Neal D. Barnard


Neal D. Barnard is an American author, clinical researcher, and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Early life and education

Barnard grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. He received his medical training at George Washington University School of Medicine in psychiatry, where he began to explore vegan diets. He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a lifetime member of the American Medical Association.

Career

Barnard founded Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 1985 because he "wanted to promote preventive medicine." By 2016, the Washington D.C.-based PCRM had 150,000 members, including 12,000 physicians and reported revenues of more than $20 million. Barnard has written for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and is often cited by the organization. He appeared in the 2011 documentary feature film Forks Over Knives, a film that traces the careers of T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn.
Barnard serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine. He founded the Barnard Medical Center in 2015 as part of PCRM, and it opened in 2016 with him as president; the center provides primary care and emphasizes diet and preventive medicine.
Barnard is a non-practicing psychiatrist. He plays cello, guitar, and keyboards, and has been in bands Pop Maru, Verdun, and Carbonworks.
In 2011, Barnard was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame of the North American Vegetarian Society during its summer conference, where he has occasionally spoken.

Awards

Journal publications