James Barrese

James Barrese, MD, is a neurosurgeon specializing in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at Princeton Brain & Spine.1 He has been working as a neurosurgeon at this institution since October 2019.1

Education and Training

Dr. Barrese completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, earning a BS in Psychology from 1999 to 2003.1 He then pursued his medical education at the University of South Florida, obtaining his MD in 2007.1

Following his medical degree, Dr. Barrese underwent extensive training in neurosurgery:

• Neurosurgery Residency at UMDNJ (now Rutgers University) from 2007 to 20141
• Chief Neurosurgery Resident at Rutgers University from 2013 to 20141
• Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery Fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine from 2014 to 20151

Professional Experience

In addition to his role at Princeton Brain & Spine, Dr. Barrese holds several other positions:

• Assistant Professor at Cooper University Hospital since 20161
• Former Director of the Functional Neurosurgery Program at Drexel Neurosciences Institute (July 2015 - January 2016)1

Research Interests

Dr. Barrese's research focuses on brain-machine interfaces and the development of neuroprosthetic devices.1 He is working on refining surgical techniques for implanting such devices and evaluating failure modes to improve their safety and efficacy.1

Personal Background

Interestingly, Dr. Barrese almost didn't become a doctor. His father, an anesthesiologist, tried to discourage him from pursuing a career in medicine.3 Despite this, he chose to follow his passion for neurosurgery, combining his interests in science fiction and surgery.2