Sarah E. Baker

Sarah E. Baker serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center and holds the administrative position of Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the medical school. She leads the Mental Health, Policy, and Law area of concentration within the psychiatry residency program, integrating legal and policy perspectives into clinical training.

Her academic foundation includes:

• B.A. in History from Rice University
• M.A. in Medical Humanities from University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
• M.D. from University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Dr. Baker's scholarly work centers on forensic psychiatry and medical education, with graduate research focused on empathy cultivation during medical training. She maintains dual board certification in psychiatry and forensic psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, reflecting her specialization at the intersection of mental health and legal systems.

Her distinguished contributions have earned recognition through multiple prestigious awards:

• Group for Advancement of Psychiatry Fellowship
• American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law’s Rappeport Fellowship
• Association for Academic Psychiatry Fellowship Award
• Residency Education Committee Award for Excellence
• Outstanding Resident Contribution to Medical Student Education Award
• UTSW Faculty Medical Student Education Award
• Association for Academic Psychiatry Early Career Development Award

As former Psychiatry Clerkship Director and current educational leader, Dr. Baker has significantly shaped medical student training through curriculum development and mentorship. Her ongoing role as Associate Dean demonstrates sustained commitment to student development across the medical school.

She directs the Mental Health, Policy, and Law area of concentration—a specialized residency track preparing physicians for careers involving legal testimony, policy advocacy, and forensic evaluation within mental health systems.