We are no longer asking if robotic surgery will change healthcare—it already has. The question now is how far technology will go. As hospitals worldwide invest in advanced surgical platforms, the shift toward minimally invasive procedures is accelerating. The robotic surgery market is accelerating toward a $15 billion benchmark by 2025. Behind the numbers is a pivotal transformation in how surgeons operate, mentor, and deliver care in a high-tech era.
In Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) has embraced this critical technological innovation. SCVH is California’s second-largest County-owned health and hospital system, comprised of four acute care hospitals and a broad network of primary and specialty clinics, serving one of the most diverse and populated multi-cultural counties in the nation. As an integral part of the County of Santa Clara Health System, SCVH integrates robotic surgery into its mission of high quality, accessible care at two flagship facilities – O’Connor Hospital (OCH) and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC). SCVH’s approach is focused on improving patient outcomes while providing surgical to the next generation of surgeons in the evolving field of robotic surgery.
Central to these efforts are three medical leaders: Dr. Thomas Hirai, MD, FACS, Director of Robotic Surgery and Bariatric Surgery, O’Connor Hospital; Dr. Catherine R. Harris, MD, MPH, FACS, Director of Robotic Surgery, Co-Chief of Urologic Surgery, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center; and Dr. Joanna Staunton, MD, Medical Director, Perioperative Services, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Their collaboration is advancing robotic surgery across multiple specialties, positioning SCVH as a program to watch in 2025.
Let’s explore how SCVH has adopted robotic surgery to enhance patient care and advance surgical training!
The Personal Journeys Behind the Program’s Growth
The rapid ascension of SCVH’s robotic surgery program is rooted in the dedication and vision of its medical leaders and surgeons. For Dr. Harris, the evolution of robotic surgery has been integral to her career. “Urologists were early adopters of robotic surgery, and I was fortunate to train during a time of tremendous growth in robotic surgery. It was also during this time that the clinical benefits of robotic surgery became clear. My desire to build a robotic surgery program was based on my conviction that our patients deserve access to surgical technology that optimizes outcomes.”
Dr. Joanna Staunton’s pathway into robotics was serendipitous yet purposeful. In 2018, she was approached by Dr. Harris and the SCVMC Chief of Urology at the time regarding the need to secure a robotic system for SCVMC. “Cancer care in Urology had become primarily robot based. From there, I learned everything I could about robotic surgery and met with my leaders to help make the robot a reality at SCVMC.”
For Dr. Hirai, the transition from traditional open surgery to robotic techniques was deeply personal and pragmatic. “During my training to become a surgeon, I learned that open surgery, despite being lifesaving, can have significant downstream effects on patients: more pain, longer recovery, intestinal adhesions sometimes leading to bowel obstruction, incisional hernias. Subsequent surgeries could be challenging, with higher risks of injury and complications. Seeing all that, I became increasingly motivated to offer patients surgery through minimally invasive access.” His pursuit of excellence led him across continents, stating, “Not only did I pursue fellowship training in Minimally Invasive Surgery, but I was also blessed with the opportunity to learn from experts in the US, Europe and Japan. This led me to hone my skills in Robotic Surgery.”
A Mission-Driven Approach to Surgical Innovation
The success of SCVH’s robotic surgery programs is not merely about technology but about aligning innovation with the mission of the County of Santa Clara, to plan for the needs of a dynamic community, provide quality services, and promote a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all, as well as SCVH’s own mission. Dr. Harris emphasizes this connection, stating, “Robotic surgery aligns with the mission of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare to provide high quality, accessible healthcare, and commitment to excellence.”
At O’Connor Hospital, Dr. Hirai and his team have deliberately built their robotics program around this mission, fostering both clinical and operational excellence. “I believe each hospital of Santa Clara Valley Healthcare is an integral part of the system. And at O’Connor Hospital, we have pushed ourselves to become an important hub for elective surgery. As such, we have strived for continuous efficiency improvement. By being able to do more robotic surgeries safely each day, we can offer minimally invasive elective surgery to more and more patients, increasing access to care to our population.”
Accreditation and Teaching
SCVH’s distinction as a leader in robotic surgery stems from its dual focus on clinical excellence and education. O’Connor Hospital made history in December 2022 when it became the first facility in Silicon Valley to achieve the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery (COERS). Dr. Hirai, recognized as a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, views this milestone as both validation and responsibility. “We are honored to be the first SRC Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery in Silicon Valley. We are in the process of renewing our Center of Excellence designation in 2025. We look at quality not just as a one-time goal, but as a continuous pursuit, and it has thus been very exciting to go through this with our team. We can also proudly say our Robotics program is at the top tier in quality compared to any program in the Bay Area.”
Meanwhile, at SCVMC, Dr. Harris plays a pivotal role in the residency program, ensuring that future surgeons gain critical hands-on experience with robotic systems. “SCVH is a prominent teaching hospital and surgical training site. It is important for trainees to have exposure to robotic surgery as part of their comprehensive training.”
Building a Program from the Ground Up
Launching a robotic surgery program in a public healthcare system is no small feat. Dr. Harris recalls the critical steps in this journey: “The key steps in starting the robotic surgery program at SCVMC were obtaining administrative approval and funding, and surgeon buy-in. Hospital and County leadership and surgeons were extremely supportive once presented with the clinical benefits of robotic surgery. Surgeons who were not robotically trained were quick to adopt the new technology to enhance their technical skill set for the benefit of their patients.”
Dr. Staunton’s role as SCVMC Medical Director of Perioperative Services involves ensuring smooth operations across multiple specialties. “We were able to hire a Robotic Nurse Coordinator at SCVMC when we purchased the robot. This has helped keep turnover times comparable to non-robotic cases and this nurse also coordinates all the supplies for the different robotic specialties.”
Milestones of Progress
Each leader can point to pivotal moments that marked a shift in SCVH’s robotic surgery trajectory. For Dr. Harris, performing the very first robotic case was especially memorable. “The very first case was an obvious high point for me. I remember the excitement and energy in the operating room that day, as it was a culmination of the significant time and energy invested by the entire operating room staff. I am proud and continually grateful to work in a hospital that values technological innovation and prioritizes patient outcomes.”
Dr. Staunton highlights a cultural shift among senior surgeons as a milestone. “Watching our more senior surgeons who did not have robotics in their residencies choosing to do robotic cases over open or laparoscopic cases. There had been some anxiety about learning a new modality. However, our surgeons took to the challenge and excelled. I am so proud of them!”
Surpassing 1,000 robotic surgeries at OCH was a landmark event for Dr. Hirai. He reflects on the celebration: “We were delighted when we collectively surpassed 1,000 robotic surgeries at O’Connor Hospital. It was an exciting moment for our Program and a great landmark. We held a celebratory event with our entire team and hospital staff, and it was very energizing to feel the strong support from everyone, from hospital staff all the way up to our SCVH CEO and our County Supervisor.”
Expansion, Equity, and Access
For SCVH, expanding robotic services is about more than volume; it’s about ensuring equitable access to advanced care. As Dr. Harris notes, “Robotic surgery employs state-of-the-art technology, but it is also standard of care for many surgeries.”
Dr. Hirai elaborates on how efficiency and innovation can directly expand access. “As the program has done more, we have collectively become more efficient, streamlining the instrument use, saving time and opening the access to more and more patients. Cost saving has been tremendous, due primarily to decreased hospital length of stay and not having to refer patients outside the system. And as more patients get treated with minimally invasive surgery, we can potentially shorten their time to return to full function.”
Leadership Advice
When asked what advice they would offer to other institutions looking to develop similar programs, the SCVH team emphasizes collaboration, data, and a commitment to excellence. Dr. Harris advises, “Identify the key stakeholders and leverage the data. Be steadfast in your commitment to provide best patient care.”
Dr. Staunton adds, “Anytime you are in a leadership position, you need as much consensus as you can get to affect change. This means constantly working on your relationships with other leaders. Once you get that, the rest is relatively easy. Specific to the robot: it is expensive, so focus where it is cost effective.”
For Dr. Hirai, the philosophy is about balancing quality, innovation, and safety. “I believe being a Center of Excellence involves the ability to reconcile many aspects of excellent patient care simultaneously: achieving excellent outcomes and tracking them, embracing technologies that can improve human life, striving for efficiency and cost-effective care, and at the same time never compromising on safety.”
The Road Ahead
Looking toward the future, the leaders at SCVH are enthusiastic about emerging trends in robotic surgery. Dr. Harris is particularly focused on expanding the scope and accessibility of robotic platforms. “We are very fortunate to be in a time of tremendous technological innovation in healthcare. For robotic surgery, I am excited to see improvements that increase its scope to benefit more surgeries and patients, and I hope to see increased affordability of robotic surgery platforms as that is the major barrier in resource limited settings.”
Dr. Staunton anticipates market shifts that could broaden adoption. “2026 will likely bring competition to the robotic market. This means more choices and potentially lower prices which will enable us to expand our service offerings. As always, deciding what to do will be a team effort.”
Dr. Hirai is particularly excited about technological enhancements that integrate AI and augmented imaging into surgical practice. “The field continues to advance without signs of slowing down. There has been progressive improvement in image resolution, and the addition of features such as tactile feedback. Fluorescence guided surgery has become routine, and new technologies are being developed. AI has the potential to contribute to making surgery safer in the future and is something to watch for.”
A Future Defined by Excellence and Access
With over 2,000 robotic cases performed at SCVMC and OCH combined, SCVH has established itself as a leader in the field. Fifteen robotically trained surgeons now serve patients across specialties including cardiothoracic, colorectal, general surgery, gynecology, gynecology-oncology, and urology. In 2024 alone, SCVMC reported a 33% increase in robotic case volume, driven by enhanced efficiency and growing surgeon adoption.
The cost savings are equally impressive, primarily due to shorter hospital stays and reduced need for outside referrals. Furthermore, robotic surgery has contributed to improved cancer care metrics, reinforcing SCVH’s commitment to quality. Yet, with demand surging, the healthcare system faces a new challenge: the need for additional robotic systems to meet patient needs in 2025 and beyond.
As Santa Clara Valley Healthcare looks to the future, its leaders remain committed to advancing robotic surgery, expanding training, and making cutting-edge care accessible to all. In the words of Dr. Hirai, “As healthcare becomes increasingly complex, it will be essential to build strong teams, to be open to listen and keep the team engaged.”
