This past spring, UAB Surgery resident Samantha Baker, M.D., completed her third research year as a Birmingham VA Quality Scholar in the lab of Melanie Morris, M.D. She will return to clinical duties this fall.In addition to these achievements, Baker is a record-holding powerlifter.

“I was a collegiate powerlifter for LSU (2007-2011) and a Team USA Junior World Powerlifting competitor (2007, 2009, 2010),” Baker says. “Powerlifting is three lifts—squat, bench, and deadlift—and each competitor gets three attempts to make a successful lift. The highest successful lift from each of the three categories are added together, and the highest total in each weight class wins.”

She says she transitioned to Olympic lifting and training about two years ago. “Weightlifting has two lifts, the snatch and the clean and jerk, and again, competitors get three attempts to get a successful lift. Then, the highest successful lift for snatch is added to the highest successful lift for clean and jerk. The highest total wins for each weight class.”

While weightlifting may seem like a solitary pursuit, Baker says it really is a team sport. “I like powerlifting or weightlifting because even though it is an individual effort, the training is really a team sport. We lift each other up, hold each other accountable, coach each other, and celebrate with each other when we get a new personal record. On an individual level, I enjoy practicing a skill and trying to perfect a technique, knowing that no matter how good I am at something there is always a part of it to improve on.”

By Emma Harchanko