Craig J. Baker, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Transplant Surgery, Heart Valve Repair, Cardiac Transplantation
Accepting New Patients

Locations

Photo of Keck Hospital of USC
place
1500 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
phone
schedule
7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Photo of USC Norris Cancer Hospital
place
1441 Eastlake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90089
phone
schedule
7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Photo of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
place
1812 Verdugo Blvd, Glendale, CA 91208
phone
schedule
7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Provider Details

Language Spoken
English
Gender
Male
About Craig J. Baker, MD

Craig J. Baker, MD, received his medical degree from Georgetown University, followed by seven years of general surgery training at the University of Southern California. While at USC, Dr. Baker spent two years in the cardiothoracic research laboratory, where he co-authored numerous papers on reperfusion injury, lung transplantation, beating heart surgery, living lobar lung transplantation and pediatric cardiac surgery.

After a three-year cardiothoracic residency at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Dr. Baker accepted a fellowship in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Baker had the privilege of working under the direction of renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Vaughn Starnes, MD. The following year, Dr. Baker accepted a position in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Baker is the chief of the division of cardiac surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. He also serves as the program director for thoracic surgery. Dr. Baker has achieved national recognition for his involvement in cardiothoracic education. He has developed a comprehensive educational curriculum, including a highly structured simulation training program. In 2017, after 20 years at USC, Dr. Baker was appointed as chief of the division of cardiac surgery.

Dr. Baker is the current President of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association.

I believe in truly focusing on each patient and treating them as an individual. I can offer all kinds of state-of-the-art therapies, but I always make my recommendations with the patient's best interest in mind. Nothing is more rewarding than helping a patient return to a better quality of life.

Experience

Specialties
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Cardiac Transplant Surgery
  • Heart Valve Repair
  • Cardiac Transplantation
Areas of Focus
Complex Adult Cardiac Surgery, Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement, Surgery of the Aorta and Aortic Root, Aortic Valve and Mitral Valve Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Cardiac Transplantation, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Academic Title
Chief, Division of Cardiac Surgery

Insurances Accepted

Note: Please contact the practice directly to confirm your health plan is accepted.

Benefits among health plans and employers vary. Please contact your health plan to verify benefits and network providers for specific products. It is important to note that not all of our providers participate in all of a health plan's products or networks.

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross Covered California
  • Anthem Blue Cross Prudent Buyer
  • Beech Street Corporation /WC
  • Blue Shield Covered California
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Brand New Day
  • ChoiceCare Network
  • CIGNA
  • Coventry Health Care
  • First Health
  • GEHA
  • Great-West Healthcare of California, Inc.
  • Health Net
  • Health Net Covered California
  • Health Plans of Nevada
  • Interplan
  • Kern Health Systems
  • Laundry and Dry Cleaning Workers Health & Welfare
  • Marian Health Services
  • MultiPlan
  • NEXT
  • Pacificare
  • Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital
  • Private Health Care Systems
  • Take Care (GUAM)
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance (UHC)
  • Union Roofers Health & Welfare Fund
  • United Healthcare
  • USC Network
  • Watchtower
  • Medicare

Ratings and Reviews

  • Provider Explanations Easy to Understand
  • Provider Gave Easy to Understand Instructions
  • Provider Showed Respect
  • Provider Listened Carefully
  • Provider Knew Medical History
  • Provider Spent Enough Time

Latest News & Articles