Each month, the Cardiovascular Team Section newsletter will highlight the achievements of one CV Team member. This month, we are featuring William L. Baker Jr., PharmD, FACC, member of the Academic Cardiology Section Leadership Council, and assistant professor at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy.

What are your research interests?

At the University of Connecticut, I am interested in systematic review and meta-analytic techniques, improving outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease and the health care system, inotropic drugs and anti-arrhythmic drugs to treat heart disease, atrial fibrillation, dosing study after heart and liver transplants, non-warfarin coagulants, and INR controls within warfarin.

What are your future plans?

I plan to obtain funding from the National Institutes of Health (pharmasite research and foundation research) and to present at my magnesium research at future ACC meetings.

What do you enjoy doing outside of cardiology?

I have been married for 13 years, have three children: 5-year-old fraternal twins (boy and girl), and a 3-year-old girl. We enjoy the zoo and day trips such as Six Flags. I am an avid bowler and compete in state and regional tournaments.

What are your professional responsibilities?

I provide didactic lectures on cardiovascular disease, instruct 4th year pharmacy students on inpatient cardiology and clinical research rotations, and have worked in the retail pharmacy and inpatient pharmacy settings. My teaching expertise includes adult internal medicine and cardiovascular disease.

What is your educational background?

I completed a cardiovascular pharmacology and outcome fellowship at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy/Hartford Hospital Evidence-Based Practice Center in 2008, received my PharmD from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in 2002, and my bachelors of science in pharmacy studies from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in 2000.

Are there any selected academic published research you would like to share?

I have published research on "Impact of Magnesium L-Lactate on Occurrence of Ventricular Arrythmias in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators," which was featured in the Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal in 2015. This study was presented as a poster session at the ACC's 63rd Annual Scientific Session on March 29, 2014 in Washington, DC. In summary, a large number of subjects with ICDs have an intracellular magnesium deficiency not captured through serum magnesium determination. The use of magnesium L-lactate in patients with an ICD results in significant improvement in systolic blood pressure at 12 weeks, which may be maintained through 24 weeks.

What is your message for CV Team members who are interested in getting involved with the ACC?

Do not be shy to apply for fellow status. The Associate level is a great credential for clinicians, however, researchers with a strong publication history should apply for Fellow status.