Pretoria, South Africa – April 2025
In a pioneering step toward redefining surgical education on the continent, a first-of-its-kind robotic-assisted surgery training centre has been launched by the UP Health Sciences Centre for Simulation and Innovation in South Africa. This milestone is the result of a strategic partnership between Intuitive Surgical, the global leader in robotic-assisted surgery, Medhold Medical, a leading provider of advanced medical technologies, and the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Veterinary Science.
The new centre, located at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Animal Research Unit, offers hands-on, simulation-based training using Intuitive’s da Vinci surgical systems. Through the TR100 programme, surgeons are trained in the latest techniques in minimally invasive surgery, enhancing dexterity, control, and precision in the operating room.
“This marks a transformative moment for surgical education in South Africa,” said Nydia Imai, Director, Customer Training – Worldwide Indirect Markets, Intuitive. “With world-class technology and academic excellence, we are shaping a new era of surgical outcomes.”
Breaking New Ground in Transdisciplinary Collaboration
What makes this initiative especially unique is its transdisciplinary nature. By involving both the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, the University of Pretoria is fostering a collaborative model that benefits both human and animal surgical advancement.
“We are not just embracing robotic technology,” said Professor Tiaan de Jager, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, “we’re building a future for South Africa’s healthcare that is inclusive, innovative, and sustainable.”
Spin-Off Impact in Related FieldsSpin-Fields
According to Professor Ronel Herselman, Head of the Health Sciences Centre for Simulation and Innovation, the collaboration has also sparked new partnerships in areas such as anaesthesiology. “By integrating disciplines, we are strengthening the ecosystem for surgical innovation in both the human and veterinary arenas,” she said.
With five surgeons already trained in its opening week, the centre is poised to become a beacon of excellence in medical education, reinforcing the University of Pretoria’s role as a leader in healthcare transformation.
For more information, visit www.up.ac.za