“The camaraderie and encouragement of my small group advisor was priceless, and I am grateful to have shared this experience with the group.”
Barbara Biney, 2025 Doctor of Medicine (MD) candidate, Emory University School of Medicine, is originally from Accra, Ghana. However, she was raised in Mountlake Terrace, a small town just north of Seattle, Washington. Barbara completed her undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in biology in 2018. After graduation, she was accepted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and earned a Master of Public Health.
Barbara knew she wanted to attend Emory after learning about the opportunity to work at Grady Memorial Hospital. As one of the largest public hospitals in the United States and the only Level I Trauma Center in Atlanta, Grady intersected with Barbara’s dual passions of anesthesiology and public health. Barbara grew deep connections to the Atlanta community, “I truly feel fulfilled serving the patient population and providing quality care to all patients.”
While at Emory, Barbara heard the call to help others through entrepreneurship. She collaborated with fellow medical school student Sydni Williams, 24M, to create Besties Box, LLC. Besties Box is a custom, monthly subscription box service with natural hair products curated for women of color. The idea for Besties Box was born out of Barbara’s struggle to find hair products for her natural curls, and she wanted to simplify the process for other people.
In 2023, the duo launched Besties Box and was accepted into The Hatchery Incubator at Emory University. The Hatchery is an Emory program that equips students with the skillsets and tools to become purpose-driven and effective innovators. Besties Box was part of the 2023-2024 Incubator Cohort, and they have launched many successful influencer campaigns since.
Match Day 2025 will reveal where Barbara will continue her anesthesiology training. No matter where she winds up next, she will fondly remember the positive influence of the people who helped shape her. “The camaraderie and encouragement of my small group advisor was priceless, and I am grateful to have shared this experience with the group. My small group members hold a special place in my heart—we supported each other through every step, making this journey truly unforgettable.” During Match Day Barbara learned she matched at Emory in anesthesiology.
Barbara's small group leader, Kimberly Manning (medicine), knows firsthand how inspiring the class of 2025 is. "One of the best things about being a small group advisor is walking with our students on their journey to choosing a specialty and becoming a doctor." Manning adds, "The relationship I've built with Barbara and the others in her small group has been incredibly special. Barbara is a remarkable human being, and I can't wait to celebrate this pinnacle moment in medical school."
