- Fellowship - University of So. Florida-Tampa (2005-2006), Neurological Surgery
- Medical School - University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (1995-1999)
- Internship - Parkland Health and Hospital System (1999-2000), General Surgery
- Residency - UT Southwestern Medical Center (2000-2005), Neurological Surgery

Sam Barnett, M.D.
- Trammell Crow Professorship in Neurosurgery
- Neurological Surgery
- Acoustic Neuromas
- Meningiomas
Biography
Samuel Barnett, M.D., is Professor of Neurological Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his neurosurgery residency at UT Southwestern and then a clinical fellowship in skull base and cerebrovascular neurosurgery at the University of South Florida working with Harry R. van Loveren, M.D., a well-known neurosurgeon.
Prior to joining the faculty at UT Southwestern, Dr. Barnett was Assistant Professor and Director of Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was recruited to UT Southwestern for his expertise in skull base surgery and is currently the Co-director of the UT Southwestern Comprehensive Skull Base Surgery Program.
Dr. Barnett is board certified in neurological surgery and is an expert in endoscopic minimally invasive surgery, conventional open brain surgery, and radiosurgery.
He was included in D Magazine's Best Doctors list for 2018.
He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (Young Neurosurgeons Committee, Ethics Committee, and Member Services Committee), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Rocky Mountain Neurosurgical Society, the North American Skull Base Society, and the Acoustic Neuroma Association.
In terms of research, Dr. Barnett is focused on clinical outcomes after skull base surgery. His most recent research interest involves working to improve imaging techniques to make brain surgery safer, particularly for brainstem cavernomas, which are located in the highly sensitive, lower area of the brain where it is very difficult to operate.
Personal Note
Outside of work, Dr. Barnett enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and young son.
Meet Dr. Barnett
Endoscopic Skull Base Surgeon
As Co-director of the Comprehensive Skull Base Surgery Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Samuel (Sam) Barnett, M.D., is a neurosurgeon trained in the field of endoscopic minimally invasive brain tumor surgery.
"Whether it’s conventional surgery, endoscopic minimally invasive, or radiosurgery, I can provide my patients with a full spectrum of neurosurgical care. Or when a tumor requires the attention of multiple specialists, they are right there, ready to collaborate.”
This type of surgery utilizes tiny endoscopes with angled tips that are inserted through the nostril and into the sinuses and skull base. The endoscope works as a camera and gives the surgeon a clear view into the skull base to be able to excise the tumor and remove it through the nose with no external incisions.
Dr. Barnett says he most commonly uses this technique to remove pituitary tumors, but he can also remove meningiomas, craniopharyngiomas, chordomas, and chondrosarcomas.
“Endoscopic minimally invasive surgery is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Dr. Barnett. “It depends on the tumor and the patient, but I’m glad we are able to offer this as an option when it’s appropriate.”
The skull base is a complex area involving the bony shelf separating the brain from the eye sockets, nasal cavities, ear canals, and upper neck. Major nerves, blood vessels, and other structures pass through this area. Dr. Barnett co-leads the Skull Base Surgery Program, which includes physicians from otolaryngology (head and neck surgery), neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, interventional radiology, and pathology.
Dr. Barnett also is able to offer his patients traditional open brain surgery when it’s needed, and he is specially trained in radiosurgery, as well. Radiosurgery is a type of radiation therapy. Sometimes it’s used as the initial treatment for a brain tumor, but, more often, it’s used after surgery to treat residual tumor or if a tumor grows back.
“I like being able to offer my patients different types of surgical care, based on their need,” says Dr. Barnett.
Education & Training
Professional Associations & Affiliations
- Congress of Neurological Surgeons
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Books & Publications
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Publications
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Hearing preservation using the middle fossa approach for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma.
Kutz JW, Scoresby T, Isaacson B, Mickey BE, Madden CJ, Barnett SL, Coimbra C, Hynan LS, Roland PS Neurosurgery 2012 Feb 70 2 334-40; discussion 340-1 -
Skull base inverted papilloma: a comprehensive review.
Wassef SN, Batra PS, Barnett S ISRN surgery 2012 2012 175903 -
Infected giant ophthalmic artery aneurysm remnant following craniotomy for surgical clip ligation. Case report.
Haque A, Raisanen JM, Barnett SL, Samson DS Journal of neurosurgery 2010 Oct 113 4 786-9 -
Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma with intracranial extension: case report and literature review.
Wassef SN, Kapur P, Barnett SL, Myers LL Ear, nose, & throat journal 2012 Dec 91 12 536-9 -
Petroclival and Upper Clival Meningiomas III: Combined Anterior and Posterior Approach
Barnett SL, D?Ambrosio AL, Agazzi S, van Loveren HR Meningiomas: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome 2008 425-432 -
Endoscopic skull base surgery practice patterns: survey of the North American Skull Base Society.
Batra PS, Lee J, Barnett SL, Senior BA, Setzen M, Kraus DH International forum of allergy & rhinology 2013 Feb -
Coagulation factor levels in neurosurgical patients with mild prolongation of prothrombin time: effect on plasma transfusion therapy.
Matevosyan K, Madden C, Barnett SL, Beshay JE, Rutherford C, Sarode R Journal of neurosurgery 2011 Jan 114 1 3-7 -
The presigmoid approach to anterolateral pontine cavernomas. Clinical article.
Hauck EF, Barnett SL, White JA, Samson D Journal of neurosurgery 2010 Oct 113 4 701-8 -
Utility of novel 3-dimensional stereoscopic vision system for endoscopic sinonasal and skull-base surgery.
Manes RP, Barnett S, Batra PS International forum of allergy & rhinology 2011 May-Jun 1 3 191-7 -
Surgical Management of Giant Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms
Barnett SL, Samson DS. Operative Techniques in Neurosurgery 2005 8 93-97 -
Symptomatic Brainstem Cavernomas
Hauck EF, Barnett SL, White JA. Samson D Neurosurgery January 2009 64 61-71 -
Intradural Clinoidectomy and Post-Operative Headache in Patients Undergoing Aneurysm Surgery
Barnett SL, Whittemore B, Thomas J, Samson D Neurosurgery October 2010 67 906-910 -
Concurrent vestibular schwannoma and meningioma mimicking a single cerebellopontine angle tumor
Kutz JW, Barnett SL, Hatanpaa KJ, Mendelsohn DB Skull Base November 2009 6 443-446 -
Perineural extension of cutaneous desmoplastic melanoma mimicking an intracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.
Barnett SL, Wells MJ, Mickey B, Hatanpaa KJ Journal of neurosurgery 2011 Aug 115 2 273-7
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Hearing preservation using the middle fossa approach for the treatment of vestibular schwannoma.
Research
- Coagulopathies in the neurosurgery patient
- Genetics of cerebrovascular disease
- Surgical approaches to skull based tumors
Clinical Focus
- Acoustic Neuromas
- Meningiomas
- Pituitary Tumors
- Skull Base Tumors
- Gliomas
- Brain Metastases
Q&A by Dr. Barnett
Articles by Dr. Barnett
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Neurosurgery Clinic
at James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center 5303 Harry Hines Blvd., 6th Floor, Suite 110Dallas, Texas 75390 214-645-2300 Directions Parking Info