L+M Physician Friday — Dr. James Kelly

Dr. James Kelly still remembers the impression his family doctor made on him when he was just a young boy growing up in Rhode Island.

“He was a real interesting and dynamic guy,” Kelly recalls. “As a child, I just found him very impressive. He took care of everyone and he made people feel better. I picked up on that. I remember thinking, ‘That’s something I’d like to do when I grow up.’”

Coupled with that early childhood impression, there was one other aspect of Dr. Kelly’s youth that also explains how he eventually ended up as one of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital’s veteran orthopedic surgeons:

“I was always into sports when I was a kid,” he says. “I played a lot of baseball and a lot of football, and a little bit of basketball, so, I always wanted to do something along the lines of sports medicine.”

Dr. Kelly attended Providence College, and then went on to St. Louis for both medical school and his residency at St. Louis University. With technical skills matching his passion for helping people, Dr. Kelly found his calling in orthopedic surgery. And, with his arrival at L+M, he also found his home base of operation.

“I came to L+M Hospital in July of 1978, right out of the residency program at St. Louis University. And I’ve been here ever since,” Dr. Kelly says. “It has been a great career here, and I’m still enjoying it.”

Kelly’s career has coincided with many changes for L+M.

“I’ve watched the hospital grow,” he says. “There have been extensive renovations and expansions and a number of changes in administration. But one thing remains constant: the quality of care here was good when I first got here and it continues to be good.”

In fact, orthopedic care at L+M has advanced significantly since Dr. Kelly arrived.

Today, he says, the techniques and materials for knee, hip and shoulder replacement surgeries are better than ever, creating opportunities for younger people to stay active thanks to a replacement operations.

“Joint replacements used to last about 12 to 15 years,” Kelly says. “But the quality of the material has pushed that out to 20-plus years, so we can actually help younger people who are having trouble with their joints. Now, the process is very efficient, helping people get in and out of the hospital safely and comfortably.”

Dr. Kelly says that orthopedic care at L+M is “as good as it is anywhere,” adding that “people do not need to go to Yale or Hartford or any other place out of the area to get the best care. The surgeons we have at L+M give patients seamless care, from their first visits to the doctor’s office to surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. We’re proud of that.”

A resident of Stonington, Dr. Kelly says he enjoys golf, bicycling and spending quality time with his grandchildren.

“I still enjoy what I do,” he says. “And I still enjoy this hospital and the region of southeastern Connecticut. It has been a great place to work and live and a great place to raise a family.”

To learn more about Dr. Kelly, click here.