Our Leaders

Barbara Gaines, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Gaines earned her medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She completed a residency in general surgery, trauma, and critical care at Vanderbilt University, a research fellowship in cellular therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh, and a residency in pediatric surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she served as Chief Resident. She also holds certificates in clinical research and business from the University of Pittsburgh. Board certified in general surgery, pediatric surgery, and surgical critical care, she joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2023.

Dr. Gaines is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Specialty Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a member of several other professional organizations, including the American Surgical Association, the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the Pediatric Trauma Society, and the Society of University Surgeons. Her interests include translational research in pediatric trauma, particularly in abnormal bleeding and blood clotting after injury, the use of whole blood for resuscitation of injured children, primary pediatric injury prevention, and surgical education. She has delivered scores of presentations, contributed to nine books, and published more than 130 academic articles related to her areas of expertise.

When she is not at work, Dr. Gaines enjoys traveling, watching her kids’ activities, hiking, and other outdoor activities.