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Posts by Bassem T. Elhassan, MD

Biography

Dr. Bassem Elhassan is a world-renowned shoulder, elbow and hand surgeon who performs surgery from the simple to the complex. From arthroscopy to arthroplasty to procedures he has invented himself, Dr. Elhassan focuses on exceptional patient care and getting his patients back to the things they love.

Dr. Elhassan joined Massachusetts General Hospital in October 2020. Before coming here, he was on the faculty at the Mayo Clinic and was a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.

Dr. Elhassan received his medical degree at the American University of Beirut. He completed three years of training in general surgery focusing on cardiothoracic surgery and one year in orthopaedic surgery at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Elhassan went on to complete his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Illinois in Chicago. While there, he received the Senior Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, as well as the Robert Ray Award for Research. Dr. Elhassan completed a fellowship in hand and upper extremity at the Mayo Clinic and an additional fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at Mass General.

Dr. Elhassan started working at the Mayo Clinic in of 2007. He won the Mayo Clinic Teacher of the Year Award for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010, and his upper extremity service was voted as one of the best rotations for the Mayo Clinic’s residents and fellows.

Dr. Elhassan has been innovative in the field of upper extremity surgery and he has developed numerous novel procedures (20 new surgical procedures for the shoulder, elbow and wrist) through dedicated anatomic and biomechanical studies. The care and outcome of patients, specifically those with complex shoulder and elbow problems, improved significantly because of these innovations. He is considered the world expert in the evaluation and management of scapulothoracic disorders, and tendon transfers around the shoulder and elbow.

Dr. Elhassan has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles and authored thirty book chapters. He has presented at countless meetings both nationally, as well as internationally, and he has won numerous awards for best abstract, paper, poster, video and podium presentation in national and international hand and shoulder and elbow societies. He is also the recipient of the 2015 ASES Traveling Fellowship Exchange Program.

Orthopaedic Care at Mass General

At Mass General, our world-class physicians and surgeons treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions throughout the body, from sprains and strains on the athletic field to carpal tunnel syndrome. Our team offers innovative, research-based treatments that range from limb-saving oncological procedures to complex spinal reconstruction.