Nicholas Baker, MD

Dr. Nicholas Baker is an alumnus of our Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Independent Fellowship and Advanced Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thoracic Surgery Fellowship programs and upon graduation, was asked to join the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery faculty. 

A proud West Virginian, he earned his medical degree from West Virginia University and went on to complete his general surgery residency at the same institution. Dr. Baker has focused his career on robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and innovation.  He participated in the AATS Graham Fellowship as a trainee and continues to mentor our current residents yearly.  He frequently serves as an invited proctor for advanced training workshops for early and mid-career thoracic surgeons interested in enhancing their robotic skill set.  He is a beloved educator amongst current Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery residents and fellows, working alongside other faculty leaders in designing and executing a robust surgical simulation and mock oral board preparation curriculum.

Alongside his robotic assisted surgery expertise, he has been involved in multiple innovative programs at UPMC.  Robotic assisted VATS first rib resection is an emerging therapy for thoracic outlet syndrome.  Dr. Baker’s program was the first in the region and is only offered at a small number of institutions across the nation. Moreover, he leads the adult pectus excavatum program, which uses minimally invasive techniques such as Nuss bar placement.

Dr. Baker sees patients at UPMC Passavant, a high-end hospital providing advanced care in the community setting in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh.  He also serves several outreach clinics in Jameson, Greenville, and Meadville.