EDINBURG, Texas - South Texas Health System Edinburg hosted a Robotics Day & Healthcare Careers Fair for elementary, middle and high school students across the Rio Grande Valley on Friday, September 27.
Among those attending were nearly 80 fourth and fifth graders from Cavazos Elementary, Mission C.I.S.D.’s health science academy, and about 40 students from Lyford High School’s robotics program attended.
Over the last 25 years, robotic surgery has been used globally to perform a variety of surgeries, including hernia repairs, colorectal surgeries, hysterectomies and bariatric surgery. Robotic surgery is distinct from traditional surgery as it combines robotic precision with a human surgeons’ expertise.
The students were told that the advancement of robotic surgery has opened new horizons in medicine and is part of groundbreaking, technological advancements that have redefined the landscape of surgical procedures. They learned that beyond robotic surgery, technological advancements have helped improve the delivery of healthcare to patients, including faster diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
STHS’s goal was to help local students realize that unlocking their professional potential and contributing to the health and well-being of their communities doesn’t necessarily require them to leave the region for work.
The special event featured a traveling version of the da Vinci 5 Robotic Surgical System, a robotic-assisted surgery system like the two used at STHS Edinburg to perform minimally invasive procedures. Consisting of robotic arms that can be equipped with surgical instruments, a surgical console operated by the surgeon and a high-definition vision system that provides a magnified 3D view of the surgical site and helps surgeons operate with precision, flexibility and wider range of motion and control, the da Vinci robotic surgical system replicates the surgeon’s hand movements real time in laparoscopic instruments.
Additionally, the students had an opportunity to witness a procedure in the facility’s Cardiac Cath Lab, interact with South Texas Health System’s Healthcare Technology Management team to learn about the nearly 18,000 pieces of medical equipment they manage, learn how clot-busting therapy is used on stroke patients and see the advanced equipment used to help patients regain their independence in the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation gym.
The students also had the chance to learn about careers in healthcare.
The robotics demonstration was held in the Texas Room at STHS Edinburg.
