More Than Living up to Expectations
Kenneth M. Baker, M.D., Frank W. Mayborn Chair in Cardiovascular Research
“It’s been really fun to put a new program online where there hasn’t been one in the past,” Baker says. “The Mayborn Chair helped us with the start-up costs we incurred and now that things are up and running, it still makes a big difference. Holding this chair is truly an honor.”With the exception of a three-year stint in Virginia in the late 1970s, Dr. Ken Baker spent most of his personal and professional life in central Pennsylvania. He grew up and received his education there, and worked in medical schools, clinics and hospitals all over the state. So what could draw him away from Pennsylvania after living there for almost half a century? The answer is simple. A great opportunity.
These days, Baker is far from his home state, having moved to Temple, Texas in 1999 to accept the position of director of the Division of Molecular Cardiology and the Frank W. Mayborn Chair in Cardiovascular Research at the A&M College of Medicine. But his decision to become a full-time researcher was a long time in coming.
His interest in research goes back many years, and he completed research fellowships during his undergraduate studies and while receiving his M.D. degree from Temple University School of Medicine. Upon entering the workforce after completing his post-graduate training, Baker had the opportunity to set up the basic science research program for the Geisinger Clinic, the Weis Center for Research, in Danville, Pa., where he worked for many years.
After splitting his time between practicing medicine and conducting research for the first 18 years of his career, Baker made the transition to full-time research. In the late 1990s, he decided he was ready for a new challenge and started looking at directorship positions at medical schools and hospitals across the country. In the summer of 1999, he found what he was looking for at Scott & White and the A&M College of Medicine.
"I was attracted to the directorship position here because it was similar to the Geisinger system," Baker recalls. "But what really sold me is that I had the opportunity to start a brand new program. We basically went from nothing to now having a dedicated program with a new building and great faculty."
Part of the recruiting package for the Division of Molecular Cardiology director position was the Frank W. Mayborn Chair in Cardiovascular Research. Founded in 1989 by Sue Mayborn in honor of her late husband Frank, the Mayborn Chair was designed to help fund research and advances in cardiovascular medicine. Frank W. Mayborn, one of the state's leading figures in broadcast and print media, was the longtime owner and publisher of the Killeen Daily Herald and Temple Daily Telegram and owner of KCEN-TV. Sue is now the editor and publisher of the Herald and Telegram, president of KCEN-TV and serves as president of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn Foundation, which supports many religious, scientific, literary and education projects throughout Central Texas.
The funds available from the Mayborn Chair helped get Baker's research program off the ground and continue to supply operating costs and salaries.
"It's been really fun to put a new program online where there hasn't been one in the past," Baker says. "The Mayborn Chair helped us with the start-up costs we incurred and now that things are up and running, it still makes a big difference. Holding this chair is truly an honor."
Initiation of the Molecular Cardiology program was based on the potential to contribute to the patient care, education and research missions of the organizations involved. The Division of Molecular Cardiology center includes 8,500 square feet of laboratories, offices and conference areas, and serves faculty members, fellows, research technicians, clinical faculty, medical residents and undergraduate students. Since the establishment of the program, major strides have been made in a short period of time. The division has had more than $8.3 million dollars in extramural funding and more than $1 million dollars in intramural grants through Scott & White. Faculty members have published 100+ manuscripts in journals, have had their publications cited more than 4,000 times and have given more than 80 external presentations since the inception of the division.
"Sue Mayborn was far-sighted when she initiated this chair in honor of her late husband and I believe we can do great things because of her generosity," Baker says. "She is an extremely nice lady and I've had the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with her during these past few years. It is very important to me that we are living up to the expectations she has for this program."
(July 2005)
