Leading in Urologic Oncology: Ryan Dorin, M.D., Works on Expanding Patient Care

By KIMBERLY lucey Millen  /  Photography by STAN GODLEWSKI

When faced with choosing a path in the medical field, Ryan Dorin, M.D., F.A.C.S., wanted one that would allow him to help as many people as possible. Now, as a urologic surgeon, he treats patients for prostate, kidney and bladder cancers while working to create a comprehensive urologic cancer program for Trinity Health Of New England. 

“Because these cancers affect so many lives, especially prostate cancer, you feel like you’re doing a lot of good,” says Dr. Dorin. “It’s a field where you can help a lot of people live longer, happier lives, as we continue to add more effective available treatments offering a cure to many of our patients.”

A Common Cancer

Dr. Dorin explains prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer for men in the United States, with one in six men facing a diagnosis in their lifetime. While 40,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in the United States, he says the majority of cancers can be caught early with newer screening tests, allowing the cancer to be curable. “The main thing to know is that even though it’s common, it’s very simple to detect early,” states Dr. Dorin. “And as long as you detect it early, most prostate cancers will be cured.” He says these newer screening methods use simple blood and urine tests to identify which men are more prone to have prostate cancer, leading to earlier biopsies and MRIs to confirm the case and receive treatment.

Improving Treatments

Treatments for prostate cancer are also changing in more ways than one. The first focuses on localized prostate cancer. Robotic surgery is now making it possible for patients to go home the same day after a procedure and recover much faster. Focal ablation therapy for small prostate tumors allows for organ preservation and treatment of prostate cancer in a completely noninvasive manner. Additionally, there has been an explosion in the last 10 years of treatment options for metastatic cancer, or cases where the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. 

“Historically, those patients only had two to three years to live once we discovered their cancer had spread,” explains Dr. Dorin. “Now, new treatments utilizing not just chemotherapy, but also immune-based therapies and prescription medications, can give the patient five to 10 more years of life. We see more benefits in personalizing the treatment for the patient. They’re not just in an assembly line. They know they’re being put first and given the best possible treatment for their individual case.”

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

One of the cutting-edge, robotic-assisted surgery systems being used to improve recovery times for localized prostate surgery is the Da Vinci 5 surgical system. Saint Francis Hospital is the first hospital in the greater Hartford area with the Da Vinci 5. 

“Being part of a large, national organization like Trinity Health is special because we’re able to utilize their vast resources to provide this kind of state-of-the-art technology,” says Dr. Dorin. “Locally, Trinity Health Of New England offers a more intimate environment where everybody knows each other, making it possible to provide patients with comprehensive, personalized care.” 

By utilizing the Da Vinci 5, surgeons can shorten recovery time, reduce risk of complications and improve patient outcomes. More than 150 new enhancements have been developed on the system to support surgeons, allowing them to perform intricate procedures with greater accuracy and control. The next-generation 3D display and image processing partners up with new surgeon controllers, making it possible for the doctor to make smoother, more precise movements with the robot.

More Than Just Cancer

Assisting in more than just cancer treatment, Dr. Dorin explains robotics are helping in groundbreaking treatments for an enlarged prostate. Known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the condition affects millions of men over the age of 50. An unfortunate reality of aging for half of all men ages 51-60, an enlarged prostate impacts urinary function, making it harder for men to urinate. Without treatment, it can lead to severe health issues, including permanent bladder or kidney damage and incontinence. 

Trinity Health Of New England is the first health system in New England to offer Aquablation® therapy with the new HYDROS™ Robotic System, the next-generation platform to treat BPH. Located at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Aquablation therapy uses real-time, ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted waterjet technology, which allows surgeons to precisely target which prostate tissue to remove and which to preserve. 

“We’re very excited about the implications of this new technology,” explains Dr. Dorin. “Because of its computer precision AI platform and robotic arm, we’re able to more accurately remove prostate tissue and lessen side effects, allowing the patient to recover from their prostate surgery more easily and maintain sexual function afterward.”

Expanding Care Across the State

Though Dr. Dorin is just getting started at Trinity Health Of New England, this California native has made a home and treated urologic cancer patients in Connecticut for 11 years now. After having two daughters, he and his wife, who is from the Nutmeg State, decided they wanted to be close to family. Now, he’s excited to develop a high-level, comprehensive urologic cancer program for Trinity Health Of New England in the state they’ve chosen to call home. 

Dr. Dorin is welcoming new patients at Trinity Health Of New England’s Men’s Health Institute locations in Enfield, Middlebury and Bloomfield. He is currently performing surgeries at Saint Mary’s and will begin surgical procedures at Saint Francis later this year.

“Uniting under a common program allows us to improve care and utilize these high-level technologies we have available for patients across the region,” concludes Dr. Dorin. “We want to expand our collaboration with Yale New Haven Health’s Smilow Cancer Hospital and improve upon existing clinical trials to help find more medical breakthroughs. We’ve already seen a lot of growth in our services and network, and we expect that to continue as we attract the best people to provide treatments and services for the patients who trust us with their care.” 

For more information about urology services at 

Trinity Health Of New England, visit trinityhealthofne.org/urology. 

Kimberly Lucey Millen is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience in both print and broadcast media. She lives in New England with her husband and son, exploring all that each of the four seasons has to offer.

Stan Godlewski is an editorial, corporate and healthcare photographer based in Connecticut and working primarily between Boston and New York City.