Mega Doctor News
Healthcare technology has evolved hastily in the last half-century, with new tools emerging at a rapid rate, helping transform several aspects of medical care by promising more efficient, accessible and personalized care.
In 2015, as robot-assisted surgery continued to evolve as a minimally invasive option for patients – with Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci Surgical System being the primary platform utilized in hospitals across the country – South Texas Health System Edinburg launched its robotic surgery program as the first facility in South Texas to acquire the da Vinci Xi, which was considered the most advanced surgical robot of its time.
A decade later, STHS Edinburg has become a premier robotic surgery facility, earning accreditation as a Center of Excellence in minimally invasive, robotic and hernia surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation, a non-profit patient safety organization committed to healthcare excellence.
In 2021, the facility acquired a second da Vinci Xi system, which allowed additional surgeons to perform robotic surgery at STHS Edinburg. This summer, the facility added a third unit to its arsenal, a da Vinci 5 (DV5), Intuitive Surgical’s most advanced and integrated robotic surgical system to date.
Led by STHS Clinics surgeons Dr. Bob Saggi and Dr. Sandra Esquivel, STHS Edinburg has completed 4,245 robot-assisted procedures as of July 15, 2025, including gallbladder removals, hernia repairs and colectomies.
In the process, STHS Edinburg has helped significantly improve the health and well-being of residents in the Rio Grande Valley by offering patients requiring surgery more precise, minimally invasive options through its acclaimed robotic surgery program that lead to less pain, fewer complications, minimal scarring, reduced hospital stays and faster recovery times compared to traditional surgery.
“STHS Edinburg has always been committed to providing world-class healthcare closer to home, allowing patients to receive comprehensive and advanced care typically found in larger cities like Houston and Dallas. I’m proud that we’ve been able to leverage the latest medical technology like the da Vinci systems to improve patient outcomes, including reducing surgical complications, improving safety and shortening recovery times for patients,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg & STHS Children’s. “Our nationally recognized robotic surgery program has allowed us establish ourselves as a leader in minimally invasive procedures while delivering the highest level of care possible for residents of the Rio Grande Valley.”
To commemorate the facility’s decade of nationally recognized robotic surgical care and celebrate the program’s next chapter with the arrival of the DV5, STHS Edinburg hosted a special community event on Thursday, July 17, featuring the participation of facility leaders, community surgeons and Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr.
Along with highlighting the impact of the robotic surgery program in the Rio Grande Valley and shining a spotlight on the new robot-assisted surgery technology helping further improve patient outcomes, the event honored the STHS Edinburg’s operating room staff and the surgeons who have helped the program earn national recognition.
STHS Edinburg awarded custom-made lapel pins to the surgeons who reached robotic-surgery milestones at the facility, including Miguel Rodriguez, DO (50), Dustin Luebbers, MD (100) Ernesto Garza, ND (100), Alberto Pena, MD (100), Thiandella Diagne, MD (250), Sandra Esquivel, MD, FACS (1000) and Bob Saggi, MD, FACS (1000).
“I can’t believe how many cases we’ve performed in the last decade and how far along we’ve come since launching the robotic surgery program at STHS Edinburg. It’s an honor to work alongside the operating room staff; it’s been such a positive experience growing the program,” says Esquivel, a general and robotic surgeon with STHS Clinics. “But most importantly, we’re proud to provide the highest level of surgical care to patients in the communities we serve; as the program expands, they’ll continue to see the benefits of robot-assisted surgery, including less pain, discomfort and time in the hospital.”
For more information on the robotic surgery program at STHS Edinburg, visit www.southtexashealthsystemedinburg.com.
