PIctured left to right: Heather Sankey, MD, Chair of OB/GYN, Holly Mason, MD, Chief of Breast Surgery, Kelly Tyler, MD, Chief of Colorectal Surgery, Rose Ganim, MD Interim Chief of Thoracic Surgery
The Colorectal Surgery Division at Baystate consists of four surgeons, one nurse practitioner, one physician assistant, and a qualified group of general surgery residents. Led by the Chief of Colorectal Surgery, Dr. Kelly Tyler, the department places great importance on engaging with citizens of the local community. Throughout the year, Dr. Tyler regularly organizes community outreach programs on behalf of her division for the people of Springfield and the surrounding communities to better educate them about improving their health.
Recently, Dr. Tyler was a featured speaker at the Baystate Health Women’s Summit at the Baystate Health Education center in Holyoke, MA. As part of a panel discussion consisting of three other Baystate physicians titled, “A higher level of Women’s Health,” Dr. Tyler discussed simple ways in which women can take charge of their health. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Dr. Tyler and her colleagues will be conducting a “Colon Health” class designed to better educate the senior community in the greater Springfield area. The focus will be on the increasing risk of colon cancer, important preventative care procedures, and general information about screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Additional community outreach efforts recently included a presentation by Dr. Ziad Kutayli, a colorectal surgeon at Baystate Health, to a local group of middle school student at the STEM Academy in Springfield as part of a Career Day event. There, Dr. Kutayli, demonstrated the da Vinci Surgical System robots and the various types of procedures it could perform. The goal was to educate students about opportunities in medicine as a future career option and to give insight into the available technology that is improving the health and lives of patients.
One program that has been recognized for its accomplishments is the Baystate Summer Academy and Summer Scholars Program. These two unique 10-week programs are offered to local college undergraduates who are interested in exploring a career in healthcare. These popular programs expose students to various aspects of their preferred career paths, which include areas such as medical research, public health, medicine, or other healthcare related fields. Dr. Tyler and her team welcome skillful candidates into Colorectal Surgery division annually, giving students a realistic day-to-day picture of what surgery entails.
Baystate Health values the communities in which we serve and have made a commitment to contribute both time and resources. These lasting relationships strengthen our communities in both health and wellness and we look forward to continuing to build on the future.