Dr. T.B. Yuvaraja, Uro-Oncologist and Head of Robotic Surgery at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH), Mumbai, was honored by Vattikuti Foundation CEO Dr. Mahendra Bhandari and several colleagues for successfully completing 1001 robotic surgeries.  

Bhandari was speaking August 29th, to surgeons at a Vattikuti Foundation event to felicitate Dr.Yuvaraja.  He told the group that what makes the medical community proud is the intelligent manner in which Dr Yuvaraja uses his experience to deliver superior patient outcomes. He also lauded how Dr Yuvaraja mentors his team of surgeons to better themselves and wholeheartedly disseminates knowledge within the medical community.

(L to R) Dr. M. Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor, Yenepoya University; Dr. Percy Chibber, Senior Urologist, Jaslok Hospital; Dr. T.B. Yuvaraja, Uro-Oncologist and Head of Robotic Surgery at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH). Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, CEO, Vattikuti Foundation is on the extreme right.  (image courtesy: Business Wire India)

“The differentiator between a good surgeon and others is the quality of outcomes,” said Bhandari.  

Eminent surgeons Dr. M. Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor, Yenepoya University, Mangaluru, Dr. Percy Chibber, Senior Urologist, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai and Dr. Santosh Shetty, COO, KDAH joined in felicitating Dr. Yuvaraja for achieving this landmark.

Dr. Bhandari told the audience that many Indian surgeons like Dr. Mani Menon, Dr. Rajesh Ahlawat, and Dr. Pranjal Modi have created new techniques in renal transplant procedures and other complex surgeries using a da Vinci surgical robot- even though the robot makers Intuitive Surgical Inc. originally thought their surgical robot would be used mainly for cardiac surgeries.  He added that India is home to the largest number of doctors, engineers and software professionals in the world, it can easily reclaim its ancient position as the knowledge hub of the world.  Eminent surgeons have urged India to improve its knowledge creation efforts- especially in medicine relevant to its social, cultural and economic conditions.

"New knowledge creation capabilities that take into account extremes of disease and economic disparities in India will significantly improve patient outcomes.  And those creating the new knowledge will become role models for others," said Dr. Mahendra Bhandari, who besides being at the helm of the Vattikuti Foundation serves as Director of Robotic Surgery Research & Education, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit.  “When peers adopt technology created by you, it is an evidence of your knowledge as a professional,” he said to the surgeons gathered in Mumbai.

All of us at the Vattikuti Foundation extend our congratulations to Dr. T. B. Yuvaraja for this honor.  We thank him again for all he has done to mentor other surgeons and safely share the knowledge of robotic surgery.  

Compiled from news wire reports.