St. Mary's Hospital Opens New Center for Advanced Surgery with First Procedure by Prairie Cardiovascular Surgeon
June 26, 2026
HSHS St. Mary's Hospital marked a major milestone with the first surgical procedure performed in its new Center for Advanced Surgery, expanding surgical care options for patients across Central Illinois.
The procedure, performed by Dr. Yifei (Alex) Sun, a vascular surgeon with Prairie Cardiovascular, signaled the official launch of the Center for Advanced Surgery, a major investment in advanced technology, modern surgical facilities and the future of patient care in Central Illinois.
"We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone in our transformation journey," said Timothy Layman, President and Chief Administrative Officer of St. Mary's Hospital. "The opening of the Center for Advanced Surgery is the culmination of years of planning and investment, made possible through strong partnerships, leading-edge technology and the dedication of our physicians, colleagues and construction teams. Together, they have created a state-of-the-art environment that will enhance the experience for patients and support exceptional surgical care for years to come."
Dr. Sun performed the inaugural procedure and said the new center offers significant benefits for both patients and surgical teams.
"It was an honor to perform the first surgery in the new Center for Advanced Surgery," said Dr. Sun. "This facility gives us advanced technology and a modern environment that helps our teams work together more efficiently. But most importantly, it helps us provide safe, high-quality care and a better experience for our patients."
Surgeons at St. Mary’s perform a wide variety of procedures from vascular and ophthalmological procedures to more advanced orthopedic and robotic-assisted general surgeries. If you are interested in having your surgery at the new Center for Advanced Surgery, ask your surgeon about scheduling your procedure at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital.
The Center for Advanced Surgery is the second service area to be updated as part of St. Mary's Hospital's ongoing $90 million renovation project. A new helipad opened for service in 2025 and several other areas such as the chapel, pre/post-surgery areas, inpatient nursing units and pharmacy are set to open over the next 18 months.
The procedure, performed by Dr. Yifei (Alex) Sun, a vascular surgeon with Prairie Cardiovascular, signaled the official launch of the Center for Advanced Surgery, a major investment in advanced technology, modern surgical facilities and the future of patient care in Central Illinois.
"We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone in our transformation journey," said Timothy Layman, President and Chief Administrative Officer of St. Mary's Hospital. "The opening of the Center for Advanced Surgery is the culmination of years of planning and investment, made possible through strong partnerships, leading-edge technology and the dedication of our physicians, colleagues and construction teams. Together, they have created a state-of-the-art environment that will enhance the experience for patients and support exceptional surgical care for years to come."
Dr. Sun performed the inaugural procedure and said the new center offers significant benefits for both patients and surgical teams.
"It was an honor to perform the first surgery in the new Center for Advanced Surgery," said Dr. Sun. "This facility gives us advanced technology and a modern environment that helps our teams work together more efficiently. But most importantly, it helps us provide safe, high-quality care and a better experience for our patients."
Surgeons at St. Mary’s perform a wide variety of procedures from vascular and ophthalmological procedures to more advanced orthopedic and robotic-assisted general surgeries. If you are interested in having your surgery at the new Center for Advanced Surgery, ask your surgeon about scheduling your procedure at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital.
The Center for Advanced Surgery is the second service area to be updated as part of St. Mary's Hospital's ongoing $90 million renovation project. A new helipad opened for service in 2025 and several other areas such as the chapel, pre/post-surgery areas, inpatient nursing units and pharmacy are set to open over the next 18 months.
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