Faculty

Andrea Edwards PA-C (Moderator)

Andrea has been practicing as a hematology/oncology physician assistant since 2011. She previously completed a year of practice in Orthopedics before joining VOA. She works alongside VOA physicians with a special focus on breast cancer, among other cancers. She played an integral role in the development of the survivorship program. Andrea serves as supervisor of VOA Advanced Practice Providers. She is a member of the Virginia Association of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology. Outside of medicine, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family and friends. 

Justin Baker, MD (Speaker)                                                                                                        

As a Pediatric Oncologist, Palliative Care Physician, and Phase I and End– of– Life Care Clinical Investigator, Dr. Justin Baker is intimately aware of the distress experienced by children with advanced cancer and the ethical and end– of– life/bereavement issues surrounding their disease progression. He currently serves as the Chief of the Division of Quality of Life and Pediatric Palliative Care here at Stanford, as well as the Director of the Quality of Life for All (QoLA) Program. Additionally, Dr. Baker serves as the Associate Chief Quality Officer for Patient Experience and Holistic Care. In his past career at St Jude, he served as the Director of our large Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program for more than a decade. 

Dr. Baker's research interests include ethical considerations surrounding enrollment in Phase I clinical trials, AYA palliative oncology care, end– of– life decision making, grief and bereavement, integrating palliative care into the ongoing care of children with cancer as well as patient– reported outcomes and pain and symptom control in the context of pediatric oncology care. He has received significant extramural funding for his research, and Dr. Baker has participated in dozens of studies related to pediatric palliative care. He has authored ~250 academic works on palliative care subjects within the context of pediatric oncology. In sum, Dr. Baker is a recognized global expert and leader in the field of Pediatric Palliative Care.