Oakland, CA – Gideon L. Baum has been named Chief Operating Officer of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute according to Alex Swedlow, President of the Oakland-based research group.

Mr. Baum, who received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from UCLA and his graduate degree in Public Administration from USC, joins CWCI after having spent the past several years as the Vice President of Policy at the California Hospital Association, where he served as that organization’s lead on labor and human resource issues.  Prior to that, he was the Staff Director for the California Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement, and worked as a Committee Consultant with the State Senate for nearly 15 years.  While working for the State Senate he was instrumental in the drafting and analysis of multiple workers’ compensation bills, including SB 863, the last major overhaul of the California workers’ compensation system, which was signed by Governor Brown in 2012.

In his new role, Mr. Baum will manage CWCI’s day-to-day operations and provide support and expertise to the Research and IT departments on designated projects.  In announcing his appointment, Mr. Swedlow said, “The Institute is thrilled to add Gideon’s deep, practical knowledge of workers’ compensation issues, his keen insight into the history and legislative intent underlying the reforms that have occurred in our system over the past 15 years, and his solid understanding of the proposed changes that continue to arise.  Gideon’s expertise and his outstanding reputation gained from his work with state legislators and regulators, insurers and self-insureds, and other stakeholders in the California workers’ compensation community make him a most valuable addition to our staff.”

Mr. Baum is scheduled to begin work at the Institute on February 1, and can be contacted by calling CWCI at 510-251-9470 or by emailing gbaum@www.cwci.org.