Setting the Standard for Surgical Care at Saint Francis Hospital: How Kelly Tyler, M.D., and a Multidisciplinary Team Are Advancing Surgery in Connecticut

Setting the Standard for Surgical Care at Saint Francis Hospital

How Kelly Tyler, M.D., and a Multidisciplinary Team Are Advancing Surgery in Connecticut

At Saint Francis Hospital, surgery is about more than procedures. It is about people, precision and a commitment to delivering the highest level of quality care to the community. That philosophy guides the surgical department, where expertise across specialties, advanced technology and a deeply human approach come together every day in operating rooms throughout the hospital. Now led by Kelly Tyler, M.D., chair of Saint Francis Hospital’s Department of Surgery, this team is building on a long-standing reputation for excellence while continuing to grow and evolve to meet the needs of today’s patients. “What stood out to me immediately was the people,” Dr. Tyler says of her decision to come to Saint Francis. “There is a culture here where providers truly care about patients and about each other. That is something worth protecting and strengthening.”

A Department Built on Collaboration and Depth 

Surgical services at Saint Francis encompass a wide range of specialties, including acute care and trauma, bariatric, breast, cardiac, colorectal, ENT, endocrine, general, neurosurgery, ophthalmologic, orthopedic, plastic, podiatry, oncology, thoracic, urologic, and vascular. Many of these specialists perform procedures using cutting-edge robotic technology. A multidisciplinary approach allows patients to receive coordinated, comprehensive care, whether they are facing a complex cancer diagnosis or an unexpected surgical emergency. Dr. Tyler brings decades of experience as a colorectal surgeon and academic leader, most recently serving as division chief of colorectal surgery at UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate. Her background in clinical innovation, quality improvement and physician leadership aligns closely with the department’s mission. “Patients do best when teams communicate well and work together,” she explains. “That collaboration is one of the strengths of this department.”

Leadership Rooted in Experience and Quality

Dr. Tyler’s path to leading a major surgical department reflects years of training, leadership and a sustained connection to Connecticut. A native of Bristol, she spent part of her childhood there and then in the state’s rural northwest corner, experiences that shaped her early understanding of community care. “I grew up seeing very different types of communities,” Dr. Tyler adds. “That stays with you when you think about how people access care and what they need from their providers.” 

She earned her undergraduate degree at Colgate University before returning to the Nutmeg State for medical school at University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Her training then took her around the Northeast, including a general surgery residency at Boston University Medical Center and a colorectal surgery fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey. Looking back, she says each stage of training added a new layer to her perspective. “You learn the technical side of surgery, but you also learn how teams work and how systems can successfully support patients.”

The Path Back Home

Although much of her career took place outside Connecticut, Dr. Tyler says her connection to the state never faded away. She rotated through Saint Francis as a medical student and retained strong professional and personal ties to the region. “I still had family members who worked here at the hospital, and even more who were cared for here as patients,” says Dr. Tyler. When the opportunity arose to lead the surgery department, the decision felt natural. “I loved what I saw here. The team, the culture, the people. It felt like a place where there was real opportunity to grow the department.” 

Prior to coming home to Connecticut, Dr. Tyler spent 18 years up I-91 in Springfield, where she worked as a colorectal surgeon and held a variety of leadership roles. She was division chief of colorectal surgery for 10 years, serving on numerous committees focused on quality, safety and clinical operations. Throughout that time, she remained deeply involved in patient care and education. “I have always felt it is important to stay connected to clinical work,” she says. “That is how you understand what patients and providers are really experiencing.”

Meeting Patients Where They Are

In the surgical department at Saint Francis Hospital, emphasizing continuity of care and long-term relationships are top priorities. This is especially true in areas like colorectal surgery, Dr. Tyler’s specialty, where patients may be followed for years or even decades due to chronic conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. 

Attention-grabbing headlines like the rising rates of colorectal cancer in younger adults have the entire medical world searching for answers. Researchers are working swiftly to find the cause. In the meantime, “education is everything,” says Dr. Tyler. “When patients know when to seek care, we can often make a meaningful difference. Many people dismiss symptoms like rectal bleeding or persistent abdominal pain; when they don’t seek help, we may see them at a more advanced stage of cancer. We want to encourage everyone to understand that doctors have expertise and are comfortable talking about these things, and finding help is always the safest way to go.”

Quality, Research and Education at the Core

Beyond patient care, members of the department are actively engaged in clinical research, contributing to national efforts to better understand surgical disease and improve evidence-based treatment. Surgeons also play a key role in educating future physicians through mentorship, teaching and academic partnerships. This commitment to quality and learning is central to Dr. Tyler’s leadership philosophy. “Our responsibility is not just to treat today’s patients, but to continuously improve how care is delivered. That means following evidence, measuring outcomes and never losing sight of the human experience.” 

Dr. Tyler’s involvement at the national level reinforces the importance of education, evidence-based care and collaboration. “Whether you are caring for patients locally or working nationally, the goal is the same,” she continues. “You want to make things better for patients and for the physicians caring for them.” Those principles now guide her leadership at Saint Francis as she brings decades of experience back to a department focused on quality, compassion and community trust.

Technology that Supports Better Outcomes

Saint Francis has invested heavily in advanced surgical technology, including an expanding robotic surgery program and minimally invasive techniques that can reduce pain, shorten recovery times and improve outcomes. From procedures addressing fecal incontinence to complex oncologic surgeries, surgeons across the department are using state-of-the-art tools to deliver precise, patient-centered care. “Watching the expansion of the robotics program has been very exciting,” adds Dr. Tyler. “One of the things that impressed me the most here has been the support of our administration to grow technologically. It allows us to offer the safest and most effective options to our patients.”

A Promise to the Community

As the surgical department continues to grow, Dr. Tyler hopes the community understands the breadth of expertise available at Saint Francis and the values that guide every surgical decision. “We want people to know this department delivers care with empathy, respect and the highest standards of quality. I take it personally to ensure that anyone in this state would consider Saint Francis a place they can trust for surgical care.” 

This patient-centered approach extends beyond the operating room. Through education, thoughtful communication and a commitment to meeting patients where they are, the surgical department reflects Saint Francis Hospital’s mission to care for the whole patient: mind, body and spirit.

Learn more about surgical services at Saint Francis Hospital at trinityhealthofne.org/surgery.

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.