New Medical Director Appointed: Derek Trapasso
By ALLEGRA LAI, LILY RAMPE, and SOPHIE ZHU
Dr. Derek Trapasso, a pediatrician who has previously worked with Massachusetts General Hospitals, has joined the Exeter Lamont Health and Wellness team as the new Medical Director this academic year.
After graduating from medical school and finishing his pediatrics residency in Albany, NY, Trapasso and his wife Nimmi Trapasso ‘94, a former resident of Bancroft Hall, moved back to the Boston area. From working at Salem Hospital in the Emergency Department and Inpatient Pediatric Unit to developing and working in MGH’s Pediatric Hospitalist Programs at Exeter and Wentworth Douglas Hospitals, Trapasso brings numerous years of medical experience to the Exeter team. He might be a familiar face to some on campus since his work at Exeter Hospital has led him to care for many folks at the Academy.
Trapasso shared some of his goals for the medical program at Exeter, especially concerning the outreach toward students and reassuring the student body that the Lamont Health and Wellness Center (LHC) is fully equipped to provide care for everyone. “I truly believe ‘Health’ requires a comprehensive approach. Physical, emotional, and mental health can be likened to the three legs of [a] stool, and when out of balance the stool topples over. However, when they are all equal, the stool is incredibly strong,” Trapasso explained. “One of my greatest challenges is getting the message out to the student body about the truly comprehensive care of the LHC. Not only are we ready, willing, and able to help you when you are sick or injured, but we are also very well-positioned to keep you healthy. As we all know, to perform at your best, your whole self has to be healthy and in balance,” he continued.
Trapasso describes his foray into the world of pediatrics and how he was particularly drawn to helping patients in their high school years. “Like most physicians, the decision to go into medicine often comes from a desire to help others coupled with an intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. As caregivers, our goal is to help our patients realize the best versions of themselves. Nowhere is the concept more relevant or important than in pediatrics, particularly in high school,” Trapasso said. “I relish the opportunity to support students during this critical time in your lives. I see my role as caregiver, supporter, and guide—and that’s what excites me every day!”
Trapasso emphasized his excitement to be a part of the Exeter community and to immerse himself into the Exeter culture that his wife was fortunate enough to experience as an alumna: “I’ve been fortunate to read the Bulletin regularly for years. I find the students, faculty, staff, and programs at Exeter to be inspiring. I am most excited to experience this for myself—to get to know the students, staff, and faculty, to experience Assembly, go to sporting events and theater performances, and to see all the clubs and groups in action. I’m looking forward to soaking it all in, and just absorbing what makes Exeter such a special place.”
