Michael G. Posner, MD, MBA, FACS
Glastonbury – 289 Western
(860) 826-4457New Britain – Kensington Ave
(860) 826-4457
SurgeryPhysiciansLocations
The Department of Surgery at Starling Physicians provides exceptional surgical care from leading, board-certified surgeons. We provide pre-surgical consultations, operate in hospital and outpatient settings, and provide personalized follow-up care.
Our surgeons are skilled in the most advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive techniques. We are affiliated with leading hospitals, including Hartford Hospital, the Hospital of Central Connecticut, and St. Francis. We also perform surgeries in outpatient surgical centers, including the Connecticut Surgical Center and Starling’s Dialysis Access Center in Newington.

Our Approach
We emphasize the traditional doctor-patient relationship. We understand that no two patients are the same and recognize their unique situations. For this reason, we take great care to ensure that our patients are informed and educated about their procedures and are committed to securing the best possible outcomes.
Areas of Expertise
- Surgery of the breast; gallbladder; colon; intestines; thyroid/parathyroid; kidney (nephrectomy); liver (resection/hepatobiliary surgery); skin and soft tissues
- Hernia repair
- Vascular access surgery
- Including VNUS closure for varicose veins
- Dialysis Care
- Open and endovascular dialysis access surgery
- Fistulas and grafts for dialysis access using advanced techniques
- Peritoneal dialysis catheter placement
- HERO stent grafts, percutaneous and laparoscopic peritoneal catheters, and percutaneous AVF creation
- Dermatological procedures
- Skin lesions
- Cyst excisions
- Port placement
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Moving News! Starting June 1, Dr. Posner and Dr. Napoletano will no longer see patients at 1 Lake Street. Their new location will be 300 Kensington Avenue.
Meet Our Surgeons
Dr. Michael Posner
Dr. Posner is a general surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive surgery. He is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive surgery from the University of Pittsburgh. He joined the former Grove Hill Medical Center in 2005 and played a role in the integration to form Starling Physicians in 2016.
At Starling, his areas of clinical expertise include management of breast diseases, both breast cancer and benign diseases; minimally invasive abdominal surgery including cholecystectomy, colectomy, and all types of hernias; and other general and oncologic surgery including skin cancer/ melanoma. He sees patients in New Britain and Glastonbury and operates at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the Hospital of Central Connecticut, and the Connecticut Surgery Center.
In addition to his surgical role, Dr. Posner serves as Chief Medical Officer. In this leadership role on the executive team, he is involved in the financial health of the organization, recruitment, IT leadership, and safety and quality initiatives. The evolving role of value-based care is an important and growing component of the latter responsibility.
Dr. Posner sees patients in New Britain and Glastonbury: (860) 826-4457
Dr. Anne Lally
Dr. Lally is a transplant and surgical specialist. She did her surgery residency at Vanderbilt University and completed a fellowship in hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation at the Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts. Since 2002, she has played a key role in the Hartford Hospital’s Department of Surgery as a transplant and general surgeon. She has served as the surgical director of their kidney transplant program since 2013. She has published extensively on the topic of kidney and liver transplantation. She lectures on transplant surgery and advances in dialysis access surgery.
Dr. Lally joined Starling Physicians in 2016 and is based in our Newington Access Center. There she provides open and endovascular dialysis access surgery, including recent advances such as HERO stent grafts, percutaneous and laparoscopic peritoneal catheters, and percutaneous AVF creation (WaveLinQ). She performs fistula and graft placements for dialysis access using advanced techniques: cadaveric veins, thigh grafts, bovine grafts, and chest loops. She also performs parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism.
In addition, she is a general surgeon at Hartford Hospital and Connecticut Surgical Center doing many procedures, including hernias, gall bladders, abdominal surgery, and procedures on the liver and kidneys.
Dr. Lally sees patients in Newington: (860) 665-7070
Dr. Robert Napoletano
Dr. Napoletano graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and completed a surgical residency at the University of Connecticut/ New Britain General Hospital combined program. He started in private practice with New Britain Surgical Group where he spent 11 years before joining Grove Hill Medical Center, now Starling Physicians, in 2001. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Napoletano’s clinical interests are in vascular and endovascular surgery, which includes abdominal aortic aneurysm procedures, leg bypass, and balloon angioplasty, vascular medicine, access for chemotherapy, and antibiotic infusions. He has advanced training in the interpretation of vascular ultrasound and is certified as a registered physician for the interpretation of vascular ultrasound.
Dr. Napoletano also has a special interest in leg ulcers, edema, and wound care. He operates on multiple skin conditions, including various skin cancers such as melanoma.
Dr. Napoletano sees patients in New Britain & Southington: (860) 826-4457
Dr. Matthew Brown
Dr. Brown is a transplant and surgical specialist. He completed fellowships in kidney and pancreas transplant at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC and multi-organ transplant at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. He has practiced as a transplant/ general surgeon with Hartford Hospital since 1997. He served as the surgical director for liver transplantation for 15 years and is widely published on this topic. His areas of interest include renal and liver transplant, hepatobiliary general surgery, and vascular access.
At Starling, Dr. Brown’s surgical practice is based in our Dialysis Access Center in Newington. In addition to general surgery, he provides open and endovascular dialysis access surgery. This includes recent advances such as HERO grafts, percutaneous AVF creation, and advanced AV grafts (thigh, chest loop, cadaveric vein). He also provides peritoneal dialysis catheter placement using advanced laparoscopy and percutaneous methods and has expertise in the surgical management of hyperparathyroidism.
Dr. Brown performs general surgery at Hartford Hospital and the Connecticut Surgical Center. He is an expert in hernia repair abdominal surgeries, and surgeries of the kidneys and liver. He is a proud Army veteran, having served two tours in the Iraq War. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious “Top Doctor” award.
Dr. Brown sees patients in Newington: (860) 665-7070
Our highly skilled surgical team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Breast Surgery & Breast Cancer Care
Starling Physician surgeons have extensive expertise and additional training in the management of breast diseases, both benign as well as breast cancer. They coordinate your care from initial diagnosis and biopsy through definitive surgery and aftercare. Our surgeons are trained in the latest, minimally invasive needle biopsy techniques to get an accurate diagnosis without a formal surgical procedure. They participate in the local/regional interdisciplinary breast team to design state-of-the-art treatment plans with other specialists, including medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiologists, nurse navigators, and occupational therapists.
Diagnoses can often be made with a simple office-based needle biopsy under local anesthesia. If the biopsy does indicate breast cancer, our surgeons can provide expert counseling on your treatment options and make personalized recommendations, connecting you to other providers as needed for complete care.
Treatment of Breast Cancer
Starling Physician surgeons have ongoing interest and expertise in the treatment of breast cancer. Once a diagnosis is made, often with a minimally invasive, office-based guided biopsy, a discussion can begin about the most appropriate treatment options. The following is a summary of the different types of treatments available for breast cancer. Please note that not all of these options will be needed for any given patient.
Surgery: the first treatment after diagnosis is often surgery. The goals of surgery are to remove the breast cancer and to sample the lymph nodes, which are “glands” in the axilla (armpit) and is the first area where breast cancer might spread.
- The two basic types of surgery that can accomplish this are “lumpectomy,” where just the tumor is removed and the rest of the breast is saved, or a “mastectomy,” where all of the breast tissue is removed. Mastectomy is often done at the same time as a reconstructive procedure to form a new breast. Many women can undergo a less radical procedure with excellent results.
- Talk to your surgeon about which of these two options is best for you and the pros/cons of each.
Radiation: some patients will be offered radiation treatments after surgery. This applies to nearly all patients having a lumpectomy and some having mastectomy, as well. The specifics of your cancer and the results from the surgery will determine whether this is the right option for you.
Chemotherapy: some patients will require chemotherapy, depending on several factors. Most of the time, this decision is made after surgery, but if cancer has certain characteristics, it may be better to have chemotherapy before surgery.
Hormone treatments: certain breast cancers can be treated with hormone pills, usually after surgery, to decrease the chance of “recurrence,” or cancer growing back or spreading to other parts of the body later.
At Starling Physicians, we have a dedicated team focused on breast health. This team includes oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, occupational therapists, a social worker, and a dietitian. Together, we provide medical and surgical treatment for both breast cancer and benign breast conditions.
Learn more about the services we provide and our comprehensive approach to breast health. To schedule a visit with Dr. Posner or Dr. Napoletano who specialize in the management of breast diseases, call (860) 826-4457.
Laparoscopic, Hernia, and Colon Surgery
Starling Physician surgeons are specially trained to perform numerous laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures. These techniques typically have the benefits of reduced pain, accelerated recovery, quicker return to normal activities, and shorter hospital stays (if one is required at all). Below is a partial list of laparoscopic procedures offered:
- Herniorraphy – repair of hernias of the groin, abdominal wall, and other types
- Colon surgery – colectomy for cancer, bowel disease, polyp removal
- Splenectomy – removal of the spleen for various blood diseases or emergencies
- Adrenalectomy – removal of the adrenal gland for endocrine disorders or tumors
- Cholecystectomy – removal of the gallbladder for infection, gallstones
- Fundoplication/paraesophageal or hiatal herniorraphy – repair of hiatal hernia and treatment of reflux disease
Vascular Surgery
Vascular surgery includes care of numerous problems with the blood vessels in the body. Starling Physician surgeons have specialized training in these diseases and their treatments, including:
- Aneurysm surgery – minimally invasive/percutaneous graft procedures for repair
- Venous ablation (“closure” procedure) – for varicose veins and venous reflux
- Carotid surgery – to restore blood flow to the brain
- Bypass surgery – to restore blood flow to the legs
- Dialysis surgery – catheters for dialysis access fistula and shunt procedures for permanent dialysis access
- Venous access – catheters for nutrition, antibiotics, and other needs
- Port-a-cath device for chemotherapy
The Vein Center
Venous disease of the lower extremities affects over 30 million people, most of whom suffer indefinitely. Leg discomfort, swelling, and varicose veins may be signs of significant vascular disease. Symptoms may worsen if left untreated.
Dr. Napoletano is our vascular vein care expert and has helped a multitude of patients dealing with troublesome veins. He performs a number of procedures that can bring dramatic relief.
- Treatment is done in the office
- Minimal or no pain
- Same day return to activity
- Typically covered by Medicare and most private insurance companies for cases deemed medically necessary
Any patient with persistent lower extremity swelling or visible varicose veins may be a candidate for the newest non-invasive treatment options. This includes post-partum patients. In addition, any patient with chronic non-healing wounds, such as venous stasis ulcers, may benefit from this procedure.
The first step in the evaluation process is a consultation usually followed by a non-invasive, lower extremity ultrasound. It is completely pain-free and is covered by insurance.
To schedule a vein screening with Dr. Napoletano, call (860) 826-4457.
Dialysis Access Care
Dr. Anne Lally and Dr. Matthew Brown work out of Dialysis Access Center in Newington. Our Access Center provides a private, outpatient setting where our team can evaluate and treat common problems associated with the catheters, grafts, and fistulas necessary for dialysis access.
Below are some common testing and treatment techniques:
- Angiography: With sophisticated equipment, our physicians are able to examine blood flow through the dialysis access and identify whether there are any obstructions or narrowing in the blood vessels.
- Angioplasty: If there is a narrowing or stenosis, a catheter may be used and a balloon inserted to open up the vessel to optimize blood flow.
- Stent: Should the vessel not open completely or become weakened, a stent can be transported through the catheter as well.
- Thrombectomy: If there is a collection of blood or blood clots blocking or reducing the flow, a balloon and/or a special medicine can be delivered through a catheter to help destroy the clot.
- Embolization: Sometimes there are extra vessels that develop and divert blood flow away from the graft or fistula; when this happens, tiny coils may be deployed through the catheter to close off the accessory veins.
All of these procedures are performed percutaneously, or through the skin, which means that there are no incisions or sutures required. Also, local sedation will be administered to ensure that each patient is comfortable throughout the treatment.
Drs. Lally and Brown can be reached at our Access Center at (860) 665-7070.
Watch the video below to learn more about our Access Center and hear Dr. Matthew Brown discuss how our surgeons make a positive difference in the lives of dialysis patients.
Anne Lally, MD
Newington – Dialysis Access Center: 505 Willard Ave.
- Building 1 | (860) 665-7070Enfield
(860) 665-7070
Matthew G. Brown, MD
Newington – Dialysis Access Center: 505 Willard Ave.
- Building 1 | (860) 665-7070
Robert S. Napoletano, MD
Southington – Main Street
C | (860) 826-4457New Britain – Kensington Ave
(860) 826-4457
1 Lake Street, New Britain, CT 06052, USASouthington – Main Street
209 Main Street, Southington, CT, United StatesNewington – Dialysis Access Center: 505 Willard Ave.
505 Willard Avenue, Building 1, Newington, CT, United States
Fax Number
New Britain, Southington and Glastonbury: (860) 229-6963
Dialysis Access Center in Newington: (860) 665-7278