Dr. Barnett completed his undergraduate work at Yale University in two years, majoring in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics with a minor in Fine Arts. He attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine on a full scholarship from the National Institutes of Health through the prestigious Medical Scientist Training Program. This program is competitively awarded to medical students with proven ability in medical research. Dr. Barnett worked in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Nathans, who won the Nobel Prize in 1978. During his time at Hopkins, he published articles and lectured at national scientific conferences. He also continued to pursue his interest in art, including painting, sculpture, and lecturing on anatomy at the Maryland Institute of Art.