Press

Houston to host conference on robotic surgery and surgical innovation Nov. 3-5

HOUSTON – (Oct. 10, 2011) – Approximately 300 of the world’s premier advanced robotic surgeons are coming to Houston for the 3rd Worldwide Congress of the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association (CRSA) Nov. 3 -5. The meeting is being hosted by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

“This event is bringing surgeon scientists from around the world together in our great city to discuss important surgical innovations in robotic surgery,” said Erik Wilson, M.D., CRSA president, director of Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas at the UTHealth Medical School and medical director of elective general surgery at Memorial Hermann-TMC.

The scientific meeting with be at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer Road.

Wilson and other surgeons will lead sessions on robotic applications in metabolic and weight loss surgery. Other sessions will focus on cardiothoracic surgery, endocrine surgery and surgical oncology.
Robotic surgery is the use of a digital platform system and computer enhancement technology to allow improved precision and visualization inside a patient, Wilson said. This allows a physician to do complex operations through extremely tiny incisions.

“Houston is a great city to host our international faculty, and we are looking forward to welcoming local surgeons and surgeons in training from Houston and the wider Texas region to share in our knowledge and clinical experiences,” said Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, M.D., CRSA founder and past president.

Giulianotti, one of the world’s foremost experts in robotic surgery and chief of the Division of General, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will lead sessions on hepatobilliary surgery and complex case management.

The association is offering a certification for peri-operative nurses and allied health staff focused on the basics of robotic surgery, operating room preparation and post-surgical considerations. Peter Herrera, director of robotic surgery at Memorial Hermann-TMC, will conduct hands-on training sessions, which will include docking and draping techniques demonstrated live on one of the four units of the da Vinci Surgical System at the event. For information on nurse training sessions, email peter.herrera@memorialhermann.org

Intuitive Surgical Inc., a leader in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery, reports that its da Vinci Surgical System has been used successfully worldwide in hundreds of thousands of procedures. The potential patient benefits compared to open surgery include less pain, shorter hospital stay, fewer complications and faster return to normal activities.

The association, in conjunction with Mimic Technologies, is proud to announce the first Virtual Reality Robotic Training Rodeo. This introduction to virtual reality-based robotic surgery training will be held as an ongoing competition through the event. Event attendees will compete for the title of Virtual Simulation Rodeo King.

The association welcomes surgeons, medical students, and allied health professional from Texas and surrounding states to attend the educational conference. It is intended for those with an interest in robotic surgery seeking to learn more about the latest techniques and outcomes experience, and for advanced surgeons already engaged in robotic surgery looking for a forum to share their experience and network with their peers.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for medical device companies with surgical and robotic-related devices and products to display their latest innovations. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, email Daniela Nita, CRSA director of operations, at daniela@clinicalrobotics.com.

Media Contact:
Peter Herrera
Clinical Robotic Surgery Association
cell 832-851-5301
peter.herrera@memorialhermann.org