Dr. Baker has been an occupational therapist specializing in industrial rehabilitation since 1990 and has focused mostly on treating and advocating for workers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) and completing ergonomic job assessments. Her research has focused on practical methods to improve working conditions, particularly related to computer use. She’s been in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh since 2001. She has been a member of ARHP since 2004 and has presented workshops and papers at every ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting since 2007.
“I see so many people with problems with arthritis and the lack of recognition for arthritis as an important chronic disease that the recognition of that advocacy work and the ability to continue to do that advocacy work is very important to me,” she says. “It’s just really nice to have advocacy recognized and to be part of that big picture.”
Q: What about advocacy can be frustrating? What about it appeals to you?
A: It’s mainly the people I get to work with, both the practitioners and the people with arthritis, [that appeals to me]. Particularly the people with arthritis are inspiring, and they help me to continue moving forward with efforts to try and make things more available for them and to make it easier for them to access and do the things that they want to do. I think arthritis—and I’m preaching to the choir here—is vastly under-recognized as an important disease, and so keeping the people in mind really helps move the advocacy forward.
I see myself more as a person who just provides information as needed. So winding up in an advocacy role is something of a surprise to me.
Q: Did you see yourself in this position 30 years ago?
A: No, not at all. I don’t see myself as a natural advocate. I see myself more as a person who just provides information as needed. So winding up in an advocacy role is something of a surprise to me.
Q: You are a faculty mentor for the U.S. Bone and Joint Initative (USBJI). What led you to accept their invitation?
A: It’s one of the natural outputs of people who are not only in advocacy but who are interested in academia. We have a natural desire to provide information to people to help them move ahead and to provide them with the support that they need to succeed and help them develop their own capabilities. And advocacy, if you’re going to help people move ahead, you can’t just speak for them, you have to teach them how to speak for themselves—and that includes developing other people who can do that, who can assist on different levels.
