Tracey A. Dechert, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery
Biography
Tracey A. Dechert, MD, is Chief of Acute Care and Trauma Surgery at Boston Medical Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine (CASM). Appointed Chief in 2022, Dr. Dechert is the first woman to be named Surgical Trauma Chief at a Level 1 adult trauma center in Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Dechert completed her residency in general surgery at the Medical College of Virginia and a fellowship in the Department of Traumatology and Surgical Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Dechert’s research interests are focused on injury prevention; health services research, including social determinants of trauma, surgical equity, and advocacy; and surgical education. In 2014, Dr. Dechert’s passions and interests led her to create Socially Responsible Surgery (SRS), which she cofounded with a CASM medical student. SRS identifies opportunities and fosters engagement in leadership, research, and collaboration in the training, development, and promotion of surgeons committed to surgical equity. The topic of surgical equity falls under a broader recognition that social responsibility and social accountability need increased attention in medicine. This includes equal access to surgical care, eliminating healthcare disparities, and increasing patient advocacy. Since its founding, SRS has grown to be a national organization, with chapters at institutions across the country. SRS chapters are committed to their local communities as well as advocating for change in underserved communities nationally and internationally. SRS empowers medical students, residents, and faculty to combine their interest in surgery with this commitment.
Education
- Temple University, MD
- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, BA
Publications
- Published on 2/10/2025
Beaulieu-Jones BR, Smith SM, Kobzeva-Herzog AJ, Nofal MR, Abou-Ezzi M, Melici M, Desai P, Fefferman A, Dechert TA, Janeway MG, Sanchez SE. Association of houselessness and outcomes after traumatic injury: A retrospective, matched cohort study at an urban, academic level-one trauma center. Injury. 2025 Feb 10; 112214. PMID: 39966000.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/6/2025
Smith SM, Kobzeva-Herzog A, McGillen P, Castagne-Charlotin M, Davies J, Sanchez SE, Dechert T, Brahmbhatt TS, Theodore S. Internalized Shame Experiences and Burnout in General Surgery Residents. J Surg Educ. 2025 Apr; 82(4):103447. PMID: 39919584.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/21/2025
Janeway MG, Cornell E, Smith SM, Buck AK, Neufeld M, Weinberg J, Talutis SD, Jreige N, Liang V, Munzert T, Dechert T, Sanchez SE, Allee L. Disparities in Rehabilitation Services for Victims of Violence. J Surg Res. 2025 Jan 21; 306:317-326. PMID: 39842045.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 12/15/2024
Smith SM, Counihan D, Stolarski A, Buck AK, Janeway M, Saillant NN, Torres C, Dechert T, Scantling D. Gentrification, gun violence, and disparities in access to care for shooting victims. Am J Surg. 2024 Dec 15; 116149. PMID: 39753464.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/16/2024
Torres CM, Myers S, Janeway MG, Sanchez SE, Scantling DR, Davis ES, Ng SC, Dechert T, Sachs TE, Kenzik KM. Exploring rural-urban differences in the receipt of nonelective cancer-specific gastrointestinal surgery using a multilevel mixed-effects approach. J Gastrointest Surg. 2025 Jan; 29(1):101858. PMID: 39419275.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/1/2024
Chugh PV, Seldomridge AN, Kester L, Rasic G, Theodore S, Sanchez SE, Dechert T, Digesu CS. Advancing Cultural Competency and Equity in Surgical Specialties (ACCESS): A Model for a Combined Resident and Faculty DEI Initiative. J Surg Educ. 2024 Dec; 81(12):103287. PMID: 39357295.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/28/2024
Berry C, Janeway MG, Dechert TA. DEI and social responsibility. Curr Probl Surg. 2024 Dec; 61(12):101637. PMID: 39647974.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/19/2024
Smith SM, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Nofal MR, Kobzeva-Herzog AJ, Ha EJ, Kang H, Dechert TA, Sanchez SE, Janeway MG. Outcomes of emergency general surgery admissions in patients experiencing homelessness: A matched cohort study. Surgery. 2024 Dec; 176(6):1703-1710. PMID: 39299850.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/1/2024
Torres CM, Kenzik KM, Saillant NN, Scantling DR, Sanchez SE, Brahmbhatt TS, Dechert TA, Sakran JV. Timing to First Whole Blood Transfusion and Survival Following Severe Hemorrhage in Trauma Patients. JAMA Surg. 2024 Apr 01; 159(4):374-381. PMID: 38294820.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/1/2024
Myers S, Kenzik K, Allee L, Dechert T, Theodore S, Jaffe A, Sanchez SE. Social Determinants of Health Associated With the Need for Urgent Versus Elective Cholecystectomy at an Urban, Safety-Net Hospital. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2024 Mar; 25(2):101-108. PMID: 38301176.
Read at: PubMed
View 57 more publications: View full profile at BUMC