Dr. Michael J. Barry is a distinguished leader in medical decision science and shared decision making research at the forefront of patient-centered care. He currently serves as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Informed Medical Decisions Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he has maintained a continuous academic appointment since completing his fellowship in the 1980s. A graduate of Trinity College and the University of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Barry completed his residency at Strong Memorial Hospital before his fellowship in General Internal Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His career trajectory has been marked by progressive leadership roles including Chief of the General Medicine Unit at MGH from 1997 to 2008 and Director of the MGH Primary Care Residency in Internal Medicine. His pioneering commitment to amplifying patient voices in healthcare decisions has established him as a transformative figure in modern medical practice.
Dr. Barry's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped approaches to shared decision making through the development and validation of evidence-based decision aids that empower patients to actively participate in their healthcare choices. His leadership of the Patient Outcome Research Team for Prostatic Diseases established critical evidence on diagnostic and treatment outcomes for prostate conditions, influencing clinical guidelines worldwide with rigorous methodology combining decision analysis and health status measurement. With over 250 peer-reviewed publications, his work has provided essential frameworks for evaluating patient-centered outcomes and clinical quality improvement across numerous medical specialties. His research on integrating patient preferences into treatment decisions for prostate disease has directly impacted clinical practice patterns, shifting toward more personalized, preference-sensitive care that respects individual patient values and circumstances.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Barry has shaped the field through leadership positions including past presidency of both the Society for Medical Decision Making and the Society of General Internal Medicine, establishing shared decision making as a core competency in medical education and practice. His influential service as a member and later vice-chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has allowed him to integrate patient-centered decision science into national prevention guidelines. Currently serving as medical director of the John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation at Mass General and Chief Science Officer at Healthwise, he continues to mentor future physician-scientists while advancing practical tools that translate decision science research into everyday clinical workflows. His ongoing work focuses on developing scalable systems that ensure medical decisions reflect both clinical evidence and individual patient priorities, cementing his legacy as a visionary who has transformed how medicine values patient autonomy in healthcare decisions.
