Dr. Rajendra Bhati, front center, and Dr. Stephen Stanley, back middle, with members of the surgical team at Memorial Health System. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA — Nearly 10 years ago, Memorial Health System brought the da Vinci robotic surgical system, allowing for minimally invasive procedures, better outcomes and quicker recovery times.

On Nov. 1, Surgical Oncologist Dr. Rajendra Bhati completed his 1,000th robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci system.

“Surgery is a team sport and to think I could hold any type of recognition on my own just would not be true. I accomplished this with an amazing team of people who help me day in and day out to care for this community,” Bhati said.

Robotic surgery has revolutionized how every surgical provider practices surgery at Memorial Health System. The implementation of the da Vinci is across all disciplines of the health system, including oncology, general surgery, OBGYN and urology, among others.

At the beginning of 2023, the health system celebrated 5,000 collective surgeries.

The process of implementing the da Vinci to nearly all service lines in the Memorial Health System has been remarkable for those in need of surgery.

Every team member has taken to the challenge of advancing their talent and capabilities to provide patients with world-class care that’s minimally invasive surgery that reduces hospital stays and gets patients home quicker.

Sasha Myers, robotic surgical coordinator, has been involved in the implementation of the da Vinci since its arrival nearly 10 years ago.

“I think any milestone you can reach is big. I follow a lot of robotic groups and watch them reach 100 or even 500 surgeries, and to see Dr. Bhati reach 1,000 surgeries is a tremendous accomplishment for him and his team,” Myers said.

To learn more about the da Vinci and surgery at Memorial Health System, go to mhsystem.org/Surgery.

Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit regional health system led by a volunteer board of community members.