Tamara A. Baker, Ph.D.
The Pennsylvania State University, 2001

Assistant Professor
School of Aging Studies

Email: tbaker@cas.usf.edu
Telephone: 813-974-7989
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
NIH Biosketch (pdf).

Description of Research Interests
Dr. Baker’s research agenda focuses the behavioral and psychosocial predictors and outcomes of chronic pain and disease in older adults from diverse racial and ethnic populations. She also has a particular interest in examining health disparities and disparities in chronic pain management across the age continuum among community-dwelling and clinic-based adults.

Grant Support

National Cancer Institute. Psycho-sociocultural factors influencing cancer pain management in elderly adults. K01; Under review.

Administration on Aging (#90AM2750); Study of Older Floridians; University of South Florida
Investigator; 2005-present. 

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders; Minority Supplement (Principal
Investigator); Ethnic Differences in the Management in Osteoarthritis; University of Pittsburgh and
University of South Florida; 2005-2006.

Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research; Assessing the Mediating Effects of
Chronic Pain and Depression in Older African Americans; Role on Project: Principal Investigator
$20,000

National Institute on Aging; Minority Dissertation Grant. (RO3); Psychological and Physical Health in Arthritic Blacks; Grant awarded 1999; Role on Project: Principal Investigator; $32,491 (direct costs). 

National Institute on Aging Training Predoctoral Fellow, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Gerontology Department; 1999-2001.

National Institute on Aging; ACTIVE Project; Minority Supplement; The Pennsylvania State University,
University Park; 1997-2000.

Publications

Baker, T.A., Buchanan, N.T., & Corson, N. (2008). Factors influencing chronic pain intensity in older Black women:  Examining depression, locus of control and physical health. Journal of Women’s Health, July/August.

Baker, T.A.& Wang, C.C. (2006). Photovoice: Use of a participatory action research methodology to explore the chronic pain experience in older adults. Qualitative Health Research 16(10), 1-9.

Baker, T.A. & Whitfield, K.E.(2006). The association of physical functioning and chronic pain in older Blacks: An exploratory study identifying psychosocial and health predictors. Journal of the National Medical Association, 98(7), 1114-1120.

Baker, T.A. (2005). Individual differences in pain among older African Americans:  The role of psychosocial factors. Ethnicity & Disease, 15(2), 179-186.

Baker, T.A. & Green, C.R. (2005) Intrarace differences among Black and White Americans presenting for chronic pain management: The influence of age, physical health, and psychosocial factors.  Pain Medicine, 6(1), 29-38.

Dominick, K.L. & Baker, T.A.  (2004) Racial and ethnic differences in osteoarthritis:  Prevalence, outcomes, and medical care. Ethnicity & Disease, 14(4), 558-566.

Green, C.R., Baker, T.A,  Ndao-Brumblay, S.K. (2004).  Patient attitudes regarding healthcare utilization and referral:  A descriptive comparison in African-and Caucasian Americans with chronic pain.  Journal of the National Medical Association, 96(1), 31-42.

Green, C.R., Ndao-Brumblay, S.K., Nagrant, A.M., Baker, T.A, E. Rothman.(2004). Race, age, and gender influences among clusters of African and Caucasian American chronic pain patients. Journal of Pain, 5(3), 171-182.

Green, C.R., Anderson, K.O., Baker, T.A., Campbell, L.C., Decker, S., Fillingim, R.B., et al. (2003). The unequal burden of pain:  Confronting racial and ethnic disparities In pain. Pain Medicine, 4(3), 277-294.

Baker, T.A., (2003). Arthritis symptoms as indicators of pain in older African Americans.  Ethnicity & Disease, 13(4), 513-520.

Green, C.R., Baker, T.A., Washington, T.L., & Smith, E.M. (2003). Race and chronic pain: comparative Study of young African and Caucasian Americans presenting for management. Journal  of Pain, 4 (4), 176-183.

Green, C.R., Baker, T.A., Smith, E.M., & Sato, Y. (2003).  The effect of race in older adults presenting for chronic pain management:  A comparative study of Black and White Americans.  Journal of Pain, 4 (2), 82-90.

Whitfield, K. E., & Baker-Thomas, T. A. (1999).  Individual differences in aging Among African- Americans. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 48(1), 73-79.

Whitfield, K.E., Baker-Thomas, T.A., Heyward, K., Gatto, M., & Williams, Y. (1999). Evaluating a measure of everyday problem solving for use in African-Americans. Experimental Aging Research, 25(3), 209-222.

Honors and Awards

• Honorary Faculty Member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, 2005
• Honorable Mention for the Betty Jane Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award,
  American Public Health Association, 2002
• Gerontological Society of America’s Doctoral Fellow, 1999
• Minority Access to Research Careers Scholar (MARC) - North Carolina Central University, 1991-1993

Classes Taught

Graduate courses
GEY 6934  Minority Aging
GEY 6626 Health, Ethnicity, & Aging

Undergraduate Courses
GEY 4900 Directed Readings
GEY 4628 Race, Ethnicity, & Aging
GEY 4628  Minority Aging
GEY 3601  Physical Changes and Aging
GEY 2000  Introduction to Gerontology