Dr. Baba is a clinical assistant professor in our anesthesiology and pain management service.
Tell us about your background.
I earned my veterinary degree from the University of Liège in Belgium, followed by a rotating internship at Frégis Veterinary Hospital in the Paris suburbs and an anesthesia internship at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
Most recently, I completed my residency in comparative anesthesia and analgesia at Auburn University in Alabama. I’m excited to join the University of Illinois as a clinical assistant professor.
How did you become interested in anesthesiology?
Dealing with chronic pain secondary to herniated discs originally motivated me to learn more about different analgesia techniques. Through that journey, I discovered how much depth the specialty of anesthesia and analgesia offers. After completing multiple anesthesia externships as a veterinary student, I knew without a doubt this was the field for me.
Tell us about a favorite case of yours.
As anesthesiologists, flexibility is essential since we work across the entire hospital. You can’t predict everything, as many variables are out of your control. My favorite cases are those where collaborative communication with other departments allows us to prevent complications and run the case smoothly.
What are your special interests inside or outside of the clinic?
Inside the clinic, my focus is teaching. I love engaging in discussions with students and fostering a learning environment that stimulates critical thinking. I enjoy working with all species and don’t have a single favorite!
Outside the clinic, I’m an outdoor person. You’ll usually find me running, swimming, or taking my dog, Dobby, to the dog park.
