Zara Cooper

Zara Cooper, MD, MSc, FACS, is a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and serves as the Kessler Director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health (CSPH) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). She also directs the Center for Geriatric Surgery at BWH and holds the Michele and Howard J. Kessler Endowed Chair in Surgery and Public Health. As an acute care surgeon, trauma surgeon, and surgical intensivist, she specializes in improving palliative and geriatric care for older surgical patients.

• Harvard Medical School: Professor of Surgery
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Director, Center for Surgery and Public Health
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Director, Center for Geriatric Surgery
• Ariadne Labs: Associate Faculty
• Marcus Institute for Aging Research: Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on geriatric trauma, surgical palliative care, and equity in surgical outcomes. She has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is a national leader in integrating geriatric principles into surgical care. Her studies often examine postoperative functional decline, caregiver burden, and disparities in trauma outcomes for older adults.

Her recent articles highlight trends in geriatric trauma care, shared decision-making for complex surgical patients, and economic modeling of preventive interventions. Key themes include frailty assessment, end-of-life care protocols, and the impact of preoperative pain and depression on recovery.

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• National Institutes of Aging Paul B. Beeson Leadership in Aging Award
• American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) funding
• National Palliative Care Research Center grants
• Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency research funding

Dr. Cooper mentors trainees and junior faculty in health services research and leads system-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at BWH. She serves on editorial boards and professional committees, including the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Board of Trustees.