Richard Baker, M.D., was named senior vice dean of Medical Education for the Wayne State University School of Medicine last week.

He replaces Robert Folberg, M.D., who served as vice dean of Medical Education for a brief period.

Dr. Baker initially joined the School of Medicine in August 2015 to lead the modernization of the medical education curriculum and to address accreditation standards.

“He will be a tremendous asset as we enter into another reaccreditation process beginning in 2023,” said Wael Sakr, M.D., interim dean, in his March 18 announcement of Dr. Baker’s appointment.

Dr. Baker held a number of key leadership positions at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science before joining WSU, including provost, dean of the College of Medicine, president of the Charles Drew University Multi-Specialty Practice Group, associate vice president for Research, associate dean for Research, assistant dean for Medical Student Research and director of the Charles Drew National Institutes of Health - Research Centers in Minority Institutions Biomedical Research Center.

He also served as the associate dean for the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

Dr. Baker received a bachelor's degree in physics from Stanford University in 1977. He received his medical doctorate degree from Harvard Medical School and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984. His postdoctoral training includes a fellowship at the Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School and a National Institutes of Health fellowship in chronic disease epidemiology at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.