James Baker, M.D., M.B.A., serves as Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is a pediatric psychiatrist with over 25 years of academic and public-sector administrative experience in behavioral health, including service as Systems Chief Medical Officer of the community mental health center in Austin, Texas, Chief Executive Officer of the community center for Dallas County, and Medical Director for Behavioral Health with the Texas Department of State Health Services. He also served as Associate Chair in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.

Dr. Baker is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a recipient of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, as well as of the Mental Health America of Greater Dallas Pamela Blumenthal Memorial Award for long-term commitment to quality of care and delivery of services to people with mental illnesses.