Dr. Tiffany Field is a distinguished research professor and pioneering authority in infant development and therapeutic touch at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. She serves as Director of the Touch Research Institute in the Department of Pediatrics, a position she has held while also maintaining appointments in Psychiatry and Psychology departments throughout her illustrious career. Dr. Field earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1976, following undergraduate studies at the University of Cincinnati and graduate work at Tufts University where she obtained master's degrees in Occupational Therapy and Child Studies. Her career trajectory has been defined by a steadfast commitment to understanding how tactile stimulation influences human development and wellbeing across the lifespan.
Dr. Field's groundbreaking research has established the scientific foundation for therapeutic massage across numerous clinical conditions, with over 205 replications confirming its effectiveness for promoting weight gain in preterm infants. Her work has demonstrated that structured touch therapy significantly enhances growth parameters, improves performance on the Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale, increases bone density in premature infants, and reduces irritability while improving sleep quality in full-term infants. Beyond neonatal care, her research has documented massage therapy's efficacy for children with attention disorders, psychiatric conditions, pain syndromes, chronic illnesses, and immune dysfunction through mechanisms involving increased vagal activity, decreased cortisol levels, and enhanced immune function. With more than 400 peer-reviewed journal articles and 38 books to her name, including seminal works such as Touch, Touch Therapy, and Massage Therapy Research, her contributions have created an entirely new field of scientific inquiry with tangible clinical applications worldwide.
As the first psychologist to receive the prestigious Golden Goose Award in 2014, Dr. Field's federally funded research has been recognized for its exceptional translation of basic scientific discoveries into practical applications that significantly improve human health. Her work on infant massage therapy has become integrated into standard care protocols in neonatal intensive care units globally, demonstrating her profound influence on clinical practice and public health approaches to infant development. Dr. Field continues to lead cutting-edge research at the Touch Research Institute, mentoring the next generation of developmental scientists while expanding investigations into novel applications of therapeutic touch for diverse populations. Her enduring legacy lies in transforming an intuitive practice into evidence-based medicine, establishing touch therapy as a vital component of holistic healthcare approaches that address both physical and emotional wellbeing.
