Medical Conference Set to Draw Surgeons to Florida

14/03/2008

Orlando, Florida, is known for sunshine, orange juice and theme parks, but from Monday it will attract visitors from around the world for another reason. Surgeons from countries such as South Korea, Chile, Turkey, and Italy will come to Orlando to attend the World Robotic Urology conference to learn the latest about robotic surgery.

This one-of-a-kind conference is hosted by the Global Robotics Institute (GRI) at Florida Hospital, and led by the world's leaders in robotic surgery, including Dr. Vip Patel. Patel leads one of the world's most experienced robotic teams and recently accepted the appointment of medical director of the GRI.

Nearly 600 healthcare professionals from around the world are expected to attend the conference, including approximately 30 international faculty members who will teach the latest in robotic surgery.

In addition to lectures, participants will have the unique opportunity to put on 3-D glasses to watch Patel perform robotic surgeries at Florida Hospital Celebration Health live via satellite. Other live surgeries will also be beamed in from around the country.

"The response we have had from this conference confirms what we have been saying about Orlando becoming a hub for science and medicine," said Lars Houmann, president of Florida Hospital and chairman of bioOrlando, a group that aims to stimulate the life science and biotechnology industry in Central Florida. "These surgeons are coming here from around the world because they know this is the place for medical innovation and technological advances."