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Dionne Skeete is a distinguished leader in the fields of trauma and acute care surgery, whose contributions have profoundly shaped trauma care delivery in Iowa and beyond. As director of the acute care surgery division in the University of Iowa Department of Surgery, Skeete demonstrates clinical expertise, faculty leadership, and a commitment to excellence. Her work on the Iowa Trauma System Advisory Council and with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma reflects her dedication to advancing trauma systems at the local, state, and national levels. She is widely respected for her integrity, advocacy, and mentorship, and she is recognized as a tireless champion for patients, learners, and the broader health care community.  

Originally from Guyana in South America, Skeete moved to Miami, Florida, with her family at a young age, following her mother’s career in nursing. Skeete says that this early exposure played a key role in shaping her own path toward becoming a doctor. After earning an MD degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, she began residency training in surgery at Iowa, which guided her focus in acute care surgery. 

“I started with surgery and really enjoyed it,” she says. “At first, I thought it was just because I was working with great people who made the experience fun, but during a rotation in gynecologic oncology, I realized how much I loved being in the OR. The balance between the OR, clinic, and inpatient care—it just felt like coming home.”  

As a faculty member and division director of acute care surgery—which includes trauma and surgical critical care, emergency general surgery, and burn treatment—Skeete has helped grow UI Health Care’s Level 1 trauma program and strengthen a culture of accountability. She also serves on committees dedicated to assessing trauma systems structures across Iowa to maintain a comprehensive and coordinated network of care that improves outcomes for trauma patients across the state. 

“Being able to make a difference not just within the university, but across the state, has kept me engaged,” she says.  

Nationally, she serves on the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, where she helps develop standards that guide trauma centers across the country. She travels as a site reviewer, offering hospitals feedback and support to improve their trauma systems.  

“It’s extra work, but it’s fulfilling,” she says. “When someone tells you your feedback will help them improve care or secure needed resources, it’s incredibly rewarding.”  

Skeete’s research focuses on system evaluation and quality improvement. Her work has contributed to national guidelines, including research on tourniquet use, and she has participated in studies on frailty, injury prevention, and non-operative management of appendicitis.  

Through her years of clinical practice, leadership, and research, Skeete has gained a deep appreciation for the importance of collaboration. One of her most valuable lessons has been learning to see beyond her own perspective.      

“To really improve systems of care, you need input from people working in all kinds of settings and roles,” she says. “That range of perspective is what makes systems stronger.”