Jenny Shao, M.D. joins the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She completed a surgical gastroenterology fellowship at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and a general surgery residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. She attended Washington University in St. Louis as an undergraduate and then Indiana University School of Medicine. Her research interests include complex abdominal wall reconstruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), surgical ergonomics, and surgical culture change. Her clinical specializations include complex abdominal wall reconstruction, robotic abdominal wall procedures, benign foregut disease, and minimally invasive general surgery. She is a Co-Chair for the SAGES Diversity, Leadership, and Professional Development Committee and the Society of Surgical Ergonomics Board of Directors, & Research Committee, in addition to being a guest editor for American Journal of Surgery and a section editor for Hernia.
Get to know Dr. Shao:
Q. Why Michigan Medicine? Tell us what excites you about being a part of the team.
A. I’m from the Midwest and after having trained for so long on the East Coast, it feels great to come back home! I am excited to join Michigan Medicine because of the collaborative mindset of the organization and the possibility of advancing complex abdominal wall reconstruction through research and clinical practice.
Q. Why surgery? Tell us what led you down this path.
A. Surgery is one of the most optimistic fields in medicine because we can directly impact a patient’s life. Surgery cannot fix everything, but surgeons can cure cancer (if we catch it early), we can take away someone’s pain, and fix many problems. It’s amazing how we can do an operation and impact someone’s life for the better in a meaningful way.
Q. What drew you to your specialty?
A. I chose minimally invasive surgery because of the spirit of innovation, creativity, and using new technology to make surgical advances. Specifically in hernia surgery, I love the spirit of innovation and the focus on quality of life and figuring out how to reconstruct the abdominal wall so that patients can regain function.
Q. What drew you to your research interests?
A. My research centers on improving patient outcomes in complex abdominal wall reconstruction and is all about figuring out how to improve surgery care for our patients. My non-clinical research has to do with surgical culture change and leadership development centered around DEI.
Q. What’s your secret talent?
A. DIY Home Renovation and Projects, I love interior design and figuring out building and design projects to do around the house
Q. Favorite procedure and why?
A. There are so many to choose from! I love any complex hernia operation—whether it’s open or robotic. But my absolute favorite is a good Robotic eTEP (extended-view total extraperitoneal) incisional hernia repair with bilateral transversus abdominis release (TAR)
Q. Favorite way to spend time outside of the hospital or lab?
A. With my family and my dog! We love being outside, exploring new places, trying new foods, and spending time together.