Saint Mary’s Health Care Announces Major Donation for new Surgery Center

Grand Rapids, MI. Saint Mary’s Health Care has received a major donation for the establishment of a Center for Advanced Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Saint Mary’s President and CEO Phil McCorkle announced today. 

“We are so pleased to announce that Tom and Mickie Fox and their family have made a contribution of $1 million to establish the Tom and Mickie Fox and Family Center for Advanced Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery.  This is the wave of the future in surgical procedures because minimally invasive surgery means smaller incisions, significant reduction in risk of infection, faster healing, and shorter hospital stays, and less dependence on pain relieving drugs. This is a very attractive option for patients.”

Minimally invasive surgical techniques sometimes require the use of a robot, such as the DaVinci, which is currently being utilized for prostate surgery at Saint Mary’s. Though it has been primarily used in Grand Rapids for urological surgery, the DaVinci robot also has applications for thoracic and gynecological surgery. “The possibilities for new applications in minimally invasive and robotic surgery are very promising.  This significant gift from the Fox family will open up the opportunity for physicians to be trained on the DaVinci and other robotic devices for surgery that is currently not available in Grand Rapids,” continued McCorkle.

“We are so happy to be able to give back to the community that has given so much to our family,” commented Tom Fox. “It is a joy to know that our gift will help so many people.”

Timothy Fitzgerald, MD, medical director of surgical oncology at The Lacks Cancer Center, states, “This generous gift from the Fox family will allow us to strengthen our commitment to minimally invasive surgery.  We have been a leader in minimally invasive surgery for years; because of the donation from the Fox family, we will now be able to advance our efforts to the next level.  This also allows us to advance the possibilities of other applications, such as thoracic surgery, and will enable us to help many more patients.”

The Tom and Mickie Fox and Family Center for Advanced Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery will be located in Saint Mary’s main hospital building in a specially designed surgical suite, “until we grow beyond the need for one suite,” continued Fitzgerald.