Vita Barell began her career in epidemiology in 1956 at the California State Department of Public Health and left to move to Israel in 1961. In 1966, she joined the new Department of Clinical Epidemiology, affiliated with Tel Aviv University, where she led a number of research studies and developed and evaluated new medical services programs. One of her main contributions was in intervention community study for reducing infant mortality in high risk populations. Her primary professional goal was identifying health needs and changing medical services to meet the specific needs of at-risk populations. This led to the Ministry of Health's establishment, in 1982, of the Health Services Research Unit. Vita headed this unit from its inception.

In addition, Vita was the Israeli representative to the ICE on Perinatal and Infant Mortality and a member of the Central Steering Committee of the Israeli National Council on Trauma. Vita was also responsible for development of the Israel Trauma Registry Information System and the National Injury Surveillance System.

Among the broad spectrum of projects that Vita conducted over the years, she was most recently involved in the implementation and review of effective prevention strategies and was a member of the planning committee of the International Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics. Since 1996, Vita was the main force behind the development of the "Nature of Injury by Site" Diagnostic Matrix, with dedication beyond words. Vita died on May 23, 2001, after a brave battle with cancer. This matrix was her last major project.