Jenny C. Barker, MD, PhD
Contact Information
Jenny Barker, MD, PhD, serves as Director of the Pediatric Comprehensive Wound Care Program and the Adolescent Breast Program at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She is a board-certified pediatric plastic surgeon with a dual appointment in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and a surgeon-scientist whose practice focuses on complex pediatric conditions requiring multidisciplinary care.
Dr. Barker's clinical expertise includes the management of chronic non-healing wounds and biofilm-associated infections, including pressure injuries, osteomyelitis, pilonidal disease, and hidradenitis suppurativa. She also specializes in adolescent breast conditions, including macromastia, breast asymmetry, gynecomastia, and other congenital and acquired breast disorders.
Dr. Barker earned her Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before completing the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), where she received her M.D. and Ph.D. from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Her physician-scientist training enables her to translate laboratory discoveries into innovative therapies for children with complex reconstructive and infectious diseases.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. Barker is the principal investigator of a research laboratory in the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her research focuses on biofilm-associated soft tissue and skeletal infections and the host-pathogen interactions that drive chronic disease. Her laboratory develops novel diagnostics and targeted therapies for biofilm-mediated conditions, including hidradenitis suppurativa, pilonidal disease, osteomyelitis, and chronic non-healing wounds, with the goal of advancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes.
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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Physician Team -
Barker Lab
Principal Investigator -
Center for Regenerative Medicine
Principal Investigator -
Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship
Faculty -
Infectious Diseases
Physician Team -
Primary Department
Pediatric Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Top Basic Science Presentation, Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, 2022
- Innovator of the Year, Ohio State University Next Generation, 2021
- Top Paper Presentation, Ohio State University Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research Day, 2021
- Post Doc of the Year Award, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 2020
- President's Postdoctoral Scholars Award, Ohio State University, 2019
Date of Appointment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital: 08/07/2023
| Fellowship | Nationwide Children's Hospital | Date Completed: 06/30/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Residency | Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center | Date Completed: 06/30/2023 |
| Graduate School | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Date Completed: 06/01/2014 |
| Medical School | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Date Completed: 05/30/2014 |
- Adolescent Breast Surgery
- Adolescent Post-bariatric Body Contouring Surgery
- Complex Wound Care
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Non-Healing Wounds
- Pilonidal Disease