As a child, Michelle Barratt, MD, MPH, was told she lacked the patience to teach children. However, this did not deter her from pursuing a career in both teaching and medicine. Today, she is a professor at UTHealth Houston and a pediatrician. Her path to becoming a doctor was influenced by her father, who was a pathologist. Initially hesitant about medicine due to her father's work with autopsies, Barratt eventually committed to pediatric care after premed studies at the University of Washington.
Michelle met her husband, Michael Barratt, MD, MS, during their time at the University of Washington. They married in their senior year and attended Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine together. While Michael pursued internal and aerospace medicine, Michelle focused on pediatrics.
During medical school rotations in Chicago hospitals, Michelle realized her preference for outpatient pediatrics over specialized fields like hematology or neonatal intensive care. "I knew I wanted to do outpatient pediatrics," she said. "I wanted to treat people and practice evidence-based medicine."
After completing medical school in 1985 and moving to Houston in 1991 following Michael's second residency at NASA as a physician, Michelle became an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Michael's career with NASA has taken him around the world and into space multiple times since his first mission in 2009. Despite his demanding schedule and frequent travels abroad or beyond Earth's atmosphere—most recently returning from space in October 2024—Michelle managed family responsibilities alongside her professional commitments.
With adult children now out of school but once needing coordination between activities like pickups or extracurriculars growing up—a task made possible through support systems including nanny Brenda—Michelle acknowledges how crucial these arrangements were for maintaining balance within their household amid such busy careers: “It turns out you get a lot more sympathy when your husband is in space,” she remarked.
Throughout her extensive career spanning decades-long experiences working closely with patients' families during difficult times while communicating effectively between doctors themselves too—a skill initially taught by own father who assisted others conveying diagnoses understandably—Michelle emphasizes its importance today among future healthcare professionals via workshops lectures offered third-year students alike: “Now as pediatrician I know that can’t always save patient keep family from getting unexpected news but listen sit share experiences had other families,” said.
In addition to teaching courses emphasizing communication skills necessary successful practice healthcare industry broadly speaking—for instance elective class called “The Healer’s Art” designed specifically first-year med students exploring themes loss grief awe mystery connection-building—they’ve earned numerous accolades awards throughout tenure including Leonard Tow Humanism Medicine Award (2017) John P Kathrine G McGovern Distinguished Faculty Professionalism Education (2024).
Ultimately though perhaps contrary initial expectations long ago childhood days dreaming about being teacher one day too despite discouragement faced then regarding patience levels required profession ultimately proved capable achieving goals set forth herself benefiting countless individuals along way whether those seeking guidance appointments UT Physicians settings elsewhere educational institutions nationwide globally wide-reaching impact made possible dedication hard work perseverance exhibited consistently over years devoted service community-at-large
