Barbara Gaines, M.D.

  • The Edwin Ide Smith, M.D. Distinguished Professorship in Pediatric Surgery
  • Surgery - Pediatric
  • Pediatric Critical Care
  • Trauma and Fractures

Biography

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.

Personal Note

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

Education & Training
  • Residency - Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1998-2000), Pediatric Surgery
  • Residency - Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1997-1998), Surgical Critical Care
  • Residency - Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (1990-1997), General Surgery
  • Medical School - University of Virginia School of Medicine (1986-1990)
  • Research Fellowship - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (1993-1995), Cellular & Molecular Biology
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American Medical Association
  • American Pediatric Surgical Association
  • American Surgical Association
  • Association for Academic Surgery
  • Association of Women Surgeons
  • Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
  • Injury Free Coalition for Kids
  • Pediatric Trauma Society
  • Society of Critical Care Medicine
  • Society of University Surgeons
  • Southern Surgical Association
Honors & Awards
  • Eugene S. Wiener Award for Excellence 2016, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Inaugural Medical Student Research Mentoring Merit Award 2013, University of Pittsburgh Medical School
  • Top Doctors Award in Pediatric Surgery 2010-2023, Pittsburgh Magazine
  • Research and Education Foundation Scholarship 2007, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
  • Four-Star Customer Service Award 2007, Professional Research Consultants, Inc.
  • Outstanding Surgeon, Critical Care Staff, 2000-2004, 2006, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Alfred E. Blalock Award, Surgical Research 1997, Vanderbilt University
  • Young Investigator Award 1991, American Motility Society
Books & Publications
  • Books
    • Shock in the pediatric trauma patient in Pediatric Trauma Care
      Rinehardt HN, Gaines BA (2023), Cham, Switzerland, Springer
    • Trauma pediatrico in Trauma. Sociedad Panamericana De Trauma (3rd ed.)
      Gaines BA, Emr B (In press)
    • Pediatric thoracic trauma in Pediatric Trauma Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment (2nd ed.)
      Leeper CM, Gaines BA (2017), Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press
    • Abdominal and renal trauma in Ashcraft’s Pediatric Surgery (6th ed.)
      Austin KM, Gaines BA (2014), Philadelphia, PA, Saunders
    • Pediatric injury in The Trauma Manual: Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (3rd ed.)
      Gaines BA, Scheidler MG, Lynch JM, Ford HR (2007), Philadelphia, PA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Omphalocele and gastroschisis in Pediatric Surgery (3rd ed.)
      Gaines BA, Holcomb GW III, Neblet W III (2000), Orlando, FL, W.B. Saunders Company
    • Immunology in The Surgery of Infants and Children: Scientific Principles and Practice
      Kostecke RA, Gaines BA, Ildstad ST (1998), Philadelphia, PA, JB Lippincott Company
    • Evidence of de novo development of CD8+/-TCR T cells in the absence of the thymus in Transplantation Tolerance Induction
      Gaines BA, Bou El Ezz AY, Ildstad ST (1997), Austin, TX/Berlin, RG Landes Company
    • Xenoreactivity, chimerism, and tolerance in Chimerism and Tolerance
      Gaines BA, Ildstad ST (1995), Austin, TX/Berlin, RG Landes Company
Research
  • Post-traumatic coagulopathy
  • The use of whole blood for resuscitation of injured children
  • Primary pediatric injury prevention research
  • Surgical education

Clinical Focus

  • Pediatric Critical Care
  • Trauma and Fractures

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