Medical Mother 1935 1938 Career position - Physician to inpatients, the Hospital for Sick Children, Brisbane 1939 1946 Career position - Specialist lecturer in mothercraft, University of Queensland 1952 1962 Career position - Recommenced duties as specialist lecturer in mothercraft, University of Queensland 1978 1978 Career event - Elected a fellow of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine 1980 1980 Career event - Elected a life member of the Australian Medical Association 1981 1981 Award - Queenslander of the Year Cilento, Raphael West (1893 - 1985)

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Cilento, Phyllis Dorothy (18940313-19870726)

Trove

 'Cilento, Lady Phyllis Dorothy', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Cilento, Lady Phyllis Dorothy Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: My Life: Lady Cilento Cilento, Phyllis My Life: Lady Cilento Sydney Methuen Haynes 1987 Book Section: Cilento, Phyllis Dorothy (1894-1987), medical practitioner Mahoney, Mary D. Cilento, Phyllis Dorothy (1894-1987), medical practitioner Melbourne Melbourne University Press 2007 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 17: 1981 - 1990 A-K Diane Langmore 214-215 Book: Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science Hooker, Claire Irresistible Forces: Australian Women in Science Carlton Melbourne University Press 2004