SARASOTA, Fla. (Sept. 20, 2023) – Sarasota Memorial Health Care System celebrated its 15,000th surgery utilizing da Vinci robots at its Sarasota campus today, a medical milestone that has helped Suncoast patients achieve better outcomes with minimally invasive techniques.
In the 1990s, surgeons at SMH helped pioneer robotic surgery, participating in clinical trials that would shape the technology, protocols and training for surgeons across the globe. In 2006, SMH deployed the first commercially available da Vinci surgical robot in Florida, and has remained on the forefront of minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques ever since.
“Robotic surgery is part of Sarasota Memorial’s commitment to providing top-of-the-line care, allowing our patients access to emerging technologies,” said Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD, who was one of the first three surgeons trained to use robotics at SMH. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to be trained in the latest robotics techniques, and we can now celebrate 15,000 procedures helping our patients.”
Today, more than 50 surgeons are utilizing da Vinci and other surgical robotic systems at Sarasota Memorial’s Sarasota and Venice campuses and Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. SMH’s robotic surgeons are among the most experienced in the nation, offering the widest range of specialties and robotic procedures available, from general surgery and gynecological and urological procedures, to colorectal, gastrointestinal, heart, thoracic and cancer surgery.
Sarasota Memorial's robotic surgery program has grown to include: seven of the latest generations of da Vinci surgical robots; ROSA, the innovative robotic surgical assistant used in hip and knee replacements; and dedicated robotic surgical suites with integrated operating rooms equipped with the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical tools available.
“We are looking forward to the continued advancement of robotic procedures, and bringing those technologies to our patients,” Fiorica said. “We have seen how this program benefits our region, and look forward to the next 15,000 procedures.”
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional referral center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with more than 1 million patient visits each year across its 2 hospital campuses, freestanding ER, and network of outpatient care centers. Its flagship 901-bed Sarasota hospital has been consistently recognized as one of the nation’s best, with superior patient outcomes and comprehensive network of outpatient. The public health system opened its second acute-care hospital, SMH-Venice, in November 2021 to serve the growing south Sarasota County region. For information, visit smh.com.