Dr Barnes is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and has practiced Hematology and Medical Oncology in Central Alabama in his hometown of Montgomery, since 1981. He graduated from the University of Alabama where he was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honor Society, and served as the first student president of The New College. Graduating from the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) Medical School, Dr Barnes was a member of Alpha Omicron Alpha (AOA), the National Medical Scholastic Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency and Oncology/Hematology Fellowship at the UAB School of Medicine.