SCNM mourns alum, Dr. Baker

Donald Baker, ND, DC, passed away on May 31^st after a short struggle with cancer. To so many of us in the naturopathic community, Don exemplified a healer at the highest level. A quiet and private man, Don didn’t share details of his illness with many people, so it wasn’t surprising that a heartbroken patient called to tell me of his passing.

Naturopathic medicine was Don’s third career. After beginning his professional life as an engineer, he turned his attention to the healing arts and became a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and established a thriving practice in upstate New York. After turning 50, he enrolled at SCNM and immersed himself in a broad range of healing modalities and traditions and specialized in Applied Kinesiology.

Don and I arrived at the College at the same time. He as a student and me as a member of the faculty. I realized almost immediately how much the student would teach the instructor. Don was the kind of physician who could assimilate and blend information and experiences from diverse healing traditions, essentially creating a whole that surpassed the sum of its many parts. He was extraordinarily gifted with his patients, generous with other students, and a stalwart of the naturopathic profession. His departure from this world leaves a void for his family, his patients, and his colleagues.

Peace,

Paul Mittman, ND, EdD