David Scott Shapiro, MD

David Scott Shapiro, MD, is a board-certified trauma and acute care surgeon with advanced training in surgical critical care and extensive experience in acute care surgery, surgical critical care, and hospital systems. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Connecticut, and fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the Oregon Health Science University in Portland, Oregon. He has served in leadership roles at Level I Trauma Centers including as the Chief Medical Officer, Chair of Surgery, and Chief Quality Officer. His clinical practice spans operative trauma, emergency general surgery, and intensive care, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based protocols and multidisciplinary coordination. Dr. Shapiro is also a seasoned educator in clinical simulation and performance-based assessment, contributing to the development of future surgical and emergency care providers. Dr. Shapiro is also the 2025-2028 Chair of the American College of Surgeons Connecticut Committee on Trauma.

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
I believe in complete care, collaborating with other providers and keeping the patient and their family at the center of communication.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
We work together as a team.  

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you are not caring for patients?
I enjoy the outdoors, live music, and working with others to make the world better. Our dog is almost always beside us, and we enjoy travel, photography, and experiencing everything the world around us has to offer.

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?
Trauma and Critical Care go hand in hand with prevention, and the balance between them is imperative for all patients. I appreciate the enormous privilege of helping others in this way and bring that sensibility to the care we provide.