Meet James L. Baker M.D., M.P.H
Dr. James L. Baker is a physician, a parent, and an addiction advocate. Impacted by the death of his son Macky from heroin overdose, Dr. Baker has dedicated himself to educating the general public, advocating for needed legislation, and most importantly supporting parents and family members of addicts to best help their loved ones.
Sharing support, guidance, and a message of hope for families impacted by addiction.
Starting on the evening of his son’s death, Dr. Baker decided to share the story of his late son Macky’s struggle with addiction and recovery. A strong advocate for effective addiction treatment, improved education, and legislative reform, Dr. Baker has dedicated himself to preventing addiction and overdose through teaching, writing, and advocacy.
Above all, Dr. Baker is dedicated to providing support and hope to fellow parents and family members whose loved ones are struggling with substance use disorder. Through his advocacy and writing, he hopes to provide answers to parents who don’t know where to turn and shed light on real, effective treatments—rather than for-profit rehab and detox centers.
Specializing in pain management and palliative care, Dr. Baker has cared for thousands of patients with terminal illness and supported their families. He has served at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School as faculty in emergency medicine and is now affiliated with UMass Medical School.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Baker serves as a physician consultant every week to the newly formed Massachusetts Consultation Service for the Treatment of Addiction and Pain (MCSTAP), a state-funded service that provides guidance, free of charge, to all physicians and nurses in Massachusetts who care for patients with addiction or complex pain.
ADVOCACY & SPEAKING
Drug Addiction Advocate
Dr. James L. Baker has dedicated himself to drug addiction advocacy. His advocacy work includes speaking on the reality of drug use and pushing for legislation supporting those affected by addiction.
About The Max Baker Resource Center
The MBRC is an approved 501(c)(3) entity as part of the UMass Medical Center Foundation. The Resource Center provides food, sundries, personal items, and other necessities available to any trainee at the institution, 24 hours a day at no cost, and with no questions asked. It is supported by donations from the community.
