We Are Medicine

Leading the Way to a Healthier World:
Improving Patient Outcomes Through Robotic-Assisted Surgery

When Janet Greisman came to Penn for surgery, a non-cancerous tumor on her larynx made it difficult for her to breathe, swallow, and eat. She was advised by a major medical center to have a 10-hour procedure that would have required a breathing hole and possibly cut her vocal cords, leaving her unable to speak. Instead, she chose robotic-assisted surgery at Penn, the only medical center in the world approved to perform this pioneering procedure. Under the care of Drs. Bert O’Malley and Gregory Weinstein, Greisman emerged from surgery just 22 minutes later, with the tumor completely removed and her vocal cords intact. She went home two days later.

Robotic-assisted surgery is leading to faster procedures and better outcomes for patients. As home to one of the largest robotic surgery programs in the United States, Penn is defining the state of practice in numerous areas such as prostate, cardiac, and head and neck surgeries. Among the Penn surgeons skilled in this new technology is David Lee, MD (above), who has performed more than 1,000 procedures. He has been recognized as one of the world’s most experienced practitioners of robotic prostatectomy and named one of the Best Doctors in America.

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PROMOTE HEALTH
GOAL: $200 MILLION

Creating patient-centered facilities: Spearheaded by the Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and the Roberts Proton Therapy Center, new facilities will improve the patient's experience and offer the most advanced treatments. The campaign also will raise support for patient-centered programs and care.

Enhance facilities: The campaign will support improvements at our three hospitals: Pennsylvania Hospital, Presbyterian Medical Center, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Clinical research: The campaign will support the clinical programs that will turn insights from basic research into effective treatments.