Dr. Barnett trained in Plastic Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center. His initial research work dealt with blood vessel tumors in children. In 1981, he received a quarter million dollar grant from 3M Corporation for the development and clinical testing of new dressing which was initially used in burn victims, dramatically reducing pain and accelerating healing. When the product was introduced, Dr. Barnett received national press coverage, and published numerous scientific articles on wound healing. He was asked to serve on the Expert’s Panel of the American Burn Association, and received his first plastic surgery award. The dressing, called Tegaderm, is in widespread use to this day. While at Stanford, Dr. Barnett became involved with Interplast, a non-profit organization of medical professionals who donate time to provide free reconstructive surgery in third world countries. He has been on trips lasting from one to six weeks in Mexico, Central, and South America, operating primarily on children with congenital deformities and burn injuries.