Rebecca “Becki” Baker, BSN, RN, BSEd, is a health care executive and educator with decades of stellar professional experience, which she brings to her role as the founder and chief executive officer of Synergy 3C – The Clinical Consulting Cooperative, LLC – in Franklin, Tennessee. Foundationally, Ms. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, earned in 1991, and a Bachelor of Science in education from The University of Memphis, completed in 1984. Her vast professional journey has seen her work as a nurse, teacher, and, today, as a leader.
Ms. Baker began her career as an English teacher at Memphis Shelby County Schools in Tennessee, where she taught from 1984 to 1990. Her dedication to education was recognized in 1990 when she was honored as one of the outstanding teachers in the Memphis Shelby County area. Transitioning to the health care field, she started her nursing career as a critical care nurse with the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, working there from 1991 to 1998. During this time, she also served as a nurse manager for the cardiac catheterization laboratory and interventional radiology department from 1998 to 2000.
Ms. Baker’s leadership skills led her to accept various directorial positions in notable health care organizations. From 2004 to 2007, she was the director of marketing and business development at Kindred Healthcare in Nashville, Tennessee, subsequently moving on to HCA Management Services, where she served as the corporate manager for case management education from 2007 to 2010. Ms. Baker continued her leadership trajectory at Optum Complex Care Delivery and Management, where she excelled as the director of learning and development from 2010 to 2014. She then joined PopHealthcare, where she initially garnered experience as the director of clinical operations and later served as the director of learning development until 2017. Her expertise in clinical operations and staff development was instrumental in enhancing the organization’s value-based care services. Following this role, Ms. Baker transitioned to Utilize Health Inc. as the chief clinical officer from 2018 to 2020.
In 2021, Ms. Baker launched Synergy 3C – The Clinical Consulting Cooperative, LLC – where she leverages her extensive experience in value-based care, focusing on proactive and preventative care, early identification and treatment, and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations. She specializes in clinical modeling for complex populations and collaborates with seasoned consultants to provide comprehensive value-based care solutions. Throughout her career, Ms. Baker has been recognized for her contributions to health care and dedication to community service. To this end, she received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Lung Association of Tennessee and was honored as a Community Health Charities Champion in Health in 2008.
In addition to her career achievements, Ms. Baker is deeply involved in her professional and local communities. She has served on various leadership boards for the American Lung Association, including the local leadership board for Middle Tennessee from 2019 to 2021 and the regional leadership board from 2018 to 2021. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Women Business Leaders, Women in Healthcare, and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Attributing her success to her dedication, willingness to learn, and the exceptional mentors she has had throughout her career, Ms. Baker values the importance of volunteering and learning in a working environment to gain new skills and knowledge. Her parents were both strong influences in her life, shaping her character and values. Her mother, a master educator, and her father, who was highly intelligent despite his limited formal education, both continue to inspire her through their enduring memory. As a single mother, Ms. Baker worked tirelessly for decades, juggling multiple jobs to provide for her family and advance her career. Her hard work and perseverance led her to achieve leadership roles in various organizations, and just months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to start Synergy 3C with the support of her longtime mentor, Sarah.
In her free time, Ms. Baker enjoys growing orchids and roses, reading, and serving others. She is also a volunteer neighborhood nurse, continuing her commitment to community service and health care. In the next five years, she aims to continue advancing value-based care strategies and assisting health care organizations in achieving their goals. With Synergy 3C, Ms. Baker seeks to form strategic partnerships with larger organizations to expand her impact and ensure patients receive the best possible care.