Graduated New Hanover High School 1959. He continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received both B.S. and M.D. degrees and completed his residency at UNC-Chapel Hill.
While an intern he was recipient of the Henry C Fordham Award. During his residency he was the first recipient of the Nathan A. Womack scholarship. After two years as a member of the teaching faculty at the UNC Medical School he joined the Raleigh Ear, Nose and Throat associated were he practiced for 30 years.
Dr. Garrabrant served as President of the Wake County Medical Society and President of the North Carolina Society of Otolaryngology. He was a member of the Raleigh Academy of Medicine, The AMA, the American Academy of Otolaryngology, the Newton Fischer Society, and the Royster Medical Society. He served on the American Lung Association. Two of his most fulfilling activities were his participation with the Open Door Clinic in Raleigh and Project Health for Leon. Project Health provides a myriad of health care services of Leon, Nicaragua.