Xuan Luo

Xuan Luo, MD is an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine. He specializes in hand, shoulder, and elbow surgery, with expertise in treating carpal tunnel syndrome, forearm fractures, and degenerative diseases of the hand including arthritis. Dr. Luo serves on the GME Wellbeing Committee and has a particular interest in resident education and surgical training.

Education:

• Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania (Biology and Biochemistry, Magna Cum Laude, Vagelos Life Science Scholar)
• Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha, Martin L. Loeb Memorial Prize)
• Residency: Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency (Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, and Boston Children's Hospital)
• Fellowship: Harvard Hand/Upper Extremity Fellowship (Brigham and Women's and Boston Children's Hospital)

Dr. Luo's clinical interests focus on disorders of the upper extremities, with particular expertise in microvascular hand surgery and degenerative conditions of the hand and fingers. His approach emphasizes starting with non-surgical treatments like physical therapy or injections before considering surgical intervention. He believes in realistic patient expectations regarding recovery outcomes and collaborates extensively with specialists in imaging and physical therapy to achieve optimal results. Dr. Luo combines his interests in engineering and medicine to understand the structural aspects of bones and tendons, which informs his surgical approaches to augment or repair these structures.

Professional Recognition:

• Exceptional Teaching Award (2022)
• Harvard Medical School resident teaching award
• Best Thesis Day paper award
• Martin L. Loeb Memorial Prize for best student in surgery

Dr. Luo is deeply committed to surgical education and resident well-being, serving on the GME Wellbeing Committee at Yale. He emphasizes the importance of timely specialist care for hand conditions, noting that "while the hand is very adaptable, it is prone to stiffness" and improper treatment can sometimes cause more harm than good. His philosophy centers on providing realistic expectations while leveraging Yale's integrated care model where specialists collaborate closely to provide comprehensive treatment in one location.