During Occupational Therapy Month, we’re excited to highlight Elizabeth (Liz) Baker, a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) who has been making a difference at Morningside since 2014.
Liz first joined Morningside as a full-time contract worker through Reliant, just after graduating from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio. During her training, she completed clinical rotations at downtown Baptist Hospital, Texsan, and the San Antonio State Hospital, gaining valuable experience that set the foundation for her career. Before pursuing occupational therapy, Liz worked at Walgreens for 20 years as a pharmacy technician. There, she found herself naturally gravitating toward helping senior customers.
Acting as an advocate for older adults who needed assistance sparked her passion for caregiving, a calling that only deepened when she became a caregiver for her own parents. When her father fell ill and her mother was later diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 (and subsequently lung and bladder cancer), Liz realized she needed a career that offered both flexibility and the ability to continue caring for her family. Becoming a COTA allowed her to not only support her family’s needs but also to pursue meaningful work that aligned with her nurturing spirit.
Originally from Staten Island, NY, Liz moved to San Antonio in 1976 with her mother, following her grandmother who had moved two years earlier. She graduated from Jefferson High School and later moved to Bulverde in 2000. Though she didn’t initially pursue healthcare, Liz says she has always been drawn to caregiving roles and feels blessed that her journey ultimately led her to occupational therapy.
Working at Morningside’s Kendall facility has been especially rewarding for Liz. She says it feels like she’s surrounded by an entire building full of parents and grandparents, a close-knit community where she can truly keep track of and care for everyone. “Our therapy team at Kendall is like a family,” she says. “We’ve all worked together for eight to nine years, and it’s been the most stable and supportive team I’ve ever had.”
Liz takes pride in being a strong patient advocate, providing comfort and compassion while assisting residents with activities of daily living like dressing, grooming, and mobility. She’s seen incredible patient progress firsthand, recalling one patient with a long stay who went from needing total assistance to functional mobility, dressing, and caring for himself independently. Liz also acknowledges the physical demands of the job and the emotional importance of supporting residents, especially those experiencing isolation. “It’s always a joy to see our patients with their families, but for those without family nearby, it’s even more important to show them they’re not alone.”
Outside of work, Liz will be celebrating her one-year wedding anniversary in June with her husband, Chad, an electrician at UT Health Science Center San Antonio. She enjoys gardening, fishing, and studying genealogy, and is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She feels especially at home at Morningside, which she appreciates for its faith-based environment. Liz and Chad share their home with their beagle, Molly, and their cat, Grace. In her free time, Liz reflects on how far she has come, not only professionally but personally, overcoming her own health challenges, including surgery for bilateral orbital decompression related to Graves’ disease.
This September, Liz will celebrate her 11th year as a COTA. She remains deeply grateful to be part of the Morningside family, saying, “I’ve seen what’s out there, and I know how lucky I am to be here with such an amazing team.”
