Barbara Fadem was born and grew up in New York City. She earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in zoology, subspecialty psychobiology, from Rutgers University and then joined the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at U.M.D.N.J. - New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). She has been a full professor at NJMS since 1994 and has published more than 40 basic research articles in such varied fields as behavioral neuroendocrinology and medical student education. Her first book, "BRS Behavioral Science," is now in its 7th edition and remains very popular with medical students studying for USMLE - Step 1. Her textbook, "Behavioral Science in Medicine," is used as a course text in medical schools in the United States as well as offshore.