Lauren Shapiro, MD

Dr. Lauren Shapiro is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in injuries or other conditions of the upper extremities, including the hand, wrist and elbow. She has a particular interest in treating patients who have had traumatic or sports injuries to their hands or forearms, as well as common issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel and ligament and tendon injuries.

Shapiro founded and directs sALLud Lab, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and the National Academy of Medicine. Her research spans multiple disciplines and includes projects exploring how to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Much of her work focuses on patient treatment preferences, shared decision-making, and health disparities, empowering patients to fully understand their treatment options.

Shapiro earned her medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she also completed a residency in orthopedic surgery and served as chief resident in her final year. She completed a fellowship in hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. She also earned a master's degree in health analytics at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Shapiro has both lectured and presented her research nationally and internationally. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and written seven book chapters. She was named as a 2025-2026 National Academy of Medicine Scholar in diagnostic excellence and as the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand's 2023 Richard H. Gelberman Scholar. She chairs and serves on committees within the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. She is equally active in her local and global communities and has conducted outreach programs to improve surgery, education and research in developing countries.