A Seattle native, Dr. Barash is a graduate of Swarthmore College with a double major in Biology and English Literature. She was then recruited to UC Davis, where she obtained both her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and completed a PhD in Microbiology. After completing a 12-month rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles, she attended North Carolina State University’s renowned Internal Medicine department to complete her residency. Dr. Barash is excited to be back on the West Coast and close to the beach!

Her primary loves are infectious diseases and gastrointestinal/hepatic diseases. Her PhD focused on the molecular biology of Giardia, a zoonotic pathogen of dogs, cats, and people, and the role of the gut microbiome in its pathogenesis. As a resident at NCSU, Dr. Barash published papers investigating blood and urine cultures to track down sources of sepsis; identified clinical characteristics of Babesia vulpes, a novel blood parasite of dogs; and is finalizing a paper evaluating outcomes of bone foreign bodies. She has presented her award-winning research nationally and internationally and travels to meet with the Comparative Gastroenterology Society. In addition to infectious and GI diseases, Dr. Barash’s clinical interests are broad and include endoscopy, immune-mediated diseases, endocrine disorders, evaluation of bone marrow disorders, renal and urinary disease, and all other clinical puzzles she can get her hands on.

Dr. Barash has wanted to be a veterinarian since growing up with animals on a small farm! She thought about zoo animal medicine, as well as large animal medicine and pure bench research, before deciding on internal medicine as the perfect hybrid of case management, wonderful patients, and engaging clients. She is relatively new to the Santa Barbara area but loves exploring the beaches and mountains with her wife and three dogs. She also has three cats, a snake, a turtle, and a parrot!