Dr. Erica Baiden Member Spotlight Dr. Erica Baiden immigrated from Ghana with her family when she was a young child and values the traditions of her ancestors. She was raised by her single, incredibly loving and resilient mom and by the support of loving multigenerational family members in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up, Dr. Baiden knew well the life of a latchkey kid but did not know of her mother’s silent suffering. After a series of life-shaping events, including witnessing the debilitating effects mental illness had on her mother, Dr. Baiden was forced to move to Ogden, Utah. She has since been motivated to serve marginalized, under‑resourced and vulnerable populations and treat them in ways that restore dignity and respect. Dr. Baiden is a proud alumna of Weber State University where she had the honor to be mentored by the late and beloved professor Kent Van de Graaff, PhD. His words, “If it is to be, it is up to me” instilled the confidence that allowed Dr. Baiden to matriculate at the University of Utah School of Medicine and, later, the University of Utah Family Medicine Residency program. Dr. Baiden worked at Granger Medical Clinic where she served as a primary care provider, Family Medicine Department Chair, piloted a Behavioral Health Collaborative, served as adjunct faculty with the University of Utah and sat on various boards. She has shared her voice of community advocacy and education through webinars, podcasts, panels and other events with Black Physicians of Utah. She now works in an interdisciplinary practice at the University of Utah Intensive Outpatient Clinic (IOC). Dr. Baiden regards family medicine as the backbone and pillar of medicine. The opportunity to foster special relationships with patients, engage in advocacy and policy change, and the expansive scope of practice are some of the aspects of family medicine that keep her motivated. The integrative model of the IOC embodies these values. This not-for-profit practice uses an interdisciplinary team approach to serve some of the most vulnerable people of the Salt Lake Valley and beyond. The IOC team creates an emotionally and physically safe space that protects patients from being further pathologized and marginalized for societal issues. And as a result, improved health outcomes are achieved. Dr. Baiden believes that representation is also important to improve health care outcomes. She believes that when a variety of persons enter medicine, family medicine specifically, unique and shared experiences question current standards and improve quality of care. The medical climate 20 years ago, when Dr. Baiden first entered medical school, was obviously different than it is today. However, the intersectionality of her experience is something that is still shared among other women and women of color in medicine. This demographic of current and future physicians faces internal and external obstacles of doubt; every move or thought is scrutinized | 10
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