Craig J. Baker, MD, received his medical degree from Georgetown University. He followed with seven years of general surgery training at the University of Southern California. While at USC, Dr. Baker spent two years in the cardiothoracic research laboratory, where he co-authored numerous papers on reperfusion injury, lung transplantation, beating heart surgery, living lobar lung transplantation and pediatric cardiac surgery.

After a three-year cardiothoracic residency at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dr. Baker subsequently accepted a fellowship in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Baker had the privilege of working under the direction of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Vaughn Starnes, MD. The following year Dr. Baker accepted a position in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Baker is the chief of the division of cardiac surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. He also serves as the program director for Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Baker has achieved national recognition for his involvement in cardiothoracic education. He has developed a comprehensive educational curriculum, including a highly structured simulation training program. In 2017, after 20 years at USC, Dr. Baker was appointed chief of the division of cardiac surgery.

Dr. Baker is the current President of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association.