About Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS

Dr. Lauren Shapiro is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in surgical care for injuries or other conditions of the upper extremities. She has a particular interest in treating patients who have had traumatic or sports injuries to their hands or forearms. She is an Assistant Professor in the Hand, Elbow and Peripheral Nerve Division of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.  

Dr. Shapiro has clinical expertise in conditions of the upper extremity, including the hand, wrist, and elbow. Her clinical interests include traumatic hand and forearm injuries stemming from sports-related injuries to acute traumas as well as common issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel, and ligament and tendon injuries. Dr Shapiro has lectured nationally and internationally on clinical hand and wrist injuries as well as research topics including quality, value, and care equity.

Dr. Shapiro’s research program, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and the National Institute of Medicine spans multiple disciplines with projects rooted in providing high-quality and patient-centered care. Dr. Shapiro founded and directs sALLud. She conducts research on high-value care, patient preferences, shared-decision making, and health disparities, empowering patients to understand their treatment options. She has presented her research nationally and internationally and has published more than 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and seven book chapters. She was named as a 2025-2026 National Academy of Medicine Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence and as the 2023 Richard H. Gelberman Scholar. Dr. Shapiro is active in professional societies, and 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 as active in her local and global communities. She has conducted outreach programs to improve surgery, education, and research in developing countries across the globe. 

Dr. Shapiro completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, where she was a member of the varsity women’s soccer team. She completed her residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University, serving as a chief resident during her final year. She then completed a fellowship in Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery at Duke University, at which she also completed a Master’s Degree in Health Analytics from the Duke Fuqua School of Business.

Dr. Shapiro cares for patients in San Francisco at the Orthopaedic Institute, and on the Peninsula in Redwood Shores and Burlingame.