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INFORMATION FOR

David Colen, MD

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Assistant Professor of Surgery (Plastic)

Appointments

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Primary

Titles

Faculty, Yale Limb Restoration and Lengthening Program; Acting Fellowship Director, Hand and Microsurgery, Hand and Microsurgery Program; ASSH Resident Education Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Meeting Program Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Young Member Steering Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Editorial Board Member, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

About

Titles

Assistant Professor of Surgery (Plastic)

Faculty, Yale Limb Restoration and Lengthening Program; Acting Fellowship Director, Hand and Microsurgery, Hand and Microsurgery Program; ASSH Resident Education Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Meeting Program Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Young Member Steering Committee, Hand and Microsurgery Program; Editorial Board Member, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Biography

Dr. David Colen is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine who specializes in upper and lower extremity reconstruction. Dr. Colen is fellowship-trained in Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, and has a passion for treating a variety of congenital and acquired disorders of the hand and wrist as well as traumatic and oncologic defects of the extremities.

Dr. Colen attended the University of Virginia where he obtained undergraduate degrees in Neuroscience and Spanish linguistics, as well as his Doctor of Medicine. He then matriculated into the integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania, a program renowned for Reconstructive Microsurgery and Orthoplastic Surgery. At Penn, Dr. Colen was an active member of the Hand Transplantation Program who took part in three bilateral hand transplants, including the world's first and only bilateral pediatric hand transplant, during his tenure. Following residency, Dr. Colen completed a one-year fellowship in Hand and Microsurgery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children's Hospitals at Harvard Medical School, where he focused on adult orthopedic and congenital pediatric hand surgery as well as reconstructive microsurgery of the extremities.

Dr. Colen strives to obtain the best functional outcomes for his patients, and is committed to both patient care and the furthering of the field of reconstructive surgery through academic and clinical research. The author of various textbook chapters and research articles regarding hand and extremity reconstruction, Dr. Colen's research interests include optimizing outcomes following traumatic and congenital hand reconstruction and improving hand function after tendon injury or infection.

Appointments

  • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

    Assistant Professor
    Primary

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow - Hand and Microsurgery
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School (2020)
Resident - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Intern - Surgery
University of Pennsylvania (2014)
MD
University of Virginia, School of Medicine (2013)
BA
University of Virginia, Neuroscience, Spanish (2009)

Research

Overview

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Hand; Hand Deformities; Hand Deformities, Acquired; Hand Deformities, Congenital; Hand Injuries; Lower Extremity; Microsurgery; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Tendon Injuries; Tendon Transfer; Tendons; Upper Extremity; Upper Extremity Deformities, Congenital

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of David Colen's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

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Academic Achievements and Community Involvement

  • activity

    Reviewer

    Journal ServiceJournal of Hand Surery
  • activity

    Reviewer

    Journal ServiceJournal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
  • activity

    Member

    CommitteesYale Children's Hospital, Patient Experience
  • activity

    Committee Member

    Professional OrganizationsAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand, Ethics and Professionalism Committee
  • activity

    Editorial Board Member

    Journal ServiceOrthoplastic Surgery Journal
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Clinical Care

Overview

David L. Colen, MD, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in hand surgery and extremity reconstruction.

The best part of his job, Dr. Colen says, is restoring form and function to his patients, particularly to their hands.

“We all use our hands in our daily lives. The hand is a sensory organ that gives us information about our surroundings through touch, and also an implement for our brain to interact with our environment and carry out important tasks such as feeding ourselves, doing manual labor, tying our shoes, and so much more,” he says. “The hand is also a key component of communication that it is used not only for gesticulation and sign language, but also for typing and writing.”

Dr. Colen respects the complexity of the hand, which includes nerves, arteries, veins, muscles, tendons, and bones all within a small and intricate architecture. “As a hand surgeon, there is no problem too simple or too complex for me to treat, because for me, the challenge is not whether I can fix it—it’s whether I can help the patient return to their desired lifestyle and enjoy a happy and fulfilling life,” he says.

Dr. Colen treats conditions that are congenital (present at birth) or acquired as a result of trauma, infections, or cancer treatment. He is also skilled at lower extremity reconstruction and in using microsurgical techniques to transfer soft tissue in order to preserve and salvage limbs.

During his training, Dr. Colen participated in a series bilateral hand transplants, including the world’s first pediatric case. His research interests include methods of optimizing outcomes following traumatic and congenital hand reconstruction, and improving hand function after tendon injury or infection.

Clinical Specialties

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Hand Surgery; Microvascular Hand Surgery

Fact Sheets

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Board Certifications

  • Plastic Surgery

    Certification Organization
    AB of Plastic Surgery
    Original Certification Date
    2021

Yale Medicine News

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Contacts

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Appointment Number
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Locations

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