Barbara Louise Leighton

Dr. Barbara L. Leighton gave up her earthly vessel and entered eternal life on June 19, 2020.

Barbara was born on November 6, 1955 to Dr. Herbert H. and Dorothy (Brock) Leighton.  Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Mark Salsgiver of Oakland, MD; a daughter Rachel Dowling and partner Daniel Reese of Munich, Germany; sisters, Cathy Boulter and husband Jeff of Lima, OH, and Ann Leighton of Oakland; a brother, Vernon Leighton and wife Lauren of Winona, MN; her husband’s children, Jennifer Salsgiver of Japan, and Michelle Wolfe and husband Brook of Conowingo, MD; and their children Audrey, Phoebe, Jonathan and Victor and numerous nieces and nephews. Barbara very much enjoyed being the music minister at her church, playing with the Marsh Mountain Consort, singing with the Garrett Choral Society, and cross-country skiing. In snowy weather, she even skied to and from work.

Dr. Leighton is a 1973 graduate of SGHS, a 1977 graduate of Princeton University, and a 1981 graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed her residency and fellowship in Obstetric Anesthesia at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She taught medicine at a number of different medical schools, including: Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia, PA, Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Additionally, Dr. Leighton was a visiting professor at 20 medical colleges in the United States and Canada as well as teaching anesthesia techniques in China and Africa.  Her scholarly contributions include: the publishing of 55 peer-reviewed scientific articles, the authoring 12 chapters for medical textbooks, was awarded one patent, and served on the editorial board of many anesthesia journals. She most recently left the world of academia in 2016 and served as the Chief of Anesthesia at Garrett Regional Medical Center.

Her most significant clinical/research achievement was the development of a protocol for those suffering from often fatal amniotic fluid embolisms. She had worked to make this protocol the standard treatment for this condition, and it was her hope that some of her colleagues will carry on this work. She also recently developed a pain management protocol for women in delivery who suffer from opioid addiction.

Visitation at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 North Second St, Oakland, MD will occur on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Services will be held on Sunday, June 28 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church located at St. Peter at the Lake Center, 1140 Mosser Road McHenry, MD with viewing at 2:00 PM and funeral at 3:00 PM. Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery at 5:00 PM on East High Street in Oakland, MD.

In lieu of, flowers and cards, Barbara asked that donations be made to Garrett Regional Medical Center Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, or to the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, McHenry, MD, for the music fund.

The C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., Oakland is honored to serve the Leighton family at this time.