Growing up in Eastern Europe, Ioana Baiu, MD, MPH, saw firsthand what happens when medical resources are scarce. Her grandparents struggled with illnesses that could have greatly benefited from the expertise of a cardiothoracic surgeon and necessary medical care. This inspired her to become a surgeon and make a difference for patients like her grandparents.
Dr. Baiu is not only the newest surgeon in the Division of Thoracic Surgery, but the only female surgeon. She came to The Ohio State University College of Medicine's Department of Surgery from Stanford University, where she completed her general surgery fellowship and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship – making her one of a very small percentage of female cardiothoracic surgeons in the U.S., according to the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
Because of this, Dr. Baiu feels a responsibility to pave the way for future generations of female cardiothoracic surgeons, and she chose Ohio State to continue to do just that.
“I am fortunate to have joined an incredible team in which each one of us brings something different to the table,” Dr. Baiu says. “We gain strength from our diversity.”
She’s also thankful to be working at the third-largest cancer hospital in the U.S. and one affiliated with a university –– The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
“As a cancer and thoracic surgeon, you need the type of support and resources that can only exist in a place such as the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and The James,” Dr. Baiu says. “This is the only way to provide the absolute best care for the sickest patients.”
Dr. Baiu obtained her medical degree and a master of public health degree at Harvard Medical School before training at Stanford. She says that becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon is one of the most challenging but also rewarding career paths, and she’s eternally grateful to have a job where she can wake up in the morning and cure cancer by the end of the day.
“The complexity of the procedures and the ability to use your own hands to drastically improve someone’s life is unparalleled,” Dr. Baiu says. “Every day, whether I am in the OR, in clinic or the floor, I am energized by being part of a team of dedicated individuals who have one common goal – to help improve the life of a patient.”
An avid cyclist and triathlete, Dr. Baiu has lived all over the world and is now enjoying life in Columbus, where she says nothing beats Midwest hospitality. Here, she gets to continue doing what she loves the most: making a difference in the lives of her patients.
“Every day, the moments that I cherish are connecting with a patient and their family and establishing that uniquely profound trust that allows me to take the best care of them,” Dr. Baiu says.