Natalie R. Baker -

Executive Officer

DNP, CNE, GS-C, FAANP, FAAN

Natalie R. Baker, DNP, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, GS-C, FAANP, FAAN, has enjoyed a distinguished career as a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner, and a nurse educator in the state of Alabama. A native of Adamsville, Alabama, Dr. Baker became an RN upon earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1985. In 1990, she earned a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree from UAB and began practicing as a nurse practitioner, five years prior to the codification of the nurse practitioner role into the Alabama Nurse Practice Act. In 2010, she earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from UAB.

As one of Alabama’s first nurse practitioners, Natalie recognized that the role would be vital to the future of healthcare in our state and she has been a dedicated leader in advancing CRNP practice ever since. In 1999, following nearly a decade of practice as an Adult and Gerontology nurse practitioner, Dr. Baker began her career as a nurse educator, first with the University of Memphis School of Nursing, and later returning to her alma mater, the UAB School of Nursing, from which retired as a professor in 2025, having contributed to the preparation of a generation of Alabama advanced practice nurses, while maintaining active clinical practice as a CRNP for more than 35 years.

Dr. Baker also is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert on health policy, having published dozens of book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, and web publications. She serves or has served as a member and leader in a number of professional and regulatory organizations, including the Alabama Board of Nursing, on which she served for eight years, holding the position of Vice President in 2017, and seven years as a member and two terms as chair of the Joint Committee for Advanced Practice Nursing. Dr. Baker is a former member and President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) board of directors and has won numerous awards for her work in gerontological nursing, as well as leadership as a professional, advocate, and regulator. These include the Dave Butler Spirit of GAPNA Award, the GAPNA Excellence in Leadership Award, as well as the State Award for Excellence – Nurse Practitioner Advocate Award, which was bestowed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in both 2016 and 2019. Dr. Baker also has been inducted as a Fellow by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2017) and the American Academy of Nursing (2021).

Natalie resides in Madison, Alabama, with her husband, Dr. Tim Baker. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.