Saint Francis Hospital Hosts Women Physician’s Networking Event
March 12, 2026HARTFORD, Conn. – Saint Francis Hospital hosted a Women Physician’s networking Event on March 10 at the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford. The event, planned to honor National Women Physician’s Day on February 3, was rescheduled from an earlier date due to weather. Around 50 physicians and providers from around the region gathered for networking and camaraderie.
National Women Physicians Day honors and celebrates the groundbreaking contributions and achievements of women in medicine, highlighting their resilience, innovation and impact on patient care. The day was founded in celebration of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States in 1849. A pioneering physician, influential writer and medical professor, Dr. Blackwell is regarded as a trailblazer, not just for earning her medical degree, but also for advocating for medical education for women.
Attendees at the Women Physician’s Networking Event were welcomed by Valerie Powell-Stafford, MHSA, FACHE, President of Saint Francis and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, who thanked the physicians in attendance for the role they play in delivering Mission-based care to the community. Powell-Stafford also introduced Kelly Tyler, MD, Chair of Surgery at Saint Francis, who recently became the first woman to be named to the position.
Jennifer Perri, MD, cardiac surgeon at Saint Francis, was the event’s keynote speaker. Dr. Perri recently led the launch of a robotic coronary artery bypass (CABG) program at Saint Francis, offering patients a minimally invasive alternative to traditional bypass surgery. Dr. Perri is currently the only surgeon in Hartford County and one of only two in Connecticut performing robotic coronary bypass surgery, further strengthening the hospital’s leadership in robotic innovation.