Ph.D. Student Profile

Jillian Baker, MPH, BA

Jillian Baker, MPH, BA

  • Doctoral Student

Education

BA, Biology and Theology, Boston College
MPH, Epidemiology, Boston University

Research Interests & Projects

I've worked with former professional football players to study a range of health conditions, from cardiovascular conditions to chronic pain to long-term effects of head impacts and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). I hope to continue working to understand effects of TBI and any interactive effects with psychosocial stressors, especially in adverse childhood experiences.

Selected Publications

  • Plessow, F., Pascual-Leone, A., McCracken, C. M., Baker, J., Krishnan, S., Baggish, A., Connor, A., Courtney, T. K., Nadler, L., Speizer, F., Taylor, H., Weisskopf, M. G., Zafonte, R., Meehan, W.(2019). Self-reported cognitive function and mental health diagnoses among former professional American-style football players. Journal of Neurotrauma. doi: 10.1089/neu.2019.6661
  • Tenforde, A., Cortez, B., Baker, J., Borg-Stein, J., Baggish, A., Wasfy, M., Zafonte R. (2020). Prevalence of total knee and hip arthroplasty in former National Football League players: comparison with the general US population and other populations of professional athletes. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000833
  • Tenforde, A., Cortez, B., Coughlan-Gifford, E., Grashow, R., Baker, J., Baggish, A., Pascual-Leone, A., Nadler, L., Speizer, F., Taylor, H., Weisskopf, M. G., Zafonte, R. (2021) Individual and cumulative health afflictions are associated with greater impairment in physical and mental function in former professional American style football players. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12581
  • Zafonte, R., Pascual-Leone, A., Baggish, A., Weisskopf, M. G., Taylor, H. A., Connor, A., Baker, J., Cohan, S., Valdivia, C., Courtney, T. K., Cohen, I. G., Speizer, F., Nadler, L. M. (2019). The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University: Design and objectives. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 62(8), 643-654. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22991