Richard Baker

Richard Baker, M.D., is the Senior Vice Dean of Medical Education at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He previously held leadership roles at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science and the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, including provost, dean, and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology. A member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, he specialized in eye epidemiology and has contributed significantly to academic program reform and accreditation processes.

Education:

• B.S. in Physics, Stanford University (1977)
• M.D., Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1984)
• Fellowship in Ophthalmology, Joslin Diabetes Center
• National Institutes of Health Fellowship in Chronic Disease Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

Dr. Baker's research and administrative focus spans health services research, epidemiology, and medical education. His work in institutional effectiveness and accreditation strategies has been pivotal in transitioning academic institutions from noncompliance to full accreditation. He has also pioneered initiatives in faculty development, student retention, and data-driven academic program evaluation.

Dr. Baker has served on numerous boards, including the California Medical Association, the Latino Physicians of California, and the Drew Health Services Research Center. He co-founded the Drew Urban Telemedicine Center of Excellence and played a key role in establishing the first WASC-approved University Academic Plan, achieving first-time accreditations for public health programs and reaccreditation for existing academic programs.