Dr. Jillian Barras is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She began her career in the field of dentistry in 1999 when she enlisted in the Navy, fulfilling a lifelong dream to serve her country. She attended boot camp, received specialized training ,and was given her assignment as a dental technician. She had the honor of being stationed in locations including Great Lakes, Illinois; Wichita Falls, Texas; and Key West, Florida.

While serving in the Navy, Dr. Barras attended St. Leo University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in human services with a specialization in human behavior. She was selected as the NDC Southeast Region Junior Sailor of the Year and was awarded the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship in 2003. She was then commissioned as an officer and chosen to attend Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., where she graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 2007. After completing dental school, she was promoted to lieutenant and was assigned to 2nd Dental Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. At Camp Lejeune she entered a yearlong residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry, studying extensively in all aspects of dental specialties and graduating second in her class. Soon after completing her advanced training she deployed with 2nd Marine Logistics Group to Taqaddum, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After serving for 10 years in the Navy, Dr. Barras settled in Wilmington, where she worked as an associate for Wilmington Comprehensive and Cosmetic Dentistry. After a year as an associate, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of ownership and purchased the practice from its previous owner. She resides in the Port City with her husband Dominick and three sons: Cameron, Corey and Carter.