Surgical Associates was founded in 1966 by C. T. Thompson, M.D., Dean Hidy, M.D., Lowell Stokes, M.D., and Lester Nienhuis, M.D. From the beginning, Surgical Associates played a defining role in the enormous progress of Saint Francis Hospital. Surgical Associates helped the hospital identify and achieve its early mission: to develop an outstanding acute hospital with a regional and national presence in selected areas of patient care. Surgical Associate physicians have served as the hospital's Chief of Staff, Chief of Surgery, served on the Board of Directors, and also have served on numerous influential hospital committees.

Members of Surgical Associates have helped provide leadership on many levels. For example, during the 1970s the concept of trauma center care was formulated by the national Trauma Committee of the American College of Surgeons, of which Dr. Thompson was a member. As a result of his efforts, and those of Gerald E. Gustafson, M.D., trauma care became an area of special focus for Saint Francis and an important cornerstone of the institution’s reputation. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Gustafson laid the foundation for the Saint Francis Trauma Emergency Center, the largest trauma center in the region, and Dr. Gustafson spearheaded the expansion and redesign of the facility several years later. Roger Siemens, M.D., contributed widely to the care of seriously injured patients and headed the American College of Surgeons Trauma Committee in Oklahoma. Steven Katsis, M.D., is the Director of Trauma Services at Saint Francis.

Comprehensive care of patients with cancer is another very important area at Saint Francis in which Surgical Associates has played a major role. James B. Lockhart, Jr., M.D., served as chairman of the hospital’s Cancer Committee and as a co-principal investigator in cancer research at the Natalie Warren Bryant Cancer Center. John R. Frame, M.D., now serves as Director of the Breast Center which provides patients with the most technologically advanced diagnostic and treatment options available.