Obituary
Kenneth Baughman, MD, director of Advanced Heart Disease, 63
BWH mourns the loss of Kenneth Baughman, MD, a loving husband, father and grandfather, inspiring leader, compassionate clinician and beloved colleague. He passed away Nov. 16, 2009, in a tragic accident in Florida, where he was attending the American Heart Association convention.
“Ken represented the very best in medicine and cared so deeply for each and every person he touched,” said BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA.
A nationally renowned expert in heart failure—specifically myocarditis—Dr. Baughman joined BWH in 2002, when he was recruited from Johns Hopkins Hospital to direct the Advanced Heart Disease Section of the BWH Cardiovascular Division. In the past seven years, he has made an indelible mark on the Brigham community.
“Dr. Baughman was an extraordinarily skilled and insightful physician, a revered mentor who guided trainees and younger faculty alike and a man of such incredible personal quality beyond his professional excellence,” said Peter Libby, MD, chief of Cardiovascular Medicine. “He will be sorely missed.”
A truly inspirational leader in the planning for the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, Dr. Baughman was instrumental in bringing many perspectives together and engaging staff in collaboration to ensure the support of all cardiovascular patients.
“He provided the type of care any patient or family member would want,” said Pat O’Gara, MD, of the Cardiovascular Division. “His patients are forever grateful for his care and compassion.”
A dedicated mentor who nurtured and promoted the careers of fellows and junior faculty, Dr. Baughman’s boundless zeal for his work inspired his colleagues and those whom he mentored. “So many of us learned about pursuing a vision and living one’s passion from Ken,” said Debra Rogers, executive director of Cardiovascular Services.
Dr. Baughman was an avid athlete who practiced what he preached to patients. He ran the Boston Marathon with Team Brigham in 2005 and, in 2006, was co-captain of the BWH Heart Walk team for the American Heart Association’s Boston Heart Walk. He also competed regularly in triathlons.
“When his patients got to know him, they perceived it as another manifestation of his selflessness because he was very self-deprecating,” said Gilbert Mudge, MD, of the Cardiovascular Division.
Chief Medical Officer Andy Whittemore, MD, added, “He epitomized what every physician should strive to be.”
Dr. Baughman’s family was the center of his universe.
“We are heart-broken by the loss of a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and physician,” the Baughman family wrote in a statement. “Ken dedicated his life to his family and patients. His rewards from a life of caring were tremendous and his loss unfathomable.”
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Baughman attended the University of Missouri, where he earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees. In 2003, he received an honorary degree from Harvard University. He completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship at MGH, and he returned to Hopkins to serve in many leadership positions, including director of the Cardiology Division.
Dr. Baughman, who lived in Newton, is survived by his wife, Cheryl, their two sons, Matthew and Christopher, and his entire family, including two daughters-in-law, Michelle and Holly and four grandchildren.
A memorial service to remember Dr. Baughman will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m., at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church in Wellesley. Contributions in Dr. Baughman’s name can be made to The Cardiovascular Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, care of Ms. Maura Lynch at BWH Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115.