• Board certified in Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology
• Awarded the prestigious “Top Doctors” in Dermatology award by San Diego Magazine consecutively for the past 13 years running.
• Co-founder of Comprehensive Dermatology – San Diego’s first and only private practice medical group with Board Certified Pediatric and Adult Dermatology

Dr. Bari Cunningham is a nationally recognized dermatologist who is one of only a few hundred doctors in the nation who is double Board Certified in Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology. She earned her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she graduated cum laude.  Her postgraduate training included a residency in Dermatology at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Medical School.  She completed her fellowship training in Pediatric Dermatology at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly known as Children’s Memorial Hospital) and Northwestern University. Dr. Cunningham served as chief resident in Dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School. Her clinical interests include pediatric dermatologic surgery and laser therapy and the treatment of birthmarks. She is the author of over 70 publications and book chapters.

Dr. Cunningham is an invited member of several national editorial review and medical advisory boards including the Xeroderma Pigmentosum expert resource group and chair of the International Outreach and Global Alliances committee for the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. Dr. Cunningham is cofounder of the Techniques for Tots section of the journal Pediatric Dermatology. She is an active reviewer for the following medical publications including Pediatrics, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, etc.  Dr Cunningham served as Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Laser Therapy at Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center in San Diego for over a decade.

She was recognized as one of the Best Doctors in Dermatology in 2002-2020 representing less than 1% of the physicians in America. She was also awarded the prestigious “Top Doctors” in Dermatology award by San Diego Magazine consecutively for the past 13 years running.

Dr Cunningham has a special interest in humanitarian/medical mission work and has led a team of medical professionals to a remote village in Guatemala since 2007 where they operated on children with skin cancers from a rare disease called Xeroderma Pigmentosum.  In 2009, she produced a highly acclaimed documentary film entitled “Hidden From Light” which tells the story of the medical team led by Cunningham who overcame great obstacles to perform life saving reconstructive cancer surgery in an isolated jungle in the Mayan Highlands.  Her humanitarian work has been recognized by the Women’s Dermatologic Society as she is the recipient of the Career Development Award 2008 and by the American Academy of Dermatology as the recipient of the 2010 Volunteerism in Dermatology Award for her humanitarian/medical work in Central America. She enjoys marrying her love of dermatology with international travel, regularly donating her time with 4 nonprofits in Mexico and Central America. 

She is the co-founder of Comprehensive Dermatology, San Diego’s first and only private practice medical group with Board Certified Pediatric and Adult Dermatology.  She is known for her compassionate and personalized care of her patients, often caring for 3 generations in one family. Dr. Cunningham comes from a large family of physicians as her husband, brother, father, grandfather and uncle are all physicians. 

Dr. Cunningham enjoys the San Diego outdoor lifestyle with her husband and 3 adult children. She enjoys camping, nature, cooking,  mindfulness practice and international travel.

Education/Training

• MD: Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta (cum laude)
• Residency in Dermatology: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Medical School
• Fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly known as Children’s Memorial Hospital) and Northwestern University
• Chief resident in Dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School