Jeffrey P. Baker

Jeffrey P. Baker is a Professor in the Department of History at Duke University, with a joint appointment in Pediatrics. His work bridges medical history, bioethics, and public health, focusing on the intersection of medicine, technology, and societal values.

• Research Interests: History of neonatal medicine, vaccine development, autism studies, health disparities, and medical technology.
• Education: Ph.D. in History (Duke University, 1993); M.D. (Duke University, 1984).
• Teaching: Courses include Research in Medical Humanities and Practical & Patients: Historical Clinical Medicine.

Dr. Baker’s research has chronologically examined premature infant care (notably in The Machine in the Nursery), vaccine controversies (e.g., thimerosal-autism debates), and structural health disparities. Recent projects use computational methods to detect early autism markers via computer vision analysis, collaborating with teams at Duke and beyond.

His publications span 20th-century medical history, with a focus on pediatrics, immunization, and technology. While no explicit awards are listed, his interdisciplinary work impacts medical education models and public health policy. Dr. Baker’s Durham, NC-based studies highlight how local history shapes community trust in academic health centers.

He actively integrates historical perspectives into medical clerkships, emphasizing longitudinal understanding of clinical practices. Current projects explore digital phenotyping tools and the social history of neonatology.