Barbara grew up in Northern Ireland and graduated from Nottingham University Medical School in 1997 with BMedSci (hons) BM BS. She completed her GP training in 2001 and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She has a particular interest chronic pain and teaches on the MSc Clinical Management of Pain at Edinburgh University. She is a BSLM diplomate and a BSLM Fellow. She also runs an NHS primary care based programme for patients with Chronic Pain.