Shelley S. Noland, MD

Shelley S. Noland, MD Hand & Peripheral Nerve Surgeon at Mayo Clinic
Phoenix, AZ
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Dupuytrens Disease
Schwannoma
Peripheral Nerve Tumors
Hand Surgery

The wait is over! My dear friend and colleague Dr. Tony Smith has published his biography of Dr. Sterling Bunnell with f...
09/29/2025

The wait is over! My dear friend and colleague Dr. Tony Smith has published his biography of Dr. Sterling Bunnell with friend Dr. Steve McCabe! I’m so proud of his work as I watched him toil for the last 5 years on this wonderful project. This is an important step towards understanding the history and magic of hand surgery, a field that inspires us greatly. Be on the lookout for this amazing read!

Excited to share our new publication in Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation: “Precision without incision: Feasibility of che...
09/26/2025

Excited to share our new publication in Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation: “Precision without incision: Feasibility of chemical denervation for basilar thumb arthritis.”
Congratulations to Dr. Olachi Oleru, Plastic Surgery Resident at Mayo Clinic, for leading this innovative work. This cadaveric feasibility study explores the potential of chemical neurolysis as a minimally invasive option for patients with painful thumb arthritis, an approach that could transform how we manage small joint disease.
This project highlights the strength of true multi-disciplinary collaboration across Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Together, we are advancing new frontiers in patient care by blending surgical expertise with innovative, office-based solutions.

.dhupati .lowmaster

✨ Grateful to have served as Co-Course Director for the Meaning in Medicine Conference in Sundance, Utah, sponsored by  ...
09/23/2025

✨ Grateful to have served as Co-Course Director for the Meaning in Medicine Conference in Sundance, Utah, sponsored by and .
Gathering together in the mountains gave physicians the chance to step away from daily demands and reflect in the midst of nature’s quiet beauty. Surrounded by this setting, we explored how meaning in our work is nurtured through purpose, connection, and belonging.
These conversations remind us that when physicians are supported in their own wellbeing, it translates directly into more compassionate, connected, and meaningful patient care. 🌿
Thank you to all who joined and to Mayo Clinic for supporting this important work. Meaning & Medicine 2026 will be in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! Stay tuned!

✨ New Publication ✨Thrilled to share our latest work in HAND:“Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy Associate...
09/17/2025

✨ New Publication ✨
Thrilled to share our latest work in HAND:
“Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy Associated With Fewer Diagnoses of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Within 2 Years of Treatment”
In this large national database study, GLP-1 therapy in patients with diabetes was linked to a significantly lower risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) within 2 years, while also showing interesting trends in surgical outcomes.
This research highlights the potential secondary benefits of GLP-1 therapy on musculoskeletal health, beyond its established role in diabetes management.
Grateful to collaborate with an outstanding team of co-authors from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and Mayo Clinic Phoenix

Honored to represent Mayo Clinic Humanities in Medicine at the national Mayo Clinic RISE (Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen, ...
09/13/2025

Honored to represent Mayo Clinic Humanities in Medicine at the national Mayo Clinic RISE (Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen, Empower) Conference last weekend. I shared stories of belonging from our Humanities in Medicine group and the meaningful ways we promote connection and inclusion in healthcare.
Grateful for the opportunity to highlight our Data Physicalization Project (slide 3), bringing art, meaning, and medicine together in powerful ways.


⭐️ New Publication!! ⭐️ Check out this new publication in JHS GO “Salvage of a Distal Ulnar Nonunion with Teriparatide T...
09/05/2025

⭐️ New Publication!! ⭐️ Check out this new publication in JHS GO “Salvage of a Distal Ulnar Nonunion with Teriparatide Therapy”. This non surgical option can facilitate bony healing. We recommend working with your local endocrinologists! Multi-disciplinary care at its best!

✨ New Publication in JBJS: “Beyond the Incision: The Power of Patient Narratives in Surgery” by Sonal Kumar, BA, and She...
09/05/2025

✨ New Publication in JBJS: “Beyond the Incision: The Power of Patient Narratives in Surgery” by Sonal Kumar, BA, and Shelley S. Noland, MD.
Every incision, every suture, every operation carries a story. Surgery is not only about restoring function, it is about restoring identity, independence, and meaning. Congratulations to medical student Sonal Kumar for writing this beautiful piece. I was honored to help share her perspective that blends the art of writing with the practice of healing.

✨ New Publication ✨Thrilled to share our recent article in the Journal of Surgical Education: “Beyond Traditional Surger...
08/25/2025

✨ New Publication ✨
Thrilled to share our recent article in the Journal of Surgical Education: “Beyond Traditional Surgery Training: Incorporating Visual Thinking Strategies.” Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) bring the arts into surgical training to strengthen observation, critical thinking, communication, empathy, and tolerance for ambiguity. These are essential skills in the operating room and in patient care.
Grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with an inspiring team from Mayo Clinic’s Center for Humanities in Medicine and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine on this important work. Congratulations to first author medical student Camryn Payne! .csp

👩🏻‍⚕️📚 SCAR: Surgical Collective of Applied Research
I started SCAR because I saw a need.So many medical students, espec...
07/29/2025

👩🏻‍⚕️📚 SCAR: Surgical Collective of Applied Research

I started SCAR because I saw a need.

So many medical students, especially young women interested in surgery, want to contribute meaningfully to research. But the path to publication isn’t always clear or accessible. SCAR was created to help change that.

It is a space where students support one another rather than compete.

Where mentorship and community come first.

Where “all ships rise together” means something.

In just over a year, this student-led collective has:

🌍 Given 37 presentations at international, national, and regional meetings

🩺 All presented by medical students early in their training

💪🏽 Most presenters are women, reflecting my commitment to mentoring and coaching female students pursuing surgical careers

📝 13 published papers in peer-reviewed journals, all with medical students as first authors

🏅 14 national awards and honors

They are learning that working together helps everyone go further, both individually and as a team.
If this is what we can do in just over a year, imagine what the future holds.

SCAR forward!!!

📣 New publication alert!Thrilled to share our latest study in JAAOS — exploring whether preoperative corticosteroid inje...
07/28/2025

📣 New publication alert!

Thrilled to share our latest study in JAAOS — exploring whether preoperative corticosteroid injections increase the risk of deep infection after carpal tunnel surgery.

✅ Short answer: They don’t.

We used a national database of over 1.5 million patients and found no increased risk of deep infection, even when injections were given up to 90 days before surgery.

Proud to mentor this brilliant team of students and residents — and even prouder of how they’ve contributed to refining safe, evidence-based surgical care. .n.h .ortho

Thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into Fellowship with the American College of Surgeons (ACS)—joining a communit...
07/28/2025

Thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into Fellowship with the American College of Surgeons (ACS)—joining a community of 89,000 surgeons committed to excellence, ethics, and lifelong learning.

The designation FACS—Fellow of the American College of Surgeons—isn’t just a title. It’s a reflection of years of surgical training, academic leadership, clinical service, and a deep belief in advancing our field with intention and integrity.

As I prepare to walk in the 2025 Convocation, I’m reminded that my passion for teaching, mentoring, and coaching continues to evolve.

While my roots are in plastic, orthopedic, and peripheral nerve surgery, my reach has grown wider. I find purpose in working with all young surgeons, residents, and medical students—regardless of specialty—who are navigating the challenges of surgical training, leadership identity, and professional fulfillment.

It’s one thing to teach technique. It’s another to help someone become the kind of surgeon they hope to be.

This Fellowship marks a milestone—but it also renews my commitment to support the next generation with clarity, empathy, and presence.

Thank you to the mentors, colleagues, students, and residents who continue to shape me along the way.

Scrubbed in, teaching—still my favorite place to be.⠀There’s something elemental about surgical training. It’s not just ...
07/28/2025

Scrubbed in, teaching—still my favorite place to be.

There’s something elemental about surgical training. It’s not just passing on knowledge—it’s passing on judgment, trust, and presence. The way you hold the needle. The silence before the incision. The rhythm between teacher and learner.

Some days, mentorship is formal. Most days, it’s quiet. A nod. A pause. A moment when the attending steps back and says: “You’ve got this.”

I carry with me every surgeon who once stood beside me and did the same.

One of my own mentors used to take an intraoperative photo with every resident he trained—a small but powerful gesture that said, “This moment matters.”

Today reminded me to start doing the same. Thank you, Telisha, plastic surgery resident, for the gentle nudge—and for reminding me that the time we share in the OR isn’t just about the work. It’s about what we carry forward.

“What we learn with joy, we never forget.” — Alfred Mercier


Address

5777 E. Mayo Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ
85054

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Shelley S. Noland, MD posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram