Dr. Lauren L. Baker joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of General Medical Sciences as an instructor as of July 2023. Dr. Baker earned her PhD in healthcare ethics from Saint Louis University. Her doctoral work centered on the intersection of pediatric ethics and philosophy of medicine, with a special interest in gender and transgender studies. Dr. Baker’s research interests include ethical, social, and policy issues related to the care of LGBTQ+ patients.
Dr. Baker is currently a Co-Investigator for the Healthcare, Values, and the Spiritual Life Program where she collaborates on research exploring the impact of religion and faith on attitudes towards controversial topics in healthcare. She additionally serves as editorial assistant for Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics: A Journal of Qualitative Research, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. Prior to joining Washington University, Dr. Baker taught healthcare ethics and public health ethics courses at Saint Louis University. Her work has been published in journals such as The American Journal of Bioethics, Theoretical Medicine & Bioethics, the Journal of Moral Theology, and the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research.