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Schneck Cancer Center Welcomes Dr. Robert Barriger

December 15, 2022 | Doctor FAQ

Get to Know Dr. Barriger

Dr. Robert Barriger is a radiation oncologist with Schneck Cancer Center. He completed medical school and his residency in radiation oncology at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Where did you grow up?

I am originally from Louisville, Kentucky, but grew up mostly in Carmel, Indiana. In high school, I was a competitive gymnast and won a national medal. In college, I started playing more golf. The golfing gene skipped a generation! I'm still not very good, but enjoy the game. My father played in college and has been a golf course rater for national magazines.

Please tell us about your family.

I have a son who takes up much of my free time traveling to soccer tournaments.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

I enjoy music, yoga and cycling, on and off road. I am trying to teach myself how to play piano.

Where would you most like to visit?

Most recently I have been to Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest. I have also traveled to Kathmandu and Pokara, Nepal and Bangkok and Chang Mai, Thailand. I would like to go to the snowy mountains in Chile while it is summer in the northern hemisphere and Buenos Aires. Also Japan, South Korea, Morocco, Scandinavia and most of all to see Rome. I have a travel bug.

When did you know you wanted to be a physician?

I originally started to be a computer programmer and mathematician. I knew that wasn't for me after a summer internship nearly bored me to death in a cubicle with little interaction with people. My aunt was an oncology nurse and invited me to shadow her and the doctor for whom she worked and I fell in love with it then. The combination of clinical oncology and my prior background with computers/math/technology helped me find the field of radiation oncology.

What do you like most about practicing medicine?

Being able to forge connections with our patients and their families. Genuinely being able to make a difference in patients lives.