FORT BRAGG, CA., 11/24/25 — In November, Mendocino Coast Clinics welcomed pediatrician Dr. Lily James to its provider team.
James, who is fluent in English and Spanish, brings 25 years of pediatric healthcare experience to the community. She worked as a pediatrician for 18 years in Gig Harbor, Washington, before coming to Fort Bragg.
“MCC is very fortunate to have found and recruited Dr. James,” said clinic executive director Lucresha Renteria. “She is an ideal provider for a community like ours. When she came to the coast for her interview, the match felt just right. She shares our clinic’s values and brings a wealth of experience.”
James earned a Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College before attending medical school at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences (now Drexel University). She completed her internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego.
She says pediatric care has always brought her joy. “I really love children, and my greatest joy is watching them grow and develop from infants to adults,” she said.
In her practice, James prioritizes building relationships with families, providing health education and working together to help children reach their maximum potential. “Parents and I have the same goal, which is to help the child in the best way possible,” she said.
When she meets with patients and families, James says her first priority is building a sense of connection with the child and their caregivers. When it is developmentally appropriate, she does most of her talking with the child. “I’ll ask them to introduce me to their parents and to tell me about their family,” she explained.
While she appreciates all ages and stages within pediatrics, James has a special affinity for newborn care and lactation support.
“In my former practice, they called me the baby whisperer,” she said. “I really enjoy helping families through that transition after giving birth, helping families bond with their newborns and helping moms learn how to breastfeed.”
The multigenerational bond is one of her favorite aspects of pediatric care. “I get to know entire families,” she says. “The saddest thing in leaving my former practice is that with some families, I was seeing the third generation.”
She is looking forward to building those kinds of relationships here. James has started to familiarize herself with the Mendocino coast by touring the local schools. She wants to be able to picture details like where a school’s sensory room is when making recommendations to families.
Having grown up in a rural town in Maine, she is happy to return to living in a smaller community with a slower pace of life.
“I think I enjoy that more than I do a city,” she said. “In a small community, you really get to know people.”
Outside of work, James enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling and spending time with her three young adult children.