Paige C Barker, MD : Bio and credentials

My name is Paige Barker, MD, and I am an associate professor of medicine within the division of general internal medicine. I received my medical degree from the University of Florida and went on to complete a residency in internal medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, with completion of a primary care track and HIV primary care track. I subsequently completed fellowship training in hospice and palliative medicine at New York University. I now practice general internal medicine with expertise in palliative medicine at UF Health.

I was inspired to become a doctor by my scientific curiosity and drive to help people in need. I pride myself in having a breadth of knowledge as a general internist and depth of knowledge in palliative medicine. I enjoy the work I do and developing long-term patient relationships is most important to me.   

As a general internist, I have expertise in preventative care and managing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, depression/anxiety, heart failure, and more. As a palliative medicine specialist, I have expertise in caring for patients living with serious illness, with a strong foundation in symptom management and advanced communication skills.

In addition to my clinical work, I am actively involved in medical education and teach a diverse group of clinical learners, including medical students, residents, as well as oncology and geriatric fellows. Within the College of Medicine, I serve as the assistant clerkship director for the third-year medical student ambulatory care clerkship and as the palliative medicine curriculum thread director. Furthermore, I have dedicated several years to collaborative research endeavors, acting as a co-investigator in a large multi-site randomized clinical trial and funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

I was born and raised in Gainesville and returned several years ago after completing training. I am now raising my family here. When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.