Staff Spotlight: LaShawn Baker

Tell us about your role at Emory.
I’m a clinical research coordinator in the Division of Rheumatology. Most of our projects are conducted at Grady Memorial Hospital. My role consists of starting projects, recruiting participants, conducting interviews, completing blood collections, processing and shipment of samples, and anything additional that needs my assistance.

How long have you worked at Emory? How long have you worked in the Department of Medicine?
I’ve worked at Emory and in the Department of Medicine for more than three years. I absolutely love this department and the energy that comes with the staff that I work with.

How has the Department of Medicine helped you in your career development?
While working in the department, it has helped me grow in my career with my interpersonal skills, professional development, communication, and medical area of phlebotomy. I have learned a lot from Dr. Lim, Dr. Drenkard, and Charmayne Dunlop-Thomas. I couldn’t have learned these things from a better team. I’m forever grateful!

If you could switch your job with anyone else within the DOM, whose job would you want? Why?
If I could switch my job with anyone else in the department, I would like to be able to help the patients medically, because I enjoy helping people through their challenges with lupus.

What do you like most about Emory?
One of the things that I like most about Emory is the diverse culture. Working at Emory and being surrounded with the diversity has allowed me to learn from my colleagues, and it has been amazing.

Any random facts you could share with us?
My spirit of discernment is very strong. When meeting someone for the first time I can tell in the first five minutes whether I would click with them.

How do you define success?
The way that I define success is completing accomplishments on an individual level, no matter how large or small. I always think about when someone achieves an accomplishment, it’s a motivator to take them to the next level of success. It gives an individual the energy to move forward to the next!

Three words to best describe you:
Fabulous, energetic, and excited.