Neurosurgeon Highlight: Dr. Ariana S. Barkley , MD

Dr. Ariana S. Barkley is a dynamic pediatric neurosurgeon whose journey spans from the courts of basketball to the operating rooms of global healthcare. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and raised in Ontario, Canada, she shifted her dreams from athletics to medicine after her sister’s battle with diabetic ketoacidosis sparked a calling to heal.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with advanced training at the University of Washington and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Children’s of Alabama Hospital, Dr. Barkley now serves at the University of New Mexico, treating conditions from spina bifida to brain tumors while connecting with young patients over Pixar films.

Driven by her Caribbean roots, she champions healthcare equity and has brought her expertise to underserved communities worldwide—from neurosurgical capacity building in Cambodia and Vietnam, to partnerships in Jamaica, Ethiopia, and the Philippines. Recipient of the JB Resident Award for Global Neurosurgery, she continues to advance care through her leadership in developing the Global Pediatric Neurosurgery Program under the Global Surgery Program at the Children’s Hospital of Colorado.

Through her clinical mastery, global initiatives, and mentorship, Dr. Barkley exemplifies how compassion, cultural connection, and surgical excellence can transform both lives and systems.