Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Data
- Address: 287 Fearrington Post; Pittsboro, NC 27312
- Email: Click here
- Telephone: (919) 533-6009.
- Born: New York City, 1933
- Married, three children, five grandchildren
- Wife, Judith Nevyas Barrett, M.D., is a retired family practitioner.
Education and Training
- A.B., Columbia University, 6/54
- M.D., Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 6/57
- Completed rotating internship, Highland Park General Hospital (Michigan) 6/58
- Completed 3-year psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, 6/61
- Correspondence course in American Law and Procedure, LaSalle University Extension Division, Chicago (1½ years completed), 12/66-12/68
Psychiatric Experience (1961-1993)
- Chief, Psychiatric Service, Scott Air Force Base Hospital, Illinois, 8/61-7/63
- Psychiatrist, San Francisco Juvenile Court, 7/63-8/67
- Psychiatrist, San Francisco Child Psychiatry Clinic, 7/63-1/66
- Private practice of psychiatry, 8/63-12/93
- Consultant, San Francisco Department of Welfare, 8/64-7/65
- Consultant, school nurses, San Francisco Public Health Department, 8/65-12/65
- Consultant, Parks Job Corps Camp, 12/65-1/66
- Psychiatrist, Center For Special Problems, 2/66-8/67
- Consultant, San Francisco Adult Probation Department, 8/66-8/67
- Staff Psychiatrist, Allentown State Hospital, 9/67-7/77
- Consultant, Pa. Board of Probation and Parole (research project), 11/67-2/69
- Consultant, Lehigh Valley Mental Health Association, 12/67-2/69
- Consultant, Lutheran Children's Home, 2/68-6/72
- Psychiatrist, Allentown Hospital Psychiatric Clinic, 4/68-6/90
- Consultant, Pastoral Institute of the Lehigh Valley, 11/68-1/71
- Consultant, Allentown Counseling Center for Alcoholism, 6/69-6/72
- Consultant, Lehigh University Centennial School, 1/70-3/77
- Psychiatrist, Muhlenberg Medical Center Psychiatric Clinic, 6/71-6/86
- Medical Director, Haven House (partial hospitalization program), 8/76-6/87
- Consultant, Allentown Police Department (evaluation of police candidates), 8/80-3/85
- Medical Director, NewVitae Partial Hospitalization Program, 8/90-3/91
Memberships and Appointments (Medical)
- Chairman, Quackery Committee, Lehigh County Medical Society, 10/69-12/80
- Chairman, Board of Directors, Quackwatch, Inc. (originally called Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, Inc.), 6/70-7/08
- Member, Board of Trustees, Lehigh Valley Opportunity Center (half-way house for paroled offenders), 7/70-5/72
- Member, Committee on Health Fraud, Pennsylvania Health Council, 7/72-12/74
- Member, Committee on Quackery, Pennsylvania Medical Society, 12/73-12/79
- Member, Board of Advisors, California Council Against Health Fraud, Inc, 12/77-8/84
- Member, Board of Scientific Advisors, American Council on Science and Health, 4/78-
- Consultant on Unproven Health Practices, Pennsylvania Medical Society Council on Education and Science, 12/79-12/84
- Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI)—(originally called Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)
- Scientific consultant, 7/80-
- Co-chairman, Health Claims Subcommittee, 7/80-
- Member, Council for Media Integrity, 7/96-
- Member, Advisory Board, Children's Health Care Is A Legal Duty (CHILD), 2/83-12/16
- National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc. (NCAHF),
- Member, Board of Directors, 9/84-8/11
- Vice President, 9/00-8/11
- Director of Internet Operations, 9/00-4/07
- Treasurer, Nutrition Council of Pennsylvania, 1/85-6/87
- Member, Steering Committee, Citizens for Children's Dental Health (Allentown), 2/98-6/00
- Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel (to evaluate alternative medicine research proposals), 3/98-4/98
- Member, ad hoc advisory group, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 10/98-12/00
- Member, Advisory Board, National Center for Fluoridation Policy and Research, 10/98-12/05
- Member, Advisory Board, Association for Science in Autism Treatment, 11/99-
- Member, Council for Scientific Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, 6/00-5/03
- Fellow, Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health, 5/03-
- Advisory Board Member, Center for Inquiry Office of Public Policy. 7/06-
- Vice President, Institute for Science in Medicine, 10/09-3/14
- University of North Carolina Medicine Clinic Advisory Panel, 2/10-01/11
- Member, board of directors, Prescription Justice, 9/15-
Memberships and Appointments (Journalistic)
- Medical Consultant, WFMZ-TV, Allentown, 5/79-6/89
- Member, Medical Advisory Board, National Health (a consumer newspaper), 9/79-1/80
- Medical Editor, George F. Stickley Co., Philadelphia, 8/80-12/88
- Consumer Health Editor, Nautilus Magazine, 7/81-6/84
- Consulting Editor, ACSH News and Views, 10/81-6/88
- Health Editor, Our Age (newspaper of the National Alliance of Senior Citizens), 5/82-6/83
- Contributing Editor, Environmental Nutrition Newsletter, 9/82-3/84
- Editorial Advisor, Shape Magazine, 9/82-4/94
- Science and Health Editor, Inside Radio, 10/82-8/83
- Editor, Nutrition Forum Newsletter, 1/84-12/93
- Editorial Consultant, Nutrition Forum, 1/94-9/00
- Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Rx Being Well, 5/84-10/87
- Consumer Affairs Editor, Healthline Newsletter, 3/85-9/00
- Editorial Consultant, Prevention Magazine, 3/86-1/93
- Editorial Advisory Board, Healthy Weight Journal, 6/87-12/03
- Member, Society of Professional Journalists, 6/87-3/89
- Member, National Association of Science Writers, 11/87-12/97
- Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc, 2/89-12/98
- Medical Editor, Prometheus Books, 2/91-12/98
- Editorial Advisory Board, The Diet Busine$$ Bulletin, 5/92-7/94
- Contributing Editor, The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, 6/97-12/07
- Member, Editorial Board, Science & Pseudoscience Review in Mental Health, 2/00-12/02
- Editor, Consumer Health Digest, 11/00-12/17; Consulting Editor, 1/18-
- North American Co-Editor, Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 8/12-12/16
Memberships and Appointments (Internet-Related)
- Member, Internet Healthcare Coalition, 10/97-12/99
- Member, Editorial Board, Medical Web Search, 6/98-12/00
- Member, Editorial Board, MedScape/MedGenMed, 5/99-2/05
- Member, Editorial Board, MD net guide, 8/99-3/02
- Participant member, Fraud Defense Network, 11/99-11/01
- Member, Editorial Board, Family Medicine net guide, 2/00-5/02
- Member CBS HealthWatch Physicians Network, 3/00-12/02
- Weekly columnist ("Alternative Medicine: A Skeptical Look"), Canoe 4/00-5/02
- Consumer Empowerment Advisor, PlanetFeedback, 4/00-3/01
- Advisory Board, Pyramid Scheme Alert, 10/00-
- Member, The Network for Public Health Law, 5/03-
Memberships and Appointments (Academic)
- Instructor in Health Education, The Pennsylvania State University, 5/87-6/89
- Instructor, Duke University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program, 9/09-10/09
Journal Peer Review (Panelist, Editorial Consultant, or Occasional Manuscript Reviewer)
- Annals of Internal Medicine
- British Journal of Medicine
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization
- Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
- Health Affairs
- Journal of the American Medical Association
- Medscape General Medicine
- The New England Journal of Medicine
- Nutrition Research
- Topics in Clinical Nutrition
- The Western Journal of Medicine
Honors and Awards (Academic, Professional, and Public Service)
- Pulitzer Scholar, Columbia University, 1950-54
- Freshman Chemistry Prize, Columbia College, 1951
- Mediquiz Contest National Award (Resident Physician magazine), 1960
- Lehigh Valley Dental Society's Dr. Francis J. Trembley Outstanding Citizen Award for "decisive contributions dedicated to the betterment of oral medicine," 1975
- FDA Commissioner's Special Citation for "outstanding and consistent contributions against the proliferation of nutrition quackery to the American consumer," 1984
- Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, Lehigh Valley Dietetic Association, 1986
- Honorary Member Award, American Dietetic Association, 1986
- Fellow, Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), 1992-
- Annals of Internal Medicine: Editors' commendation ("top 10%") for quality and timeliness of reviews in 1999
- Distinguished Service to Health Education Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions to the health and well-being of mankind through health education." American Association for Health Education, 2001
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the East since 1993
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in America since 2001
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in Science and Engineering since 2001
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World since 2002
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Health Care since 2002
- Listed in Marquis Who's Who in American Education since 2006
Honors and Awards (Quackwatch)
- Journal of the American Medical Association: One of nine "select sites that provide reliable health information and resources," 1998
- U.S. News & World Reports: Best of the Web (one of three medical sites), 1999
- Oncolink Editor's Choice, 1999
- Britannica Internet Guide Award, 2000
- Forbes "Best of the Web," 2000 through 2010
- "Nettie" Award for best Web site operated by an individual physician in 2002. MD net guide, 2003.
- Other Honors and Awards
Athletic Achievements (Swimming)
- Columbia University: Freshman team, 1950-51; varsity, 1951-53
- Allentown JCC "Channel Swim": winner and age-group recordholder, 1959
- North Carolina Senior Games (state championships)
- 2008: Two gold medals, one bronze
- 2009: Four silver medals, one bronze
- 2010: Two gold medals, three silver
- 2011: Two gold medals, one silver, three bronze
- 2012: Three silver medals, three bronze
- 2013: Three gold medals, one silver, 2 bronze
- 2014: Five gold medals, one silver
- 2016: Five gold medals, one silver
- 2017: Three gold medals, two silver
- 2018: Six gold medals; set state records in four events
- 2019: Three gold medals; set state record in 200-yard IM
- North Carolina Short Course State Championships (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2009: Won five events, second in two
- 2010: Won two events, second in three, third in one
- 2013: Won three events, second in three
- 2017: Won eight events
- 2018: Won four events
- 2019: Won six events
- North Carolina Fall Brawl (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2009: Won three events, second in one
- 2010: Won four events
- 2011: Won five events
- 2012: Won two events, second in one
- 2013: Won three events
- Frank Clark Masters Open (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2013: Won four events, second in one
- 2014: Won three events, second in one
- 2017: Won five events
- 2018: Won three events
- 2019: Won three events, setting the NC state record for the 200-yard individual medley
- North Carolina Long Course Meters State Championship (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2013: Won three events, second in two. Set NC state records for 100- and 200-meter long-course breaststroke swims, both of which also earned 2013 USMS Top Ten awards.
- 2019: Won five events, setting state records in all of them.
- Eastern North Carolina Long Course Splash (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2014: Won five events
- Short Course National Championships (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2012: Two gold medals and one bronze in relay events; seventh place in two individual events. All three relay times set NC state records. The men's 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley relay results also earned USMS Relay All-American Awards for the best age 75-79 times in the U.S. in 2012.
- 2016: Six medals (one 4th place, two fifth place, two sixth place, and one eighth place)
- 2019: Three gold and two silver medals
- National Senior Games
- 2013: Three silver medals and two ribbons (4th and 7th place in other events)
- 2019: Two bronze medals and four ribbons (4th in two events, 5th in two events)
- Huntsman World Senior Games
- 2013: One gold (50-meter butterfly), one silver (100-meter breaststroke), and 5 bronze medals.
- 2018: Three gold, three silver, and one bronze
- FINA World Masters Championships, Montreal
- 2014: Won medals for 50-meter butterfly (5th place) and 100-meter freestyle (9th place)
- U.S. Masters Swimming Summer National Championships
- 2014: Seven medals: Gold in 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke; silver in 200-meter breaststroke; bronze in 50-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle; 4th place in 50-meter backstroke; and 9th place in 200-meter men's medley relay.
- USA Masters National Championship
- 2016: Won seven gold (four individual events, theee relays), three silver, and one bronze medals
- Short Course Masters Eastern Invitational (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2016: Won three events. Set North Carolina state record in 200-yard individual medley.
- 2017: Won two events
- 2018: Won 5 events, setting NC state records in the 100 freestyle and 100 individual medley.
- 2019: Won six events
- Coastal Masters Invitational (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2017: Won eight events
- 2018: Won three events
- 2019: Won six events
- Sunbelt Short Course Yards (U.S. Masters Swimming)
- 2019: Won three events
Training Programs (Swimming)
- American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, 1952; recertified 1958
- Certified USMS Coach, Levels I and II, 2012
- Certified instructor, USMS Adult Learn-to-Swim Program, 2016
Other Activities and Achievements
- Eagle Scout, 1949; Order of the Arrow Brotherhood Honor, 1951
- Certified first aid instructor, American Red Cross 1952
- American Contract Bridge League: Life Master, 1959; Bronze Life Master, 2011; Silver Life Master, 2018
- Captain, United States Air Force: Active duty, 1961-1963
Biographical Sketch || Books and Book Chapters
This page was revised on September 21, 2019.