Jeffrey Paul Baker | Scholars@Duke

Jeffrey Paul Baker
Professor of Pediatrics

I am a practicing pediatrician and a medical historian. My early research focused on the early history of premature infant care and neonatal medicine. Featured in my book, The Machine in the Nursery: Incubator Technology and the Origins of Neonatal Intensive Care, I examined how the controversy around the introduction of baby incubators at the dawn of the 20th century became a flash point for broader anxieties around medical technology, eugenics, and the role of physicians versus mothers in the care of young infants.
My later research moved to this history of vaccines, and why this highly-regarded public health intervention ignited fierce public resistance in the late 20th century. The alleged links between vaccines and autism were an important part of this story which led me to work on other aspect of the history of autism as well. I have spoken and written in particular about the role of Leo Kanner in shaping both the definition of autism and the construction of an associated stereotype of parents as brilliant but cold and aloof.

In recent years I have been focusing on history, race, and health disparities. I have been working on a project exploring this question in Duke's home community of Durham, North Carolina. The first phase of this work looked at four case studies over the course of the past century: tuberculosis in the early 1900s, childbirth during desegregation, HIV, and diabetes since 2000. More recent work explores why understanding and acknowledging local history is essential to building trust between academic health centers and their communities.

Current Research Interests

History of Medicine: Health Disparities, Child Health, Vaccines, Neonatology

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 2021
Professor of the Practice in History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2019
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society, Duke Science & Society, Initiatives 2017

Contact Information

234 Crooked Creek Parkway, Durham, NC 27713
Box 3675 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
jeffrey.baker@duke.edu (919) 620-5374

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Duke University 1993
- M.D., Duke University 1984
Medical Licensure
- 38892. North Carolina. 2020
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 2009 - 2020
- Research Professor in the Department of History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2016 - 2019
- Professor of History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2009 - 2010
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 2006 - 2009
- Assistant Professor of History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008
- Assistant Clinical Professor in History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2003 - 2007
- Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 2004 - 2006
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 1996 - 2004
- Associate in the Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Pediatrics 1991 - 1996
- Lecturer in the Department of History, History, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1994 - 1995
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Director, Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine (2016-Present)
  Director, History of Medicine Program, Duke University School of Medicine (2005-Present)
  Director, Duke Children's Autism Clinic (2010-12)
  Medical Director, Duke Health Center at Southpoint (1999-2003)
  Director, AB Duke Scholarship Program (2005-7)
Recognition
In the News
- OCT 1, 2020 Duke Research Blog
  
  Scholars Examine Duke’s History of Unequal Medical Care for Black People
- NOV 24, 2019
  
  Your Health, Your Neighborhood. There's a Connection
- FEB 10, 2015 The Philadelphia Inquirer
  
  Dr. Jeffrey Baker: Life, liberty, and the right to infect others with measles
- FEB 10, 2015 The Philadelphia Inquirer
  
  Dr. Jeffrey Baker: Life, liberty, and the right to infect others with measles
Awards & Honors
- Excellence in Professionalism. Duke University School of Medicine. 2019
Expertise
Subject Headings
- Medicine--United States--History
Global Scholarship
- Expertise
  - United Kingdom (Country)
  - United States of America (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- Humanities in Medicine Capstone Course for 4th Year Medical Students awarded by Mary Duke Biddle Foundation 2005 - 2015
- The Transformation of Autism, 1950-1975 awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation 2010 - 2015
- Chilhood Vaccine Policy in the US Since 1955 awarded by National Institutes of Health 2003 - 2007
- History Of The Premature Infant Nursery In The U.S. awarded by National Institutes of Health 1993 - 1995
- History Of Premature Infant Nursery In The Us awarded by National Institutes of Health 1992 - 1994
- A History Of The Premature Infant Nursery In The Us awarded by National Institutes of Health 1991 - 1994
- The Origins Of The Premature Infant Nursery In The Usa awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation 1992 - 1994
- Origins Of Neonatal Intensive Care Units awarded by Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation 1990 - 1991
External Relationships
- Apple Inc.
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “When Women and Children Made the Policy Agenda - The Sheppard-Towner Act, 100 Years Later.” N Engl J Med 385, no. 20 (November 11, 2021): 1827–29. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2031669.
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  - Perochon, Sam, Matias Di Martino, Rachel Aiello, Jeffrey Baker, Kimberly Carpenter, Zhuoqing Chang, Scott Compton, et al. “A scalable computational approach to assessing response to name in toddlers with autism.” J Child Psychol Psychiatry 62, no. 9 (September 2021): 1120–31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13381.
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  - Chang, Zhuoqing, J Matias Di Martino, Rachel Aiello, Jeffrey Baker, Kimberly Carpenter, Scott Compton, Naomi Davis, et al. “Computational Methods to Measure Patterns of Gaze in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Jama Pediatr 175, no. 8 (August 1, 2021): 827–36. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.0530.
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  - Carpenter, Kimberly L. H., Jordan Hahemi, Kathleen Campbell, Steven J. Lippmann, Jeffrey P. Baker, Helen L. Egger, Steven Espinosa, Saritha Vermeer, Guillermo Sapiro, and Geraldine Dawson. “Digital Behavioral Phenotyping Detects Atypical Pattern of Facial Expression in Toddlers with Autism.” Autism Res 14, no. 3 (March 2021): 488–99. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2391.
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  - Hashemi, Jordan, Geraldine Dawson, Kimberly L. H. Carpenter, Kathleen Campbell, Qiang Qiu, Steven Espinosa, Samuel Marsan, Jeffrey P. Baker, Helen L. Egger, and Guillermo Sapiro. “Computer Vision Analysis for Quantification of Autism Risk Behaviors.” Ieee Trans Affect Comput 12, no. 1 (2021): 215–26. https://doi.org/10.1109/taffc.2018.2868196.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey, and Ravi Jhaveri. “Conversations With the Editors: Promoting Science and Combating Anti-science: The Past and Present of the Antivaccine Movement.” Clin Ther 42, no. 12 (December 2020): 2248–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.11.005.
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  - Major, Samantha, Kathleen Campbell, Steven Espinosa, Jeffrey P. Baker, Kimberly Lh Carpenter, Guillermo Sapiro, Saritha Vermeer, and Geraldine Dawson. “Impact of a digital Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised on likelihood and age of autism diagnosis and referral for developmental evaluation.” Autism 24, no. 7 (October 2020): 1629–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320916656.
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  - Dawson, Geraldine, Kathleen Campbell, Jordan Hashemi, Steven J. Lippmann, Valerie Smith, Kimberly Carpenter, Helen Egger, et al. “Author Correction: Atypical postural control can be detected via computer vision analysis in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.” Sci Rep 10, no. 1 (January 14, 2020): 616. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-57570-1.
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  - Campbell, Kathleen, Kimberly Lh Carpenter, Jordan Hashemi, Steven Espinosa, Samuel Marsan, Jana Schaich Borg, Zhuoqing Chang, et al. “Computer vision analysis captures atypical attention in toddlers with autism.” Autism 23, no. 3 (April 2019): 619–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318766247.
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  - Sterwald, Christopher, and Jeffrey Baker. “Frosted Intellectuals: How Dr. Leo Kanner Constructed the Autistic Family.” Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 62, no. 4 (January 2019): 690–709. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2019.0040.
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  - Dawson, Geraldine, Kathleen Campbell, Jordan Hashemi, Steven J. Lippmann, Valerie Smith, Kimberly Carpenter, Helen Egger, et al. “Atypical postural control can be detected via computer vision analysis in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.” Sci Rep 8, no. 1 (November 19, 2018): 17008. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35215-8.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “History Lesson: Vaccine Trials in the Classroom.” Am J Public Health 108, no. 8 (August 2018): 976–77. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304538.
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  - Egger, Helen L., Geraldine Dawson, Jordan Hashemi, Kimberly L. H. Carpenter, Steven Espinosa, Kathleen Campbell, Samuel Brotkin, et al. “Automatic emotion and attention analysis of young children at home: a ResearchKit autism feasibility study.” Npj Digit Med 1 (2018): 20. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-018-0024-6.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P., and Birgit Lang. “Eugenics and the Origins of Autism.” Pediatrics 140, no. 2 (August 2017). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-1419.
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  - Campbell, Kathleen, Kimberly L. H. Carpenter, Steven Espinosa, Jordan Hashemi, Qiang Qiu, Mariano Tepper, Robert Calderbank, et al. “Use of a Digital Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised with Follow-up to Improve Quality of Screening for Autism.” J Pediatr 183 (April 2017): 133-139.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.01.021.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Vaccine Nation: America's Changing Relationship With Immunization.” Nursing History Review 25 (January 1, 2017): 158–60.
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  - Hashemi, J., K. Campbell, K. Carpenter, A. Harris, Q. Qiu, M. Tepper, S. Espinosa, et al. “A scalable app for measuring autism risk behaviors in young children: A technical validity and feasibility study.” Proceedings of the 5th Eai International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare, 2015, 23–27.
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  - Bowman, Rachel A., Jeffrey P. Baker, and Jeffrey P. Duke University School of Medicine. “Screams, slaps, and love: the strange birth of applied behavior analysis.” Pediatrics 133, no. 3 (March 2014): 364–66. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-2583.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Autism at 70--redrawing the boundaries.” N Engl J Med 369, no. 12 (September 19, 2013): 1089–91. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1306380.
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  - Baker, J. P. “Keith Wailoo, Julie Livingstone, Steven Epstein and Robert Aronowitz (eds), Three Shots at Prevention: The HPV Vaccine and the Politics of Medicine's Simple Solutions.” Social History of Medicine 25, no. 2 (May 1, 2012): 560–62. https://doi.org/10.1093/shm/hkr177.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “The first measles vaccine.” Pediatrics 128, no. 3 (September 2011): 435–37. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-1430.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Classics in pediatrics. The smallest preterm infants: reasons for optimism and new dilemmas.” Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 165, no. 8 (August 2011): 689–91. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.116.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Autism in 1959: Joey the mechanical boy.” Pediatrics 125, no. 6 (June 2010): 1101–3. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-0846.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Introducing historical perspectives.” Pediatrics 125, no. 3 (March 2010): 596. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-3288.
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  - Baker, J. P. “Baker responds.” American Journal of Public Health 98, no. 8 (August 1, 2008): 1350–51. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.140376.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Mercury, vaccines, and autism: one controversy, three histories.” Am J Public Health 98, no. 2 (February 2008): 244–53. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2007.113159.
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  - Robertson, Alex F., and Jeffrey P. Baker. “Lessons from the past.” Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 10, no. 1 (February 2005): 23–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.siny.2004.09.006.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P., and Samuel L. Katz. “Childhood vaccine development: an overview.” Pediatr Res 55, no. 2 (February 2004): 347–56. https://doi.org/10.1203/01.PDR.0000106317.36875.6A.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “The pertussis vaccine controversy in Great Britain, 1974-1986.” Vaccine 21, no. 25–26 (September 8, 2003): 4003–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0264-410x(03)00302-5.
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  - Pearson, H. A., D. Anunziato, J. P. Baker, L. M. Gartner, D. A. Howell, J. E. Strain, S. Bolda Marshall, and S. Historical Archives Advisory Committee. “Committee report: American Pediatrics: milestones at the millennium.” Pediatrics 107, no. 6 (June 2001): 1482–91. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.6.1482.
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  - Baker, J. P. “Immunization and the American way: 4 childhood vaccines.” American Journal of Public Health 90, no. 2 (February 2000): 199–207. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.90.2.199.
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  - Baker, J. P. “The incubator and the medical discovery of the premature infant.” J Perinatol 20, no. 5 (2000): 321–28. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7200377.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “A Doctor of Their Own: The History of Adolescent Medicine (review).” Bulletin of the History of Medicine 74, no. 2 (2000): 409–10. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhm.2000.0051.
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  - Baker, J. P. “The birth of bioethics.” Pediatrics 104, no. 1 Pt 1 (July 1999): 107. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.104.1.107.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Newborn Medicine and Society: European Background and American Practice (1750-1975) (review).” Bulletin of the History of Medicine 73, no. 4 (1999): 743–44. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhm.1999.0145.
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  - Baker, J. P. “Reinventing a Specialty: How Pediatrics Survived Its Own Success.” Pediatrics 102, no. 1 II SUPPL. (July 1, 1998): 197–200.
  - Baker, J. P. “Reinventing a specialty: how Pediatrics survived its own success.” Pediatrics 102, no. 1 Pt 2 (July 1998): 197–200.
  - Baker, J. P. “Reinventing a specialty: How Pediatrics survived its own success.” Pediatrics 102, no. 1 (July 1, 1998): 197–200.
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  - Baker, Jeffrey P. “Book Review: Small and Special: The Development of Hospitals for Children in Victorian Britain.” Bulletin of the History of Medicine 72, no. 2 (1998): 336–38. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhm.1998.0084.
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  - “Martin Couney's story revisited. The AAP Perinatal Section Ad Hoc Committee on Perinatal History.” Pediatrics 100, no. 1 (July 1997): 159–60.
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  - BAKER, J. P. “WOMEN AND THE INVENTION OF WELL CHILD-CARE.” Pediatrics 94, no. 4 (October 1, 1994): 527–31.
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  - Baker, J. P. “Women and the invention of well child care.” Pediatrics 94, no. 4 Pt 1 (October 1994): 527–31.
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  - Baker, J. P. “The incubator controversy: pediatricians and the origins of premature infant technology in the United States, 1890 to 1910.” Pediatrics 87, no. 5 (May 1991): 654–62.
  - Baker, J. P. “The incubator controversy: Pediatricians and the origins of premature infant technology in the United States, 1890 to 1910.” Pediatrics 87, no. 5 I (January 1, 1991): 654–62.
  - Mauro, R. D., J. Baker, and V. Mackedonski. “A five-year-old girl with acute renal failure and multiple cerebral infractions.” The Journal of Pediatrics 115, no. 5 Pt 1 (November 1989): 816–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(89)80669-9.
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  - Mokrohisky, S. T., M. S. Burchell, T. Hand, and J. P. Baker. “Toy balloons and eye injuries.” Pediatrics 81, no. 3 (March 1988): 473.
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Leader. Documenting Durham's Health History: Understanding the Roots of Health Disparities. 2018 - 2019 2018 - 2019

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Medical Licensure

Previous Appointments & Affiliations

Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Global Scholarship

Expertise

Selected Grants

External Relationships

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Recent Courses

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship