Biography
Rachel C. Hooper, MD, serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University. Dr. Hooper completed medical school at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Camden New Jersey in 2009. Following this, Dr. Hooper went on to General Surgery Residency at Columbia University and completed her residency and general surgery board certification in 2016. She then spent three additional years of training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, followed by an additional year of hand surgery at the University of Michigan, completing her training in 2020. In 2020, she joined the plastic surgery faculty at Henry Ford and transitioned to her current role on the plastic surgery faculty at the University of Michigan in 2022.
Dr. Hooper has been the recipient of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand Fast Track Clinical Grant in 2019 where she studied Firearm Injuries of the Upper Extremity. As a faculty member at Henry Ford, she was recognized as the “Teacher of the Year” among general surgery interns in 2021. She is a big proponent of medical student, resident and fellow education and is actively involved in upper extremity cadaver simulation activities. She dedicates time for clinical outreach and participates in a program for Detroit high school students interested in careers in medicine and science.
Dr. Hooper is a member of the M-CHOIR (Michigan Center for Hand Outcomes and Innovation Research) group and conducts hand surgery outcomes research. Her previous manuscripts include publications on reimbursement for finger/thumb replantation, operative and non-operative management of metacarpal neck fractures, appropriate follow-up after common hand surgery procedures, examining the impact of pre-injury level of activity on outcomes after distal radius fracture surgery, impact of timing and technique of reduction and fixation of distal radius fractures, and epidemiology of upper extremity gunshot wound injuries.
Dr. Hooper’s current research interest including examining the impact of race and health disparities on outcomes in hand surgery.
More information on Dr. Hooper's publications, research and grants can be found here.