A graduate of Smith College, Barton completed her medical education and post-graduate training in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern and Children's Medical Center Dallas, and her tropical disease training at Gorgas Memorial Institute. Prior to joining BIPAI, Barton was the medical director of the pediatric HIV clinical program at Children's Medical Center Dallas, as well as the assistant fellowship program director for the pediatric infectious diseases fellowship at UT Southwestern. Her global work has included volunteer work and medical education in South Africa and Haiti. She also served as visiting faculty for Yale University in the Rwanda Human Resources for Health program.