Funeral arrangements set for Columbus surgeon Dr. Champ Baker Jr., who died at 75
Prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Champ Baker Jr., renowned for his expertise in sports medicine, has died.
Muscogee County coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed Baker’s death to the Ledger-Enquirer. He was 75. Baker was taken by ambulance from his home to the St. Francis Hospital emergency room early Friday morning and was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest by the attending doctor at 5:27 a.m., Bryan said.
Baker was retired from the Hughston Clinic, where he served as president from 1994-2000, and was chairman of the Hughston Foundation.
Hughston spokeswoman Kathleen Gibson emailed the L-E the following statement.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Dr. Champ Baker, Jr. early this morning. Out of immense respect for the Baker family more information will be shared at a later time. Dr. Baker has had such a great impact on the Hughston organization and will be truly missed. Please keep the Baker family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.”
Monday, Gibson released the arrangements for Baker’s funeral. The service, open to the public, is scheduled to start at noon March 24 in St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1104 Second Ave., in Columbus. The visitation, immediately before the service, will be private, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at St. Luke.
Extensive experience
Baker served as president of the Southern Orthopaedic Association, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, Georgia Shoulder and Elbow Society and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, according his biography on sportsmed.org.
He was the team physician for local and regional athletic teams, including the University of Alabama and Columbus State University, where he was a past president of the CSU Board of Trustees. He served on the U.S. Olympic Committee as a volunteer physician.
Baker authored the “Hughston Clinic Sports Medicine Field Manual.” He edited or co-edited several medical textbooks. He also wrote and published scientific articles in orthopedic journals, such as the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and the American Journal of Sports Medicine. He chaired or coordinated instructional courses and made presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
He taught at Tulane University School of Medicine and at the Medical College of Georgia.
In 2010, Baker received the Robert E. Leach Mr. Sports Medicine award during the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s annual meeting. This award is given annually to someone who made a significant contribution to the world of sports medicine.
Also in 2010, he received the George D. Rovere, MD, Award for his contributions to sports medicine education. His other medical honors include the Distinguished Southern Orthopaedist Award from the Southern Orthopaedic Association and the President’s Challenge Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Baker was inducted in 2011 into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports of Hall of Fame, where he served on the board.
A native of Louisiana, Baker earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Louisiana State University. He completed his residency through Letterman Army Medical Center and Shriners Hospital for Children. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Hughston Clinic before joining the staff.
‘Phenomenal doctor’
Hughston Clinic orthopedic surgeon Dr. Fred Flandry, who worked with Baker for nearly 40 years, put in perspective the excellent reputation his colleague and friend had for treating and operating on the full spectrum of athletes, from junior varsity benchwarmers to international superstars.
“He was a phenomenal doctor,” Flandry told the Ledger-Enquirer. “He was a leader in our profession. He was probably given every accolade in sports medicine that exists. The only other person I know who was honored to that extent was Dr. (Jack) Hughston himself.”
Baker was a sports medicine pioneer. He developed numerous procedures that still are used in operating rooms, such as arthroscopic surgery for tennis elbow and hip bursitis.
“He was a keen thinker,” Flandry said.
And a skillful surgeon and talented teacher.
“There are some people you operate with that are like concert musicians, and he was,” Flandry said. “… A lot of people who give lectures bore the audience. Champ never did. He was a consummate speaker.”
Although he retired a few years ago, Baker still periodically donned scrubs to volunteer at MercyMed.
In his professional life and personal life, Flandry said, Baker knew when to work hard and when to joke around — and he did both well.
“He was just an overall good person,” Flandry said. “It’s hard to think of people who were as genuine and dedicated as Champ was. He loved his family. He loved his patients. He loved his partners. He was a great friend.”
Flandry noted Baker had the rare fortune of not only seeing his son, Dr. Champ Baker III, go into the same profession but also to join his practice.
“They were able to work side-by-side for seven or eight years,” Flandry said. “He often said that was one of the true joys of his life.”
Funeral arrangements weren’t available before publication.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 12:49 PM.
