Raymond Carlton Barfield BA, MD, MA, PhD

Dr. Barfield is professor of Pediatrics and Christian Philosophy at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He received his MD and PhD (in philosophy) from Emory University. He is a pediatric oncologist and palliative care physician with an interest in expanding the role of the humanities in the formation of physicians.
Ray has over 100 publications in medicine, philosophy and literature, including several books: Life in the Blind Spot (poetry), The Ancient Quarrel Between Poetry and Philosophy, The Book of Colors (a novel) and most recently a book of philosophy called Wager: Beauty, Suffering, and Being in the World. His book-length poem called Dante's New Moon will be released in 2018.
He was the founding director of two programs at Duke: Theology, Medicine and Culture andPalliative Care and Quality of Life. Currently he directs the Medical Humanities Program for the Trent Center in Duke's Medical School, and teaches courses at the intersection of theology, philosophy and medicine in the Divinity School.