Professor of Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
Maria Baker, PhD, FACMG, MS, CGC is a Professor of Medicine at Penn State Health with dual certification as a Master’s trained genetic counselor and a Ph.D. medical geneticist. She developed the Penn State Hershey Cancer Genetics Program in 1998 and provides genetic counseling and testing services to individuals concerned about a personal and/or family history of cancer. Most recently, in 2016, Dr. Baker received support from the Four Diamonds fund, to develop the Pediatric Cancer Genetics Program at Penn State Health.
Dr. Baker helped facilitate the successful passage of licensure of genetic counselors in Pennsylvania. She is currently working on the federal level, with her professional colleagues, to secure recognition of genetic counselors by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In 2013, she served as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Penn State Hershey Commission for Women, representing the interests of over 7,000 women on the Hershey campus. She also served as Co-chair of the AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science (2016-2018) to advance the successful participation and inclusion of women in academic medicine. Dr. Baker currently serves as the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) Liaison to the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (COC). She actively participates as a member of both their Accreditation Committee to set standards for cancer genetic counseling and risk assessment and their Advocacy Committee to garner support for federal legislation that would authorize recognition of genetic counselors by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Dr. Baker’s research interests focus on the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding cancer genetic counseling and testing.
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Saturday, April 29, 2023
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST