Dr. Barnes has been a RN for 18+ years and a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner for 14+ years. She is a health care leader, clinician, educator, and advocate. She is also the Founder/Owner of Barnes Health Affiliates, LLC at www.bhapro.com , dedicated to educating healthcare leaders, informing best practices, and elevating standards of care within communities. She completed her Doctorate (DNP) and Masters (MS) degrees at the University of Rochester, School of Nursing. She also graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a minor in Spanish. She has academic experience as an Associate Professor instructing and advising undergraduate (BS in Nursing) and graduate (FNP and DNP) students, as well as prior administrative positions overseeing undergraduate Nursing and FNP-Masters programs.
Dr. Barnes is a maternal health advocate and is passionate about working towards ending health disparities. Currently she serves as the National Chair of the National Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NBNA) Black Maternal Health Task Force and a National Board member for NBNA. She has extensive knowledge about maternal-child health disparities and continues her scholarly and community service work to improve the lives of women and children. She is the author of a peer reviewed article “Psychosocial Support for Teen Mothers”, which describes the health disparities teens experience and her DNP project that supported healthy decision making and self-efficacy of teen mothers in an urban community. Her maternal health advocacy work includes speaking to legislators about the urgent need to pass the MOMNIBUS Act of 2023, discussing social determinants of health (SDoH) that affect birth outcomes, and storytelling on behalf of families who have been impacted by preventable pregnancy-related deaths. Dr. Barnes also uses her platform to educate the public about maternal health disparities via webinars, conferences, and integrating SDoH into the academic curriculum for future Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. Community health education and connecting moms with critical and essential support services has been an integral part of her volunteer work over the past 15 years. Her vision is that one day mothers in the United States do not have a fear of natural childbirth and experience joy during pregnancy.
Dr. Barnes is also an active community volunteer in her nursing organizations as the Northeast Assistant Regional Director and Immediate Past President of Theta Chi Chapter, Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., as well as the Former 2nd VP (Founding Board Member) of the Greater New York City – Black Nurses Association, Inc. Her community work involves health fairs, health presentations, policy advocacy, planning community events, Narcan trainings, and supporting nursing scholarships. Dr. Barnes is a Distinguished Fellow of NBNA’s Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (FADLN) and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine (FNYAM). Previous Special Awards and Recognitions include Northeast Region Daisy Award for Health Equity, Theta Chi President’s Award, Hidden Heroes on the Frontline, Ailene Carrington Ewell Soror of the Year Award, NBNA Under 40 Award, National Sojourner Truth Award, Marguerite Creth Jackson Award, and Mary E. Mahoney Award.
Outside of work and community service, she enjoys traveling, music/arts, gardening, cooking, exercising, sports, spending time with family, and various outdoor activities. She has spent over half of her life, as a former student athlete, playing soccer and basketball.