Dr. Baum seeks to understand how engagement in daily activities (care of self, others, home, work, and community) supports health. She is particularly interested in the concept of functional cognition.
Dr. Baum led the development of the Cognitive Rehabilitation Research group at Washington University School of Medicine to link biological and rehabilitation scientists to inform rehabilitation strategies. She is engaged in three global initiatives, one funded by the James S. McDonnell Foundation that involves scientists in Australia/Asia, Europe/ Israel and US/Canada to strengthen the link between neuroscience and rehabilitation. She is the primary investigator of a global initiative with colleagues in Singapore and Australia to understand issues in stroke outcomes, services, and policies in the three countries. Recently she has been working with the Center for Social Development initiative with the University of Singapore on The New Age Initiative.