NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Jill E. McCormick, Director, Marketing & Planning
St. Edward Mercy Health System
Phone: 479-314-6037
Email: jill.mccormick@mercy.net

Active Duty Calls Mercy Clinic Physician to Iraq

Fort Smith, Ark. – June 22, 2009 - Mercy Clinic family practitioner, Dr. Sean Baker, has been called to active
duty by the National Guard Bureau. During his deployment, Dr. Baker will provide medical care for U.S. troops
stationed in Iraq. He deploys at the beginning of July and will return in early November.
“It is important to me to have this opportunity to serve our military men and women because they give such a
great sacrifice to us by fighting for our country,” said Baker. “It is of the utmost importance to provide good
medical care for our troops so they know in their hour of need that someone is there to care for them.”
Dr. Baker says that the outpouring of support of his patients and team at St. Edward Mercy Clinic – Primary
Care Associates has been helpful and uplifting to him.
“I am honored to serve my country and appreciate the support of my patients,” said Baker. “They have been
truly kind and understanding, which helps immensely. I am also grateful to Mercy Clinic as they have also been
supportive of my call to duty and have been nothing but gracious to me during this time.”
Dr. Baker has been a member of the 120th Medical Company in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for five
years. His deployment is an individual deployment as opposed to a unit deployment. Dr. Baker is married to
wife Erica and has two sons, Seth and Eli. He has practiced for St. Edward Mercy Clinic since June 2008.
St. Edward Mercy Clinic is a physician-led and professionally-managed multispecialty medical group practice.
Mercy Clinic was founded by St. Edward Mercy Health System in 2008 to expand the base of available primary
care and selected specialty physicians in the River Valley.