Award will expand work in Dr. Shapiro’s sALLud lab to improve patient understanding, shared decision-making and access to high-quality musculoskeletal care.
SAN FRANCISCO (March 2, 2026) — Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS , an orthopaedic surgeon and associate professor in the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , has received a 2026 IDEA Grant from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) to support research and outreach aimed at improving patient access and outcomes in musculoskeletal care.
This prestigious award will advance initiatives within Dr. Shapiro’s sALLud lab (Socioeconomic, Acculturation and Language Lab for the Study of Underrepresented Patients and Health Care Disparities), a multidisciplinary research program dedicated to improving quality, value and equity in orthopaedics.
Through sALLud, Dr. Shapiro studies high-value care, patient preferences and shared decision-making, focusing on reducing disparities and helping patients better understand their treatment options.
Dr. Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS (center), is the principal investigator of the UCSF sALLud lab, which brings together clinicians and researchers to expand access to high-quality musculoskeletal care and improve outcomes for underserved communities. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
“Every patient deserves clear information, meaningful choices and care that reflects their values and circumstances,” Dr. Shapiro said. “Too often, patients face barriers that limit both access and understanding. Through sALLud, we are working to close those gaps — developing tools and evidence that support shared decision-making and ensure that high-quality musculoskeletal care is accessible to everyone, regardless of background or resources.”
UCSF was selected under Track 4 – Patient Advocacy & Health Access, which supports programs designed to improve musculoskeletal health access, patient education and outcomes. AAOS announced 14 recipient programs nationwide for the 2026 grant cycle, awarding more than $260,000 in total funding.
“Dr. Shapiro’s work embodies UCSF’s mission to advance health worldwide,” said C. Benjamin Ma, MD , chair of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “Through the sALLud lab, she is advancing rigorous, patient-centered research that improves quality and expands access to musculoskeletal care for communities that have too often been left behind. This award recognizes her leadership in shaping a more equitable future for orthopaedics — one in which every patient has the information, support and opportunity to achieve the best possible outcome.”
About Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS
Dr. Shapiro is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in conditions of the hand, wrist and elbow, with expertise in traumatic and sports-related injuries of the upper extremity. She cares for patients at the UCSF Orthopaedic Institute in San Francisco and at specialty clinics on the Peninsula.
Her research program, funded by the National Institutes of Health and other national organizations, spans multiple disciplines and centers on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. She has published more than 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and seven book chapters and has lectured nationally and internationally on hand surgery, quality, value and care equity.
Dr. Shapiro was recently named a 2025–2026 National Academy of Medicine Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence and was the 2023 Richard H. Gelberman Scholar. She serves in leadership roles within AAOS and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and is engaged in outreach efforts to improve surgical education and care globally.
About the AAOS IDEA Grant Program
Launched in 2022, the AAOS IDEA Grant Program supports initiatives that reduce barriers to orthopaedic education and care and strengthen pathways into the field. Since its inception, the program has funded nearly 90 programs across the country.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons represents more than 39,000 musculoskeletal specialists worldwide and provides education and professional development for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals.
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