Title
Associate Professor

Office Location
6070 Forbes Tower

Office phone
412-383-6607

Academic Appointment

    Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
    Graduate Faculty, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Education

    ScD, Therapeutic Studies, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, 2000
    MPH, Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 2009
    MS, Occupational Therapy, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, 1997
    BS, Occupational Therapy, Boston School of Occupational Therapy, Tufts University, 1985

Research Interests

    Musculoskeletal discomfort, with emphasis on that arising from computer use

Recent Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

•     Baker, N.A., Sussman, N., & Redfern, M. (2008). Discriminating between individuals with and without musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity by means of items related to computer keyboard use. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 18, 157-165. PMID: 18275932
•     Baker, N.A., Cook, J., & Redfern, M. (2009). Rater reliability and concurrent validity of the Keyboard Personal Computer Style instrument (K-PeCS). Applied Ergonomics, 40, 136-144. PMID: 18275932
•     Baker, N.A., Rogers, J.C., Rubinstein, E.N., Allaire, S.H., & Wasko, M.C. (2009). Problems experienced by people with arthritis when using a computer. Arthritis Care & Research, 61, 614-622. PMID: 19405002
•     Baker, N.A., & Redfern, M. (2009). Potentially problematic postures during work site keyboard use. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 386-397. PMID: 19708467
•     Baker, N.A., Gustafson, N.P., & Rogers J.C. (2010). The association between rheumatoid arthritis related structural changes in hands and computer keyboard operation. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20, 59-68. PMID: 19898778
•     Baker, N.A., & Rogers, J.C. (2010). Association between computer use speed and age, impairments in function, and touch typing training in people with RA. Arthritis Care & Research, 62, 242-250. PMID: 20191524
•     Torok, K.S., Bake,r N.A., Lucas, M., Domsic, R.T., Boudreau, R., & Medsger, T.A. (2010). Reliability and Validity of the Delta Finger-To-Palm Measurement in Systemic Sclerosis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 28, (Suppl. 58), S28-S36. PMID: 20576211; PMCID: PMC2935276
•     Allin, S., Baker, N.A., Eckel, E., & Ramanan, D. (2010). Robust tracking of the upper limb for functional stroke assessment. IEEE on Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, 18, 542-550. PMID: 2037848
•     Toosi, K., Baker, N.A., Impink, B.G., & Boninger, M. (In press). Effects of Computer Keyboarding on Ultrasonographic Measures of the Median Nerve. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
•     Baker, N.A., Aufman, E., & Poole, J. (In press). Computer use problems and accommodation strategies at work and home for people with systemic sclerosis: A needs assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
•     Baker, N.A., Moehling, K., Rubinstein, E., Wollstein, R., Gustafson, N.P., & Baratz, M. (In press). The comparative effectiveness of combined lumbrical muscle splints and stretches on symptoms and function in carpal tunnel syndrome. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Book Chapters

•     Fitzgerald, G.K., & Baker, N.A. (2010). Principles of rehabilitation: PT and OT. In M.C. Hochberg, A.J. Silman, J.S. Smolen, M.E. Weinblatt, & M.H. Weisman (Eds.). Rheumatology. 5th ed. Phildelphia, PA: Elsevier, p. 441-448.
•     Baker, N.A., & Tickle-Degnen L. (In press). Evidence-based practice: Integrating evidence to inform practice. In Schell, Gillen, & Scaffa (Eds). Willard & Spackman's occupational therapy. 12th ed.

    
Courses Recently Taught

    OT 2101 Human Movement Analysis, Course Liaison
    OT 2106 Clinical Research for Occupational Therapists, Instructor
    OT 2110 Biomechanical Theory and Practice I, Instructor
    OT 2114 Biomechanical Theory and Practice II, Co-Instructor
    OT 2118 Special Topics in Occupational Therapy, Course Liaison
    HRS 2504 Directed Readings in Occupational Therapy, Instructor
    HRS 2510 Fundamentals of Evidenced Based Practice in OT, Instructor

Biographical Profile

    Therapist, Saint Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1985-1986
    Therapist, Gaylord Hospital, Wallingford, CT, 1986-1987
    Per Diem Therapist, Boise, ID, 1988
    Staff Therapist, New England Rehabilitation Hospital, Woburn, MA, 1989
    Supervisor, Occupational Orthopaedic Center, Pawtucket, RI, 1989-1991 
    Per Diem Therapist, The Turning Point, Pawtucket, RI, 1992
    Consultant, Occupational Orthopaedic Center, Pawtucket, RI, 1992
    Supervisor, The HealthCenter, Green Bay, WI, 1992-1996
    Teaching Assistant, Boston University, Sargent College Occupational Therapy Department, 1997-1998
    Faculty Assistant, Boston University, Sargent College Occupational Therapy Department, 1997-1998
    Faculty Assistant, Boston University, Sargent College Occupational Therapy Department, 1997-1998
    Faculty, Boston University, Sargent College Occupational Therapy Department, 1998
    Teaching Assistant, Boston University, Sargent College Occupational Therapy Department, 1999
    Faculty, Boston University, Sargent College, Occupational Therapy Department, 1999
    Lecturer, Tufts University, Boston School of Occupational Therapy, 1999
    Project Coordinator, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 2000-2001
    Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 2001-2009
    Assistant Professor (Secondary Appointment), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, 2007-2009
    Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 2009-present

Awards and Honors

    American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation Health Professional Investigator Award, 2007
    Elected to American Occupational Therapy Foundation Academy of Research, 2009

Grants Awarded

•     The effect of alternative keyboards on discomfort and typing kindmatics. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. R01OH008961. 2008-2012. PI: Baker. 
•     Upper extremity dynamics during keying. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. R01OH008373. 2007-2011. PI: Dennerlein, Role: Consultant.
•     Center on Telerehabilitation. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. 2009-2014. PI: Brienza, McCue, Role: Capacity Building Project Leader, Techonology Implementation Project.
•     Practical assessment of function in rheumatoid arthritis using performance-based tools. UCB and Center for Continuing Education in Health Sciences. 2011. PI: Baker.
•     Maximizing clinical readiness through classroom learning. Provost's Advisory Council in Instructional Excellence, University of Pittsburgh. 2011-2012. Co-Directors: Leibold & Baker.
•     Enhancing the User's Experience in an Amputee Virtual ENvironment Support Space. Department of Defense. OSD11-H04. 2011. PI: Waddington, Role: Consultant.

External Service and Assignments
Professional Affiliations

    Member, American Occupational Therapy Association, 1985-present
    Member, Boston University Chapter of Sigma Xi, 1999-present
    Appointed to the Editorial Board of Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, & Rehabilitation, 2000-present
    Member, Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, 2002-present
    Member, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2003-present
    Member, Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, 2004-present
    Appointed to the Editorial Board of American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2004-present