In the operating rooms at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, surgery is starting to look more like science fiction.
From behind the console of the new Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system, surgeons can perform minimally invasive procedures with precision, ease and accuracy, doubling the capacity of a program already transforming hundreds of lives across Southeastern Ontario each year.
“This expansion means even more patients will benefit from minimally invasive surgery, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. For some patients, this means avoiding a major open surgery altogether,” says Dr. Sunil Patel, KHSC’s robotic surgery lead.
The A. Britton Smith Q.C. Robotics Program has grown exponentially since its launch in 2018 and has put KHSC on the map as Canada’s leader in robotic-assisted colorectal cancer surgery. The addition of a second robotic system, with even more bells and whistles than its predecessor, means surgeons can take on more cases than ever before across many areas of care.
“Imagine upgrading from an iPhone 10 to an iPhone 16 - the difference is profound,” says Dr. Patel, “We can now move around the chest and abdomen with far greater precision, take on more complex cases, and complete more surgeries in the same amount of time.”
“This expansion represents an important step forward in our ability to deliver world-class, specialized care here in Kingston,” says Dr. David Pichora, President and CEO at KHSC. “We are incredibly grateful to our community whose generous support has made it possible for us to provide patients across southeastern Ontario with greater access to this advanced surgical technology.”
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When facing colon and lung cancer, Cathy needed two operations in 109 days.
Her surgical teams were able to perform both surgeries with robotic assistance, which meant her recovery times were quick. Cathy was home from the hospital in a few days and back on the pickleball courts 10 days later.
“Technology is a wonderful thing,” she says, “without it and the support of the people around me, my journey would have looked a lot different.”
“Technology is a wonderful thing,” she says, “without it and the support of the people around me, my journey would have looked a lot different.”
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After a successful cancer treatment, Michael Laframboise pledged to give back.
“I was as excited as you can be when facing a life-threatening cancer,” says Michael, on learning he needed prostatectomy. “I had no fears about the surgery. I knew I was in good hands.”
Since then, Michael has spearheaded the Power Of Hope golf tournament which has raised more than $740,000 for the robotic surgery program and contributed to the purchase of Da Vinci Xi.
Since then, Michael has spearheaded the Power Of Hope golf tournament which has raised more than $740,000 for the robotic surgery program and contributed to the purchase of Da Vinci Xi.
The purchase of the second surgical robot was supported by donations and future pledges through the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF). As the program continues to grow, ongoing support is essential in order to keep technology up-to-date and keep expanding into new areas of care.
“This achievement is a shining example of how community generosity drives innovation in health care,” says Tom Zsolnay, President and CEO of UHKF. “Technology investments are never a one-time effort, and we encourage individuals who want to support the continued growth of this program to donate through UHKF.”
KHSC’s Executive Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive, Jason Hann, says the expansion reinforces KHSC’s reputation as a destination for specialized care and teaching.
“Few hospitals in Canada have more than one robotic surgical system. By investing in this technology, KHSC is ensuring that patients and medical trainees in our region have access to the same leading-edge technology found in the country’s top academic centres.”
The second surgical robot is now in active use at KHSC with operating room teams beginning to perform procedures earlier this month. It is running now in parallel to KHSC’s first robot which also remains in operation.
This is the place where donations save lives.
We depend on the support of donors in our community to fund things like state-of-the-art equipment and essential infrastructure upgrades. The generosity of our donors through our fundraising partners at University Hospitals Kingston Foundation has created spaces like Breast Imaging Kingston, purchased essential tools such as thermometers, and funded projects such as the second MRI.
