Tinka Barnes, MD earned her medical doctorate at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City KS after completing a Magna Cum Laude pre-medical BS degree in Biology at Jackson State University.  Her residency in Family Medicine at Kenner Regional Medical Center, Louisiana State University was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina, and she went on to complete it at the University of Kansas Family Practice program.  She has practiced as a board certified family medicine physician in communities in Kansas, Missouri, South Carolina and North Carolina since 2006, while raising four children.  She has said:  “I have an unwavering desire to be an active and vocal servant for my community, and will always be determined to offer a high quality level of tireless service to my patients. Most importantly, I would like to build a culture, an environment, from top to bottom, which is primarily focused on elevating your awareness of how what you eat affects your overall health.”

Dr. Barnes is currently Staff Physician at the Michael Jordan Clinic of Novant Health Family Medicine in Charlotte NC, primarily attending to an underserved urban core population.  She takes the time to help her patients address root causes of their health problems and concerns in a demystified manner, including support of evidence-based transitioning from standard American diets to a more whole food plant-based diet.  Since the beginning of her time in medical school, she has also been a professional caliber exponent and performer of West African traditional dances as well as other diaspora-based dance forms.  “Movement is medicine” is the catchphrase as she seeks to inspire patients to incorporate physical activity as much as possible into their daily lifestyles and goals.

Dr. Barnes has been vegan for most of a decade and plant-based food conscious for over two decades, and has earned a Certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell.  She recently launched a company Veginar PLLC that produces colorful culturally sensitive seminars and workshops focusing on whole food plant-based nutrition and on movement as medicine.  Veginar’s mission is to utilize its large group, small group and one-on-one formats to help transform and broaden individuals’ understanding of wellness itself, and to motivate and educate regarding healthful lifestyle transitions.