Tessa Baker

Tessa Baker

BSc, DVM, MSc, Diplomate of the American College of the Veterinary Preventive Medicine
Pronouns: she/her

Positions

Assistant Professor (Teaching)

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Contact information

Email

tessa.baker1@ucalgary.ca

Background

Biography

Tessa Baker completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Biology at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC in 2006 and graduated with a DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 2010. After graduation in 2010, she worked in both rural mixed animal and urban companion animal practice in Alberta for 6 years. Between university years and during short career breaks, she pursued her interest in One Health and access to veterinary care on a volunteer basis, traveling to both Kenya and Laos. To further explore this interest, she completed a Masters of Science in 2018 at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Her thesis evaluated the impacts of the provision of subsidized veterinary services in five remote northern Indigenous communities on dog health and welfare and community concerns about dogs. After completing a masters, she worked from 2018-2021 at the UCVM promoting and advancing education and research in One Health, globalization, and Indigenous engagement and cultural awareness. In June 2021 she successfully wrote the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM) board exams to become a Diplomate of the ACVPM. Most recently, she has been a Postdoctoral Associate at UCVM working on a number of projects related to increasing equitable access to veterinary care, dog population management with Indigenous communities, and improving diversity and equity in the veterinary curriculum and profession. In September 2024, she joined the UCVM as an Assistant Professor (Teaching), as one of two people hired to develop and implement a community care clinic at the UCVM’s Spy Hill Campus.

Research

Areas of Research

Equitable Access to Veterinary Care, Spectrum of Care

I am interested in understanding the barriers that people and communities can face accessing veterinary care, in working with communities and people to address these barriers in ways that work for them, and in exploring the benefits that accessing veterinary care can have on all stakeholders (clients, animals, veterinary service providers, etc.).

Since 2016, my research has sought to address access to veterinary care barriers in a variety of ways, including working with underserved communities to address animal health concerns and increase access to vet services, supporting veterinary student professional development on community-based practicums, and working with schools to increase exposure of Indigenous youth to animal health science.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

One health

Publications