Hartford-Based Hospital Hosts Women Physicians At West Hartford Event

HARTFORD/WEST HARTFORD, CT — Hartford-based Saint Francis Hospital hosted about 50 physicians and health care providers on Tuesday, March 10, for a networking event recognizing the contributions of women in medicine.

The event, held at the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford in West Hartford, was organized in honor of National Women Physicians Day. It had originally been scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed due to the weather.

Attendees were welcomed by Valerie Powell-Stafford, president of Saint Francis and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital. Powell-Stafford thanked physicians for their role in delivering mission-based care to the community.

Powell-Stafford also introduced Kelly Tyler, who recently became the first woman to serve as chair of surgery at Saint Francis.

The keynote address was delivered by Jennifer Perri. Perri recently led the launch of a robotic coronary artery bypass program at Saint Francis that offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional bypass surgery.

Perri is currently the only surgeon in Hartford County and one of two in Connecticut performing robotic coronary bypass surgery, according to the hospital.

National Women Physicians Day commemorates the achievements of women in medicine and marks the birthday of Elizabeth Blackwell, who became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States in 1849.