Lee Baer PHD

Lee Baer, Ph.D. of Sudbury, passed away July 27, 2017. He was a beloved husband, father, family member and friend. There are simply no words to express our sorrow in the loss of this great man. His humility, sincerity and dedication to those he loved was admired by all. The world has truly lost someone who made a difference and who changed people around him for the better. He was gentle and simple and unpretentious, although he was a man of many accomplishments. He will forever live in our hearts, and we will long for him every day. Our hearts will be full of eternal love and memories that fill us with the strength to face each day. When we feel like we cannot endure this loss, we will remember how he lived and loved, and we are all the better for it.

Dr. Baer was an internationally recognized leader in advancing the understanding and treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. He co-founded the OCD treatment and research programs at both the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. His groundbreaking research on OCD symptom subtypes and his extensive empirical findings advanced behavioral and pharmacological treatments of OCD. A deeply caring clinician, Dr. Baer was universally liked and respected by his patients. His self-help book "Getting Control" was the first to describe a powerful understanding and treatment of repugnant obsessions. His books have helped OCD patients and guided clinicians around the world for more than 20 years. Beyond being an exceptional researcher and clinician, he will be remembered for having tirelessly supported and encouraged interns, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. Dr. Baer's mentees have been very successful with publishing their papers and presenting their research at professional meetings. They have also been thriving with respect to obtaining their own research funding and have been promoted to leadership positions within and outside the Harvard system. Dr. Baer was also an expert statistician and helped numerous trainees and faculty members with complex methodological questions. Dr. Baer has been honored for his research on OCD with a lifetime achievement award from the international OCD foundation and his work has been featured in major news outlets.

Dr. Baer had a razor sharp mind but also a warm, humble, and caring style. He was therefore highly respected, trusted, and liked. He is survived by his wife Carole Ann, his son David, and his daughter Emily.

For those wishing to make a gift to honor the memory of Dr. Lee Baer, contributions can be sent to the Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, Dr. Lee Baer Memorial Fund, 125 Nashua St, Boston, MA 02114 or be made online at giving.massgeneral.org. Please be sure to indicate Dr. Lee Baer Memorial Fund.