Heather N. Wright, DO

I pursue providing the highest quality care in a friendly, professional clinic. My experiences in global health, US military service, and in clinical care have taught me the value of providing patients with evidence-based management options that best fit patients’ overall needs. This includes striving for clear, detailed, patient friendly information about a patient’s disease and the risks and benefits of treatment options so the patient and I can come to the best management plan at each stage of their disease. I practice General Dermatology, including skin cancer, acne, allergic contact dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis and eczema, as well as treatment of skin cancer and removal of “lumps and bumps”. In addition, I coordinate clinical trials for our section, working with our providers to bring cutting-edge treatments to our community for such diseases as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. My areas of non-pharmacological research interest include infectious diseases and epidemiology of skin diseases. I am an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology and, most recently, the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

I see diagnosing and managing liver disease as an opportunity to prevent serious illness in the future. Most liver conditions initially have no symptoms, but can be treated and potentially reversed at this early stage. I want my patients to know that our job is to understand and treat their condition before it gets to a point of causing symptoms and possibly can’t be reversed. Our team of hepatologists, associate providers and nurses work together to treat each patient as an individual to achieve these goals.

I joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at DHMC because of its reputation for patient-centered care with an emphasis on shared decision making and attention to patient-reported outcomes. I truly believe that DHMC places patient needs above all other priorities and this matches my philosophy of care perfectly. By utilizing proven treatment methods and listening carefully to the individual needs of my patients, my primary goal is to always provide compassionate and comprehensive care. I try to keep patients informed about their options so they can participate in making their own decisions, and to treat every patient as if they are part of my family. As a specialist in shoulder surgery, I perform a wide range of surgical procedures for the shoulder, ranging from common procedures to very complex reconstructive procedures. My surgical practice features arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, primary and revision shoulder replacement surgery including reverse total shoulder replacement, repair of shoulder instability, reconstruction of shoulders that have had previous surgery, shoulder arthroscopy and treatment of fractures around the shoulder. I am fortunate to work with an excellent team of providers who also specialize in shoulder care and work with me on a daily basis to provide comprehensive care of all shoulder problems. This includes a dedicated group of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, physical therapists and athletic trainers. Most of the time, our team can improve pain and dysfunction of the shoulder without surgery, which is always our goal whenever possible. Sometimes, the best treatment to restore function and decrease pain is through surgery. I practice evidence-based medicine, using the latest research and up-to-date thinking to guide care of my patients. The other side of my professional life is my desire to contribute to our understanding of shoulder conditions through my own research. I spend a great deal of my free time thinking about shoulder problems and coming up with ways that we can improve our knowledge through scientific research. I have published many papers and textbook chapters on a wide range of shoulder conditions, including shoulder replacement, shoulder fractures, rotator cuff repair, labral tears, shoulder instability and the cost-effectiveness of shoulder surgery.