Shelley S. Noland, MD (2026)

20/03/2026

Match Day always feels special, but today hits differently.

I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible female medical students who matched into Plastic & Orthopedic Surgery, and I couldn’t be more proud. Their dedication, resilience, and passion have led them to this moment, and it’s inspiring to witness.

This is such a pivotal day in their lives, and I’m grateful to have played even a small role in their journey. Supporting and promoting women in surgery is something I care deeply about, and today is a powerful reminder of why.

Congratulations to these outstanding women. Your futures are bright, and I can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. 👏🩺 .dhupati

17/03/2026

Throwback to Match Day 2006, 20 years ago today 💝 📚 📖 📕 💝

Twenty years gone by, and I’m still in awe. WOW.

Matching into Stanford Plastic Surgery, my dream program, was the highlight of my medical school journey. The letter was more than just a confirmation, it was validation of hard work and perseverance. Holding it brought tears of joy and an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

It’s a day that has stayed with me, influencing the course of my career and life.

I’m thankful for the training, mentorship, and friendships forged at Stanford Plastic Surgery under Dr. James Chang’s leadership. The lessons I learned are foundational to who I am today.

As I look forward, I’m dedicated to giving back, supporting aspiring medical professionals, and honoring the legacy of Stanford Plastic Surgery. Wishing all the best to those matching this week!

12/03/2026

Honored to be named a Phoenix Top Doctor for the 4th year in a row.

This recognition truly reflects the incredible team I’m privileged to work with every day. I’m especially grateful to my outstanding PA Heather Lucas, my phenomenal nurse Brian Parks, and the entire clinical team who bring compassion, precision, and dedication to every patient we care for.

Medicine is never a solo endeavor. The work we do in hand and peripheral nerve surgery is only possible because of the people beside me in the clinic, the OR, and behind the scenes who show up every day committed to our patients.

Thank you to my colleagues for the nomination and to the patients who trust us with their care. It is an honor I don’t take lightly.

.aesthetics

25/02/2026

Gender differences in surgeon EHR utilization

Proud to share our latest SCAR publication in The American Journal of Surgery examining electronic health record (EHR) workload across 593 attending surgeons

EHR Gender Differences Publishe…

What we found is striking:

🔹 Female surgeons spent 35% more total time in the EHR
🔹 63% more “pajama time” (after-hours documentation)
🔹 51% more time outside scheduled clinical hours
🔹 44% more time on unscheduled days
🔹 Received significantly more patient and staff in-basket messages

Even after controlling for specialty, workload, FTE, practice years, and appointment volume, these differences persisted.

EHR burden is not just a workflow issue.
It is a systems issue.
And it may be one contributor to gender disparities in burnout.

This study represents the power of mentorship-driven research through SCAR (Surgical Collective of Applied Research) — advancing scholarship while elevating women in surgery.

Grateful to this incredible team and proud of the students who led this work.

The EHR is here to stay.
The question is: how do we make it equitable? .n.h

25/02/2026

GLP-1 RA–Associated Slimmer’s Palsy

This project started the same way many of my research questions do — in clinic.

Over the past year, I began seeing more patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists presenting with acute peroneal nerve palsy and foot drop after rapid weight loss.

The pattern was striking.

In our recent publication in Annals of Plastic Surgery, we describe two nondiabetic patients who developed common peroneal neuropathy after losing 14% and 18% of total body weight over 3–6 months on GLP-1 therapy.

The mechanism is not new.
Rapid adipose tissue loss reduces cushioning at the fibular head, increasing vulnerability to compression — what has historically been called “Slimmer’s Palsy.”

What is new is the scale.

GLP-1 use is expanding rapidly. Approximately 12% of U.S. adults are now taking these medications. As use grows, so will predictable neurologic complications.

Key Clinical Takeaways

🔵 Progressive foot drop after rapid weight loss warrants urgent evaluation

🔵 Electrodiagnostic confirmation of conduction block should prompt early referral

🔵 Surgical decompression within 3–6 months may prevent permanent denervation

Slimmer’s Palsy is surgically treatable — but only if recognized early.

Peripheral nerve surgeons must maintain a high index of suspicion in patients experiencing rapid medication-induced weight loss.

Proud of this SCAR team for translating a clinical observation into actionable scholarship.

🔵 Surgical Collective of Applied Research (SCAR)
Mentorship-driven. Data-focused. Surgeon-led. .dhupati

25/02/2026

⭐️ New Publication ⭐️ Dupuytren’s in the Public Eye
How does direct-to-consumer advertising for a specific treatment influence public awareness and care patterns?

In our latest publication in Annals of Plastic Surgery, we examined the impact of the 2019 “Facts on Hand” campaign — a national direct-to-consumer campaign promoting collagenase for Dupuytren’s contracture — on public interest and procedural utilization.

Using Google Trends and Medicare claims data (2016–2021), we found:

🔵 561% spike in Google search interest during campaign launch

🔵 Breakout searches (>5000%) for “John Elway,” “Facts on Hand,” and “hand surgeon near me”

🔵 Regionally significant increases in collagenase (CCH) utilization
Midwest +10%
Northeast +5%

🔵 Declines in fasciectomy in high-exposure regions

🔵 Geographic overlap between increased search activity and treatment shifts

Although the campaign emphasized a nonsurgical option, breakout searches for “hand surgeon near me” suggest that treatment-specific advertising may also encourage broader specialist engagement.

Proud of this SCAR team for rigorous, data-driven work examining how marketing, patient behavior, and surgical practice intersect. .dhupati

🔵 Surgical Collective of Applied Research (SCAR). Mentorship-driven. Data-focused. Surgeon-led.

25/02/2026

🖼️ 📕 At Two Tables 📕 🖼️

In my recent JBJS Arts & Humanities piece, At Two Tables, I reflect on the integrated identity of women in surgery through the powerful artwork of surgeon and artist Terouz Pasha, MD.

She stands at two tables, but she is fully herself at both.

Under the sterile glow of the operating room, she is precise and composed. Under the warmth of home, she is present and connected.

The same hands.
The same life.
Two kinds of light.

Dr. Pasha’s painting hangs in my office. It’s more than art to me. It’s a daily reminder that I am not divided between roles. I am multifaceted. The discipline I bring to surgery informs the empathy I carry home. The presence I offer my family strengthens the surgeon I become.

As Medical Director of the Center for Humanities in Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, I see every day how the humanities ground us. They deepen observation, expand perspective, and remind us that identity in medicine is layered, not fragmented.

The humanities do not sit outside surgery. They steady it.

23/01/2026

We had a very productive meeting at AAHS 2026! I’m proud of our residents and medical students who had multiple podium presentations and multiple posters! Great Arizona representation! .dhupati

10/12/2025

🔹 What is a glomus tumor?
A glomus tumor is a rare, usually benign growth that arises from the glomus body, a tiny structure in the fingertip that helps regulate blood flow and temperature. In the hand, these tumors most often hide under the nail. Patients usually describe:
*Intense, pinpoint pain
*Sensitivity to cold
*Tenderness when the area is gently pressed
Even though the tumor is very small, the pain can be life changing.
🔹 How is it treated?
The definitive treatment is surgical removal. In this case, I carefully lifted the nail, identified the tumor under magnification, and removed it completely while protecting the nail bed and surrounding structures. Once the tumor is out, most patients experience dramatic pain relief and can return to normal use of the hand.

01/12/2025

⭐️ New Article in HAND ⭐️
Ambient Artificial Intelligence in Hand Surgery
Insights, pearls, and pitfalls from real-world clinical use.
Authors: Krishna Unadkat, Pooja Dhupati, Shelley Noland

⭐️ Why This Matters
Documentation burden continues to grow. Hand surgeons often manage multiple diagnoses, detailed exams, and complex plans in every visit. Ambient AI tools now offer real-time transcription and summarization to support clinical efficiency.

⭐️ What We Studied
We compared 14 carpal tunnel syndrome clinic notes.
Seven were written by the surgeon.
Seven were generated with an ambient AI tool after implementation.
We evaluated structure, detail, readability, and content.

⭐️ Key Finding 1: Richer Histories
AI-generated histories were longer and included more social context.
Examples included sleep disruption, driving limitations, and caregiving responsibilities.

⭐️ Key Finding 2: Structured Assessments
AI notes consistently used a problem-based format.
Plans were aligned with each diagnosis.
This improved clarity for the patient and supported coding accuracy.

⭐️ Key Finding 3: Physical Exam Needs Oversight
AI frequently summarized objective findings instead of capturing exact values.
Surgeons improved accuracy by speaking measurements aloud and clearly stating laterality.

⭐️ Practical Pearls for Surgeons
• Use clear verbal transitions during the visit.
• Restate anatomy and laterality out loud.
• Speak numeric exam findings directly into the room.
• Review and edit the exam section after the visit.
• Use problem-based verbal summaries to improve note structure.

⭐️ Takeaway
Ambient AI can reduce cognitive load and strengthen note structure.
Successful use requires intentional communication and surgeon review.
When implemented thoughtfully, ambient AI helps us reclaim time and focus on the patient in front of us.

11/10/2025

✨ Honored to share that our research was awarded the Top Paper of the entire Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) National Conference ✨

Our study, “Gender Differences in Surgeon Electronic Health Record Utilization,” was selected for the AWS Top Paper Session and received the Top Award and a research grant at this year’s AWS meeting in Chicago. The full manuscript will be published soon in the American Journal of Surgery.

I am incredibly proud of our medical student team. Megan Anderson, who served as first author, and Annika Hiredesai, who presented our work on behalf of the group, both demonstrated outstanding dedication and professionalism.

This project reflects collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to understanding how gender influences the surgical workplace and technology use, all in the spirit of advancing equity in surgery.

Thank you to the Association of Women Surgeons for this incredible honor and for championing women surgeon scholars nationwide. 💜

.n.h

11/10/2025

Got to catch up with so many of my favorite mentors this week at ASSH!

With every surgery I perform, I am reminded how grateful I am for my incredible training and the unmatched pedigree of hand surgery mentors who shaped me. I truly could not have designed a better group to learn from: Hentz, Chang, Hanel, Vedder, Friedrich, Huang, Allan, Mackinnon, Bednar, Smith and the list goes on.

It was especially meaningful to witness the retirements of both Dr. Hanel and Dr. Vedder, two surgeons from different backgrounds who 35 years ago built the most seamless and integrated combined hand surgery program in the country, founded on a simple but profound philosophy of mutual respect.

We all have much to learn from their legacy.

Shelley S. Noland, MD

20/03/2026

17/03/2026

12/03/2026

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

25/02/2026

23/01/2026

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11/10/2025

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