Brittany R. Barber

Brittany R. Barber

Brittany R. Barber, MD

12 Years of Experience
Physician
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Assistant Professor
University of Washington School of Medicine
Clinical expertise
Head and neck
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“

Every single day, I learn something new from my patients about humanity that humbles me. That’s what brings me to work every day.

”
— Dr. Barber

Why do you conduct research along with caring for patients?

Research improves our ability to get the best outcomes for you. I compete to earn research awards and grants, like the National Poliquin Research award to foster high-quality research and innovation in head and neck surgery, to accelerate advances in care. Once you leave surgery, I want your recovery to be as seamless as possible so you have fewer hurdles and distractions and can heal faster and more completely.

Brittany R. Barber

Specialties and clinical expertise
The branch of medicine a provider practices and their areas of focus

Surgical Oncology

Head and neck tumor surgery

My practice is dedicated to surgery for benign and cancerous head and neck tumors as well as facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. I’ve given more than 40 national and international podium presentations and written more than 20 peer-reviewed publications about caring for people with head and neck cancer.

Head and neck cancer

My clinical interests include head and neck cancer surgery, robotic surgery and salivary and endocrine surgery. I have a special interest in reconstructive surgery for skin cancers. My research interests are in quality improvement of performance metrics in head and neck cancer surgery, quality of life and distress measurement in people with head and neck cancer, peripheral nerve regeneration and de-escalation trials for cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV).

Diseases treated

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What do you love about being part of SCCA?

It is truly a privilege to take care of patients with complex head and neck issues here, where we’re on the leading edge of head and neck surgical care and reconstruction. Whether you have a benign or cancerous tumor, I am driven to provide you with the best possible care to optimize your results and quality of life. I treat you like you are my family member and work to bolster your mental and physical well-being however I can.

Testimonials

“Dr. Barber is very detail-oriented. She covers the details of a surgery as well as expectations with patients so that they don’t go home with unanswered questions.”
— Olivia Aniche, MSN, ARNP

Education, experience and certifications

Undergraduate Degree
University of Alberta
Medical Degree
University of Alberta
Residency
University of Alberta, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Fellowship
University of Liverpool School of Medicine, Liverpool, UK, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, Head and Neck Surgical Oncology/Microvascular Reconstruction
Other
Master, University of Oxford

Languages

English

Your care team

At SCCA, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes doctors, a team coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like nutritionists, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.
Registered nurse (RN)
Your nurse manages your care alongside your physician and assists with care procedures and treatments.
Team coordinator (TC)
Your team coordinator works closely with you and your physician and serves as your scheduler.

Clinical trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by SCCA doctors. Many of these trials at SCCA have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your doctor can decide if a study is right for you.
Study of Pembrolizumab Given Prior to Surgery and in Combination With Radiotherapy Given Post-surgery for Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (MK-3475-689)
Study No: NCT03765918
Phase: Phase III
View Trial
A Dose Escalation Study of PF-06939999 in Participants With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors.
Study No: NCT03854227
Phase: Phase I
View Trial
A Study of RO7198457 (Personalized Cancer Vaccine [PCV]) as a Single Agent and in Combination With Atezolizumab in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Tumors
Study No: NCT03289962
Phase: Phase I
View Trial
Nivolumab and Ipilimumab and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Salivary Gland Cancers
Study No: NCT03749460
Phase: Phase I/II
View Trial
See more clinical trials

Press and news

SCCA providers are often asked to give their medical advice for press and news publications. Read articles by or about this SCCA provider.
Meet Brittany Barber, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Head & Neck Oncology & Reconstructive Surgery
By UW Medicine - Published March 1, 2019
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Physical Examination Introduction
By Surgery 101 - Published July 5, 2017

Publications

Many of our SCCA physicians conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by other physicians and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this SCCA provider has written.
Using PROMs to guide patients and practitioners through the head and neck cancer journey.
Intraoperative Brief Electrical Stimulation of the Spinal Accessory Nerve (BEST SPIN) for prevention of shoulder dysfunction after oncologic neck dissection: a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial.
See more publications

Awards

The University of Oxford’s Nilay Patel Memorial Award
In 2016 for her work on distress management in head and neck cancer patients
The RE Fraser Excellence in Teaching Award
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