Andrew Baker

Dr. Andrew J. Baker, MD, FRCPC, is a leader in the fields of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Neuroanesthesia, affiliated with St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto, where he serves as a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine. He also holds the position of Incident Commander for Ontario's Critical Care Command Centre and several prestigious leadership roles, including Critical Care Pillar Scientific Director at Unity Health Toronto and Provincial Clinical Lead for Critical Care at Ontario Health. As Chief of the Departments of Anesthesia and Critical Care at St. Michael's Hospital, Dr. Baker is renowned for his commitment to advancing patient care in critical situations.

Dr. Baker completed his medical degree with honors at the University of Toronto and has extensive training as a Neuroanesthesia Research Fellow at the University of California, San Diego. His leadership has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Jeffrey C. Lozon Physician Leadership Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network.

With over 30 years of clinical practice experience, Dr. Baker's research focuses on the pathophysiology and treatment of traumatic brain injuries and critical care advancements. He has authored or co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and secured significant peer-reviewed research funding.

Dr. Baker is not only dedicated to clinical excellence but also actively participates in medical education and mentorship. He has supervised numerous graduate students, fellows, and trainees, fostering the next generation of medical professionals. Through his various roles, he contributes to the development of healthcare policies and protocols, significantly enhancing patient outcomes in critical care settings.

He is deeply committed to improving critical care delivery in Ontario, having played pivotal roles during key crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic response. His vast contributions have established him as a leading figure in innovative approaches to critical care, neurotrauma, and resuscitation science.

Dr. Baker continues to shape the future of healthcare through his unwavering dedication, transformative leadership, and innovative research. He remains actively engaged in both clinical practice and scholarly pursuits, making a lasting impact on patient care and medical education.

Research Synopsis

During the last 4-5 years, Dr. Baker have created and led an alliance aimed at developing a coordinated approach to concussion care across Ontario. He has been involved in the improvement of the process of organ donation in Canada and Ontario.

Dr. Baker directs a brain injury laboratory and supervises several clinical trainees and graduate students in the Keenan Research Centre and he publishes and speaks internationally on his clinical and laboratory research.

Recent Publications

1. Scott OFT, Bubna M, Boyko E, Hunt C, Kristman VL, Gargaro J, Khodadadi M, Chandra T, Kabir US, Kenrick-Rochon S, Cowle S, Burke MJ, Zabjek KF, Dosaj A, Mushtaque A, Baker AJ, Bayley MT, Matheson F, Wilcock R, Hardie BJ, Cusimano M, Marshall S, Green R, Hoshizaki T, Hutchison J, Schweizier T, Hutchison M, Zych J, Murty D, Tartaglia MC (2024) Correction to: Characterizing the profiles of patients with acute concussion versus prolonged post-concussion symptoms in Ontario.

2. Chin K, Jiang H, Steinberg BE, Goldenberg NM, Desjardins JF, Kabir G, Liu E, Vanama R, Baker AJ, Deschamps A, Simpson JA, Maynes JT, Vinogradov SA, Connelly KA, Mazer CD, Hare GMT. Bilateral Nephrectomy Impairs Cardiovascular Function and Cerebral Perfusion in a Rat Model of Acute Hemodilutional Anemia. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2024 Feb 22. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00858.2023. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38385183.
    

3. Lu RXZ, Rafatian N, Zhao Y, Wagner KT, Beroncal EL, Li B, Lee C, Chen J, Churcher E, Vosoughi D, Liu C, Wang Y, Baker A, Trahtemberg U, Li B, Pierro A, Andreazza AC, Dos Santos CC, Radisic M. Cardiac tissue model of immune-induced dysfunction reveals the role of free mitochondrial DNA and the therapeutic effects of exosomes. Sci Adv. 2024 Mar 29;10(13):eadk0164. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk0164. Epub 2024 Mar 27. PMID: 38536913; PMCID: PMC10971762.

4. Lee CH, Banoei MM, Ansari M, Cheng MP, Lamontagne F, Griesdale D, Lasry DE, Demir K, Dhingra V, Tran KC, Lee T, Burns K, Sweet D, Marshall J, Slutsky A, Murthy S, Singer J, Patrick DM, Lee TC, Boyd JH, Walley KR, Fowler R, Haljan G, Vinh DC, Mcgeer A, Maslove D, Mann P, Donohoe K, Hernandez G, Rocheleau G, Trahtemberg U, Kumar A, Lou M, Dos Santos C, Baker A, Russell JA, Winston BW; *ARBs CORONA I. Investigators. Using a targeted metabolomics approach to explore differences in ARDS associated with COVID-19 compared to ARDS caused by H1N1 influenza and bacterial pneumonia. Crit Care. 2024 Feb 27;28(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13054-024-04843-0. PMID: 38414082; PMCID: PMC10900651.

5. Hunt C, MacKenzie H, Dosaj A, Zych J, Tartaglia C, Bayley M, Wilcock R, Zabjek K, Burke M, Kristman V, Hardy B, Fischer LK, Baker A. CONNECTing Concussion Care with Research Across Ontario. Can J Neurol Sci. 2024 Jan 18:1-13. doi: 10.1017/cjn.2023.326. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38232957

6. Scott OFT, Bubna M, Boyko E, Hunt C, Kristman VL, Gargaro J, Khodadadi M, Chandra T, Kabir US, Kenrick-Rochon, S, Cowle S, Burke MT, Zabjek KF, Dosaj A, Mushtaque A, Baker AJ, Bayley MT, CONNECT, Tartaglia MC.  Characterizing the profiles of patients with acute concussion versus prolonged post‑concussion symptoms in Ontario. Scientifc Reports  (2023) 13:17955 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44095-6

7. Schreiber AF, Garlasco J, Urner M, McFarlan A, Baker A, Rigamonti A, Singh JM, Kutsogiannis DJ, Brochard LJ. Mechanical Ventilation after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury - A Multicentric Cohort Study-based Prediction Model for Weaning Success: The BICYCLE Score. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202301-022OC. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37236632.

8. Maitre G, Shemie SD, Baker A, Chassé M, Hornby L, Sarti AJ, Teitelbaum J, Dhanani S. Knowledge gaps in the definition and determination of death. Can J Anaesth. 2023 May 2. doi: 10.1007/s12630-023-02422-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37131033.

9. Shemie SD, Wilson LC, Hornby L, Basmaji J, Baker AJ, Bensimon CM, Chandler JA, Chassé M, Dawson R, Dhanani S, Mooney OT, Sarti AJ, Simpson C, Teitelbaum J, Torrance S, Boyd JG, Brennan J, Brewster H, Carignan R, Dawe KJ, Doig CJ, Elliott-Pohl K, Gofton TE, Hartwick M, Healey A, Honarmand K, Hornby K, Isac G, Kanji A, Kawchuk J, Klowak JA, Kramer AH, Kromm J, LeBlanc AE, Lee-Ameduri K, Lee LA, Leeies M, Lewis A, Manara A, Matheson S, McKinnon NKA, Murphy N, Briard JN, Pope TM, Sekhon MS, Shanker JJS, Singh G, Singh J, Slessarev M, Soliman K, Sutherland S, Weiss MJ, Shaul RZ, Zuckier LS, Zorko DJ, Rochwerg B. A brain-based definition of death and criteria for its determination after arrest of circulation or neurologic function in Canada: a 2023 clinical practice guideline. Can J Anaesth. 2023 May 2. English. doi: 10.1007/s12630-023-02431-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37131020.

Appointments

• Incident Commander, Ontario Critical Care Command Centre (April 1, 2023 - )
• Critical Care Pillar Scientific Director, Unity Health Toronto (Aug 1, 2022 - )
• Provincial Clinical Lead, Critical Care, Ontario Health, April 2020-
• Incident Commander, Toronto and Central Hospitals IMS Command Centre (Nov 2020 –March31,2023 )
• Incident Commander, Ontario Critical Care COVID Command Centre  (Mar 28, 2020 – March 31,2023 )
• Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs, Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto (2018 - 2024)
• Chief, Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael’s Hospital (2017 - )
• Chief, Department of Critical Care, St. Michael’s Hospital (2009 - )
• Medical Director, Surgery and Critical Care Program, St. Michael’s Hospital (2019- )
• Medical Director Trauma and Neurosurgery Program, St. Michael’s Hospital (2006 -2019 )
• Professor, Departments of Anesthesia and Surgery, University of Toronto
• Full Member, Institute of Medical Science, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto
• Director, Brain Injury Research Laboratory, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science
• Scientist, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute
• Medical Staff, Departments of Anesthesia, and Critical Care, SMH (1990 -)

Honours and Awards

• Special IDCCM Leadership COVID-19 Award, IDCCM Art Slutsky Day, Toronto  (2020)
• Jeffrey C. Lozon Physician Leadership Award, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto (2016)
• Keenan Legacy Award, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, (2016)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network, Toronto (2016)
• Spirit of Philanthropy Award, St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, Toronto (2015)
• Research Recognition Award, Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society, Toronto (2013)
• Cara Phelan Chair, Critical Care Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto (2012 – Feb 2023)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.  60^th Anniversary of Her Majesty’s Accession to the Throne, Ottawa. (2012)