Shelby Barrera, MD

Shelby Barrera, M.D., was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she met her husband, Joe, who is an elementary special education teacher. She has always had a passion for working with children and families, beginning with her undergraduate studies in Child Development and Family Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em!). She went on to attend medical school in San Antonio, where she initially planned to become a pediatrician. However, after discovering the field of pediatric otolaryngology, she quickly realized that combining surgery with her passion for caring for children was the perfect fit.

Dr. Barrera completed her Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. During residency, she received the Spirit Award in 2023, recognizing outstanding attitude, collegiality, work ethic, cooperation, selflessness, competence, and leadership. She also received the Resident Research Award in 2024. Throughout residency, her interest in caring for children continued to grow, ultimately leading her to pursue a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota.

During fellowship, Dr. Barrera received comprehensive training in the care of children, including cleft and craniofacial multidisciplinary care, cochlear implantation and other pediatric otologic procedures, airway surgery ranging from advanced endoscopic procedures to open airway reconstruction, and head and neck surgery, including hypoglossal nerve stimulator placement, excision of a variety of head and neck lesions, and thyroidectomy. She is passionate about caring for children with both routine and complex conditions and working closely with families to create individualized treatment plans.

When Dr. Barrera isn't at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children, taking trips to the beach, reading far too many books and playing tennis. After years of training away from home, Dr. Barrera and her family are thrilled to return to Texas and join the team at Cook Children's. She is excited to build her practice and raise her family in the community she is proud to call home.