Saint Francis Hospital Cardiac Surgeon Releases Memoir
HARTFORD, Conn. (February 14, 2025) – Surendra K. Chawla, M.D., a celebrated cardiac surgeon at Saint Francis Hospital, recently released a memoir entitled, When Persistence and Providence Joined Hands: One Cardiac Surgeon’s Journey. Dr. Chawla held a book signing event at Saint Francis on Wednesday.
In his memoir, Dr. Chawla traces his life from the age of five, when he escaped violent massacres during the Partition of India and Pakistan. He reflects on his childhood with his loving family, his challenging studies in India and the United States, and how he rose to success, building a world-class cardiac facility in Hartford, where he also raised his family. When Persistence and Providence Joined Hands asks a question we all face – is life predetermined by an unknown power or does it proceed with a combination of luck and determination?
In his over 40 years at Saint Francis, Dr. Chawla was an instrumental part of developing the hospital’s award-winning cardiac facility, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute. He has been named a top doctor in Connecticut and in 2019, he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from Saint Francis. Since moving to the greater Hartford area in 1971, Dr. Chawla and his wife, Ranjana, have been dedicated philanthropists who have volunteered countless hours for a variety of community organizations.
Dr. Chawla was joined by family, friends, and colleagues from throughout his tenure at Saint Francis for his book signing event. Copies of When Persistence and Providence Joined Hands: One Cardiac Surgeon’s Journey are available for purchase at the Auxiliary Gift Shop at Saint Francis or on Amazon. All proceeds will benefit the hospital’s Enhancing Patient and Family Experience Initiative.
About Saint Francis Hospital
Saint Francis Hospital has been an anchor institution in Connecticut since 1897. Saint Francis is a member of Trinity Health Of New England and Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Saint Francis Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center, is a 617-bed hospital, a major teaching hospital, and the largest Catholic hospital in New England. Other Saint Francis entities include the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center, the Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, the Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute of Connecticut, the Smilow Cancer Hospital Yale-New Haven at Saint Francis, Trinity Health Of New England Medical Group, and Community Health and Well Being, which includes the Curtis D. Robinson Center for Health Equity, the Joan C. Dauber Food Pantry, and the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SaintFrancisCT