Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has expanded its robotic surgery program with the arrival of a second surgical robot, strengthening its role as a national leader in advanced surgical care.
Thanks to the generosity of community donors, KHSC can now nearly double the number of robotic-assisted surgeries performed each year, improving access for patients across southeastern Ontario.
“This expansion means more patients will benefit from minimally invasive surgery, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries,” says Dr. Sunil Patel, KHSC’s robotic surgery lead. “The new system allows us to take on more complex cases, and ultimately, it means patients here in Kingston have access to the same technology you’d find at the top academic hospitals in Canada.”
Since introducing the A. Britton Smith Q.C. Robotics Program in 2018, KHSC has grown from about 130 procedures in its first year to more than 400 annually. Initially focused on urology, the program has steadily expanded to include colorectal, gynecologic, and thoracic surgery.
Today, KHSC is recognized as Canada’s leader in robotic-assisted colorectal cancer surgery.
The addition of a second surgical robot is particularly meaningful for prostate cancer survivor Mike Laframboise. In 2019, he was one of the first patients to undergo surgery using KHSC’s initial robot. He said the results were amazing.
“I experienced more pain when I had my tonsils taken out when I was 19 than I did with my prostate cancer surgery,” says Mike. “I was walking the next morning. The doctors gave me some painkillers, and I took one because they said I should. But I didn’t need them, so I stopped.”
Grateful for the care he received, Mike made a lifelong pledge to support KHSC’s robotics program. He helped launch the Power of Hope Golf Tournament, which has since raised significant funds for robotic surgery. When the possibility of a second robot became real, Mike and his fellow organizers committed to further raising $500,000 over three years to help make it happen.
“For me, this was about giving back after having my life saved,” Mike explains.
Another major community supporter of the second surgical robot is B’nai Brith Kingston.
“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,” says Dr. David Pichora, KHSC President and CEO.
The new robot, a Da Vinci XI surgical system, represents a major leap forward in technology compared to KHSC’s first robot that was purchased.
“It’s like upgrading your phone 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.”
As technology in surgical care continues to advance, ongoing community support will be essential to ensure KHSC’s robotic surgery program remains at the leading edge. Technology investments are never a one-time effort, and KHSC health care officials hope the community will continue to donate and support the program so it can keep pace with innovation and bring the best care to patients.