Texas Children's Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital hosted 3rd annual Pediatric Urology Robotics Hands-on Course

HOUSTON, March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital hosted the 3^rd annual Pediatric Urology Robotics Hands-on Course, held March 8 and 9. Sponsored by Intuitive Surgical, it was the first time this national training course had been held in Houston and the Texas Medical Center. For more information about the course, visit texaschildrens.org and mitietexas.com.

Led by faculty from Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, University of Chicago Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE), Columbia University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Henry Ford, the course was designed to help pediatric urologists advance their skills and expand their indications for robotic pediatric urologic surgery with highly experienced leaders in the field.

This course was designed for pediatric urologic surgeons who completed at least basic training on the da Vinci system through Intuitive or through residency/fellowship training. The hands-on course was held in the state-of-the-art robotic surgery training facilities at MITIE in collaboration with Texas Children's Hospital.

"We had attendees from all over the world," said Dr. Chester Koh, director of the Texas Children's Hospital pediatric program in robotics, an internationally recognized expert in robotic and minimally invasive surgery in children, and co-director of the course. "We were able to provide a hands-on experience for some of the most complex cases that pediatric urologists face to help ensure children all over the world have access to the most advanced care possible," said Koh, who is also a senior faculty member at Baylor.

"Simulation-based education has become a critical element of surgical training, particularly in robotic surgery," said Dr. Alvin Goh, director of Advanced Laparoscopic and Robotic Urologic Surgery programs at MITIE, and co-director of the course. "It was a unique opportunity to showcase minimally invasive expertise from around the country and teach others the latest developments in pediatric urologic surgery."

The next Pediatric Urology Robotics Hands-on Course is scheduled for December 2014, for more information visit: texaschildrens.org/robotictraining

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children's hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children's has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women's health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children's Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation's first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that's channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children's Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

Contact: Elizabeth Shackouls
832-771-9593
[email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital