Rush Foundation Hospital Celebrates Ten Years of Robotic Surgery

Nov 15, 2018

MERIDIAN, MS - December 2018 marks the tenth year for Rush Foundation Hospital’s Robotic Assisted Surgery Program. The first robotic assisted surgery was performed on December 9, 2008, a robotic hysterectomy performed by Dr. James Purdy. This surgery was also the first da Vinci hysterectomy in the state of Mississippi. 

Since that time, over 3,700 robotic assisted surgeries have been performed at Rush Foundation Hospital. Currently, the following surgeons are trained in advanced robotic assisted surgery:

General Surgery: 
Leslie Brooks Gray, MD, Johnathan Lee, MD and Kevin Ward, MD

Obstetrics/Gynecology: 
Joseph Acosta, MD, Leslie Bender-Ralph, MD, FACOG, Virginia Carney-Nelson, DO, Fred Grant, MD, William Hamilton, DO, Daniel McKiever, MD, FACOG, Ray Myatt, MD, James J. Purdy, MD, FACOG, Urelaine Simon-Hart, MD and Elizabeth Trest, DO

Orthopaedic: 
David Pomierski, MD, Lane N. Rush, MD, Gus (Sonny) Rush, MD and James R. Watson, MD

“Rush Foundation Hospital is the area’s leader in robotic surgery with its commitment to high quality care, said Dr. James Purdy, Medical Director of the Robotic Surgery Program at Rush Foundation Hospital. “Our surgical robots take surgery beyond the limits of the human hand, introducing precise, versatile instrument movement combined with three-dimensional visualization of the operative site.”

Rush Foundation Hospital currently provides three different Robotic platforms for our surgeons to use. The daVinci Surgical System is utilized by our General and Gynecology surgeons for multiple procedures providing improved outcomes and a quicker return to the patient’s normal daily activities. In addition, our Orthopaedic surgeons use the Stryker Mako for partial knee and total hip replacements. The Mako is transforming the way joint replacements are performed by allowing healthcare providers to create personalized surgical plans for patients. The Navio robotic technology is also utilized by Orthopaedic surgeons for partial knee replacements. All of these systems provide the surgeons added precision during surgical procedures leading to improved patient outcomes. 

“Rush is committed to remaining at the forefront of technological advancements, said Larkin Kennedy, President/CEO of Rush Health Systems. “We are proud to mark ten years of leadership and innovation in robotic surgery and look forward to continuing to bring new technology and enhanced services to the patients we serve.” 

About Rush Health Systems

Rush Health Systems is the largest, most diverse health system in East Mississippi and West Alabama. With a 103-year legacy of medical innovation, quality care and service to others, Rush Health Systems is comprised of 7 hospitals and more than 25 clinics, with 250 staff and contracted physicians and 95 advanced-practice providers.  Rush is the largest non-governmental employer in the region.  Rush Health Systems includes Rush Foundation Hospital in Meridian, MS; The Specialty Hospital of Meridian, MS; Medical Foundation, Inc., Laird Hospital, Union, MS; H.C. Watkins Hospital, Quitman, MS; Scott Regional Hospital, Morton, MS; John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital, DeKalb, MS, and Choctaw General Hospital in Butler, AL.  For more information, please visit rushhealthsystems.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.