When Dr. Matthew Hutter talks about surgery, he speaks as much about people as he does about procedures. For him, the field is not only about technical precision in the operating room but also about improving the lives of patients through teamwork, data-driven insights, and a relentless focus on quality.
Now serving as Chair of the Department of Surgery in John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Hutter brings with him a distinguished career shaped at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Nationally recognized for his leadership in surgical quality and as a pioneer in metabolic and bariatric surgery, he is already channeling his expertise and vision into building on UTMB’s strong foundation and guiding the department into a new era of excellence.
From Harvard to UTMB: A Career of Impact
Before joining UTMB, Hutter served as Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and as the inaugural Codman-Warshaw Endowed Chair at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). At MGH, he founded and directed the Codman Center for Clinical Effectiveness in Surgery, directed the Weight Center, served as Section Chief in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and created and led the Department of Surgery’s Quality and Safety Program.
His educational path reflects both clinical excellence and a multidisciplinary perspective. After earning his bachelor’s and medical degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, Hutter completed his residency in general surgery at MGH, where he served as the respected “Super Chief” Resident and became one of the hospital’s first fellows in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. He later earned a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Hutter notes that his focus has always been guided by patients.
“Quality in surgery isn’t just about data and systems — it’s about people,” Hutter said. “Every number represents a patient’s story, and our goal is to learn from those stories to make care better for everyone.”
Educator, Mentor, and Builder of Leaders
Throughout his career, Hutter has been dedicated to educating and mentoring the next generation of surgeons. He has trained medical students, residents, and fellows through programs at Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Harvard Business School, and served as Program Director for the Advanced Laparoscopic/Foregut/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at MGH. His mentorship has inspired surgical leaders who now carry forward his emphasis on quality and safety in institutions around the globe.
National Leadership and Innovation
Hutter’s influence reaches far beyond his own institutions. He has served as President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and as a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
As the longest-serving Surgeon Champion of the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), Dr. Hutter has been instrumental in shaping one of the most impactful quality initiatives in American surgery. He also helped design and lead the national data collection system for bariatric surgery, now known as the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), which continues to improve surgical practices and outcomes nationwide.
Focus on Quality and Data-Driven Care
At the heart of Hutter’s academic and professional work is a commitment to advancing the responsible use of surgical data. By designing and implementing systems to measure and track outcomes, he has elevated national standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness in surgery. His work underscores the importance of learning from data not only to improve care today, but to shape the surgical practices of tomorrow.
Vision for UTMB
Now at UTMB, Hutter is focused on building on the Department of Surgery’s strong foundation and leading it to even greater levels of impact in patient care, research, and education. He emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and innovation as cornerstones of his leadership philosophy.
“Our responsibility as surgeons extends beyond the operating room,” he said. “It is about delivering the highest quality care, training the next generation of leaders, and using data and science to continually improve what we do. At UTMB, we have the opportunity to advance surgery in a way that truly transforms lives.”
With his expertise and vision, Hutter is guiding the Department of Surgery into an exciting new era defined by excellence in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and the training of future surgical leaders.