Dr. Barrera is an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). He is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Transplant Hepatology, trained at PUC, with further clinical research fellowship in Hepatology at the Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney.

He serves as one of the Principal Investigators in the Experimental Laboratory of Hepatology at PUC. His research focuses on MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) in Latin America, including its epidemiology, diagnostic approaches, lifestyle interventions (exercise and diet), somatotropic axis dysfunction, alcohol-related liver disease, the association between MASLD and diabetes, and its link to gallstone disease.

Dr. Barrera has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications in gastrointestinal and liver diseases, including contributions to high-impact journals, and co-authored 8 book chapters. He currently holds leadership roles as President of the Chilean Hepatology Association (ACHHEP) and as Clinical Research Coordinator of the Department of Gastroenterology at PUC.