Shawn Baca, MD, FACR

Dr. Baca grew up in Albuquerque, NM and obtained his undergraduate degree and medical degree at the University of NM in Albuquerque.  He moved to Florida in 1987 and did his internal medicine training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.  During his training, he was named intern of the year, given the Furlong award for outstanding performance by a medical resident, and served as chief medical resident. He did his clinical rheumatology and research fellowship at the University of Miami, with his research focused on osteoarthritis.
 
Dr. Baca has been practicing with Rheumatology Associates of South Florida since 1992.   He is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, Florida Medical Association (FMA), Florida Society of Rheumatology, and the Palm Beach County Medical Society (PBCMS).  He has served as treasurer on the medical executive committee of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He was elected by the FMA and serves on the Florida delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA).   He currently serves as the Chairman of the South Florida Caucus to the FMA and was Chairman in 2017.  For over a decade he has also represented patients and physicians of Palm Beach County and as a delegate to the FMA House of Medicine.  He is Past President of the PBCMS, and has previously served as a Member at Large, Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President.
 
He has been the primary investigator of several clinical trials.  He was a clinical assistant professor in the department of Rheumatology at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial hospital for several years and is currently an Affiliate Clinical Professor at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.   He also serves on the Continuing Medical Education Committee at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. He maintains hospital privileges at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center.
 
Dr. Baca has been recognized over the years as a top doctor by Best Doctors in America, Super Docs, People’s Choice of the Award-Royal Women's Club of Boca Raton, Honor Your Doctor, Rotary Club Boca Raton,  Palm Beach Illustrated and US News and World Report.  He was honored as Physician Hero of the Year Palm Beach County by the PBCMS in 2019. He was also honored by the Arthritis Foundation in 2019 at their annual gala.  He has participated in a free clinic (now the Whelton Virshup Creaky Joints Arthritis Clinic) since 1994 and is Past President of the Leadership Board of the Palm Beach County Arthritis Foundation.