Hamed Yazdanshenas, MD | Surgical Leadership
Hamed Yazdanshenas, MD, a clinical associate professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), has dedicated his career to improving health care access and addressing surgical disparities in underserved communities. As vice chair and director of research in both the surgery department and orthopedic surgery department, he leads a team of 96 surgeons across various surgical subspecialties, serving southern Los Angeles County, including Compton, a city with a high percentage of underserved populations.
Yazdanshenas has undergone comprehensive National Institute of Health (NIH) training and has collaborated on and led high-impact, federally funded institutional grants through NIH and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), driving advancements in surgical leadership and health care equity. Building upon this foundation, he has spearheaded groundbreaking research and academic initiatives, earning prestigious national and international awards and recognition from esteemed organizations such as NIH, AAOS (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons), AAHS (American Association for Hand Surgery), APHA (American Public Health Association), FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), and WOA (Western Orthopedic Association).
In his pursuit of leadership excellence, Yazdanshenas enrolled in the Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School to receive advanced training from world-renowned Harvard surgeons and esteemed faculty members from Harvard Business School. Through this experience, he gained access to a global network of top-tier surgeons and health care leaders, empowering him to amplify his transformative impact on surgical equity and health care innovation both nationwide and worldwide.
Developing Leadership Skills to Navigate Complex Systems
For Yazdanshenas, the decision to join the Surgical Leadership Program stemmed from a desire to enhance his leadership skills, particularly in managing complex organizational systems. While clinical expertise is central to surgical leadership, he also recognized the importance of understanding broader organizational dynamics.
“I was looking for a trusted, up-to-date resource that truly integrates leadership into the complex landscape of surgery field and equips me with the advanced skills and insights to navigate my responsibilities as Vice Chair of Research in the surgery department. I couldn’t find anything comparable until I came across this program. The curriculum was amazing, innovative, and multidisciplinary. It brought together elite surgeons, business leaders, and researchers., creating an unparalleled environment for growth. This was the golden opportunity I had been waiting for to elevate my leadership skills in surgery,” he says.
The curriculum offered him the tools to inspire his colleagues, address institutional politics, and manage team dynamics. This has been especially critical in his work, where leadership extends beyond the operating room to influence policy and resource allocation, which are both crucial in addressing surgical disparities.
A Capstone Project Focused on AI and Surgical Equity
As part of the program, Yazdanshenas developed an ambitious capstone project: the Surgical Disparity Solution Network (SDSN), an innovative platform that leverages artificial intelligence to address surgical disparities across the US. This network promotes effective collaboration and resource-sharing across hospitals and institutions, using AI to analyze data trends and identify gaps in surgical care, a challenge that places a multibillion-dollar burden on the health care system nationally and globally. By analyzing real-time data and gaining access to successful initiatives from the West to East Coast, the SDSN provides a robust and strategics foundation for surgeons, health care leaders, policy makers, and key stack holders to come together and develop practical, real-time policies that drive meaningful changes. Rather than check-the-box approach, this model ensures that evidence-based solutions are integrated in real surgical practice to improve patients’ outcomes and health care efficiency.
While he had started the project before enrolling, the program’s mentorship helped him to fine-tune it. “When I joined the program, I met with mentors and faculty who offered valuable advice that helped me to refine my proposal. Their guidance enabled me to turn my ideas into a more practical, actionable plan.” His forward-thinking approach underscores the transformative power of combining technology with leadership to bridge surgical care disparities.
Expanding Networks to Drive Change
A key benefit of the program was the opportunity to extend his professional network. He was eager to collaborate with business leaders and international peers to bring about systemic change. The program’s three in-person workshops facilitated networking, creating an environment for participants to connect with fellow surgeons from a range of specialties and backgrounds.
“The diversity in the cohort was amazing. We had surgeons from different specialties, countries, and cultures. The instructors created a collaborative, interactive environment that helped us learn from each other’s experiences,” he says.
These relationships are helping to advance his Surgical Disparity Solution Network, which seeks to establish an independent platform for sharing resources and research across hospitals and regions. Through networking, he has already secured promising partnerships both within the U.S. and internationally.
Self-Discovery Leads to Personal and Professional Growth
The Surgical Leadership Program enabled Yazdanshenas to grow personally and professionally. Through self-assessment exercises and reflective workshops, he gained clarity on his strengths and weaknesses. This process of introspection boosted his confidence and decision-making abilities as a leader, particularly in high-pressure situations.
“The program is a game-changer for surgeons aspiring to take on leadership roles. It provided me with a deeper understanding of the administrative and operational challenges that impact my work, from budget constraints to human resource management,” he explains.
By learning to define these challenges and create measurable solutions, Yazdanshenas now sees obstacles as opportunities for collaboration. His advice to prospective participants is simple: “Take the leap. It’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself, your career, and your future.”
Written by: Pamela Searle