barrows was born in oak park, illinois on march 28, 1928. he attended a community college in san mateo, california and went on to complete a ba in zoology at the university of california, berkeley in 1949. he attended medical school at university of southern california (usc) college of medicine and completed his m.d. in 1953. he interned at lennox hill hospital in new york city and subsequently served two years at parks air force base in california as a medical officer. barrows returned to new york city in 1957 to complete his residency in neurology at columbia presbyterian medical center.