Jonathan Barko, MD, did not follow a conventional path to medicine. Before becoming a physician, he was a music educator, performing professionally and teaching in public schools after earning his degree in music education.
Although music was a significant part of his identity, he eventually found himself seeking something different. “I just wasn’t getting the fulfillment I thought I would,” he said.
That search led him back to a long-standing interest in medicine. After completing a post-baccalaureate program at Cleveland State University, he was accepted to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
During medical school, Dr. Barko discovered the combined discipline of internal medicine and pediatrics (med-peds). Initially drawn to pediatrics due to his teaching background, he was surprised by how much he enjoyed his internal medicine rotation. “I thought I would just end up in pediatrics because of my love for kids,” he said. “But my first rotation was in internal medicine, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.”
A formative global health trip to Peru further shaped his perspective. There, he observed the limitations of being confined to a single patient population. “There were pediatricians who couldn’t see adults and vice versa,” he said. “I realized I wanted to be able to help whoever walked through the door.”
When it came time to apply for residency, he cast a wide net but ultimately found a strong connection at the University of Kentucky. His sister, a podiatrist in Lexington, had introduced the idea. “When I interviewed at UK, it was pre-pandemic and in person, and I just fell in love with the people and the program,” he said. “The clinic serves an underserved area, and there were opportunities to stay involved in education and global health too.”
Dr. Barko’s residency was also marked by significant personal challenges. During his intern year, he lost several family members over eight months. He said the support he received from the UK College of Medicine community was instrumental. “I didn’t even know how to ask to leave again for another funeral,” he recalled. “But the response was immediate: ‘Go. We’ll figure it out.’ My program director, co-residents, and even our coordinator were checking in on me. That support went far beyond academics — it was personal.”
Throughout his residency, Dr. Barko continued to pursue his broader interests. He joined the Central Kentucky Concert Band as a clarinetist, maintaining music as an outlet for creative expression and stress relief. “Music is still a de-stressor for me,” he said.
His global health work also expanded during residency. Early in training, he participated in a medical brigade to Ecuador through Shoulder to Shoulder Global. Later, just before graduation, he spent a month in Tanzania working with local physicians in both the pediatric ward and pediatric intensive care unit.
“There were diseases I hadn’t seen much at UK — malaria, tuberculosis,” he said. “It really opened my mind to the range of pathologies physicians manage around the world.” The experience also deepened his awareness of the disparities in access to medical resources and care. “There are so many opportunities to help other communities,” he added. “I’d encourage other physicians to take advantage of them.”
Now, as he begins his new role as an academic med-peds hospitalist at UK, Dr. Barko plans to integrate his diverse interests into his career. In addition to clinical care, he hopes to remain involved in global health, medical education, and the growing field of quality improvement and patient safety, which he explored during his chief residency year.
“I don’t know yet exactly how it will all take shape, but I’m excited to stay involved in global health through Shoulder to Shoulder, and to keep figuring out where I fit best in the education landscape, whether that’s working with medical students or residents,” he said.
