Patricia Baird is currently a University Distinguished Professor at the University of British Columbia. In 1978, Baird became the first woman to head the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. With a specialty in the area of mental retardation, birth defects and genetics disorders such as Down syndrome, Dr. Baird’s research also focuses on examining the social, ethical and health consequences of new knowledge of human reproductive biology and genetics. As a result of her achievements, she is widely quoted and respected for her work on genetics and on issues relating to how new genetic knowledge should be applied. Dr. Baird has served as an advisor to World Health Organization in recent years, Chair of the 1993 ground-breaking Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies as well as being associated with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.