Saint Mary’s Hospital’s Wesley Kyle, M.D., Announced as Physician of the Year by Connecticut EMS Advisory Board

Wesley Kyle, M.D., Emergency Medical Services Director, Saint Mary's Hospital announced as Physician of the Year by Connecticut EMS Advisory Board. 

Dr. Kyle serves as an emergency department physician as well as the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Director at Saint Mary’s. In his role as EMS Director, he oversees the coordination and delivery of emergency medical services. His leadership in this role has led to the implementation of several innovative programs that have significantly enhanced the quality of care provided by local EMS providers.

One of Dr. Kyle's most notable contributions is the development and implementation of a Whole Blood Program for emergency law enforcement operations. Several months in the making, the program is allowing whole blood, a vital life-saving resource, to be available for law enforcement out in the field. This program brings military trauma treatment practices to civilian trauma care by allowing Dr. Kyle and other law enforcement medics to utilize whole blood during SWAT Team missions. As a former Battalion Surgeon with the Connecticut Army National Guard, Dr. Kyle understands the importance of having whole blood in the field to address the number one cause of potentially survivable death in trauma situations – hemorrhage within the truncal region. By delivering blood in its whole form, it already contains the necessary clotting factors and platelets, making it better suited for the bleeding patient, as opposed to separated components of packed red blood cells, platelets and plasma. With the launch of this program, Dr. Kyle has made a substantial impact on the survivability of trauma patients in the field. The program has also made Saint Mary’s among the first in the state to have this type of hospital based-SWAT partnership whole blood service.

Dr. Kyle's dedication to medical education is evident in his efforts to provide training and mentorship to local EMTs and first responders. He coordinates lectures and hands-on instruction on critical emergency medical processes and procedures, building confidence and competence among paramedics. His commitment to teaching extends to the implementation of a shadowing program at Saint Mary's Hospital’s Emergency Department, offering EMS professionals the opportunity to observe and learn from hospital staff during patient care transitions. In addition, on his days off from serving in the emergency department he dedicates his time to participating in ride along sessions with EMT’s in the field, providing hands-on training to educate and share his expertise with first responders.

The award was presented at the EMSPRO/FIREPRO Conference at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Thursday, October 24.