Lola Baird, LICSW

Instructor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Lola Baird, LICSW received her BA in English Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Following an undergraduate internship with the Washtenaw County Office of the Public Defender, Lola developed a passion for advocating for underserved populations. Lola pursued a graduate degree in Social Work at Boston College and in 2011 received her MSW with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. Lola has been a fulltime Social Worker with the VA Boston Healthcare System since February 2012 and has worked in many areas of the hospital system. Starting her career in the Community Residential Care program, Lola provided clinical case management services to Veterans with chronic mental illnesses who live in VA-contracted community group homes. Lola then transitioned to the General Mental Health clinic where she assisted with developing the practices and guidelines for Social Work Case Management within outpatient mental health clinics, provided regular and ad hoc mental health coverage in the Brockton Urgent Care clinic, and served for 2-years as the Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator for VA Boston. Lola currently serves as the Senior Social Worker and Program Coordinator for the Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury clinic where her primary duties include planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the Polytrauma/TBI program at VA Boston, along with coordinating service delivery for Veterans seen in the clinic.

Publications

  • Published 3/23/2026

    Ream M, Moye J, Polacek L, O'Malley K, Baird L, Bashian H, Daks J, Etchin A, Pless Kaiser A. Understanding the social needs, resources, and group participation barriers of older rural veterans: A clinician survey. Psychol Serv. 2026 Aug; 23(3):652-661. PMID: 41870378.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/2/2024

    O'Malley KA, Park ST, Tadmor M, Kemp K, Pless Kaiser A, Bashian HM, Baird L, Moye JA. Enhancing trauma-informed care for older veterans: clinician perspectives on trauma practices and curricular needs. Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2026; 47(2):152-167. PMID: 39621834.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/29/2024

    Weiskittle R, Baird L, O'Malley K, Pless Kaiser A, Bashian H, Moye J. Advancing Late-Life Trauma-Informed Care Education: Development and Evaluation of an Educational Podcast. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2025 Mar; 32(1):60-69. PMID: 38951304.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/23/2024

    Bashian HM, Daks JS, Baird L, Heintz H, Moye J, Pless Kaiser A. Home-based primary care providers' perspectives on the unique challenges of working with late life posttraumatic stress disorder within their population of Veterans. Psychol Serv. 2024 Aug; 21(3):613-620. PMID: 38780554.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/26/2023

    O'Malley KA, Baird L, Kaiser AP, Bashian HM, Etchin AG, Sager ZS, Heintz H, Korsun L, Kemp K, Moye J. Maximizing Veterans Health Affairs Community Hospice Collaborations: Review of Perceived Resource Needs to Support Veterans at End of Life. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2024 Feb 01; 26(1):21-28. PMID: 37962223.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 9 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Websites

Education

  • Boston College, MSW
  • University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, BA

View all profiles