Dr. Francis Sutter has been a practicing heart surgeon for nearly 30 years. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he is currently a master surgeon at the Lankenau Medical Center, part of MainLine Health. He’s received countless accolades and honors in his years as a surgeon and while his repertoire is quite impressive, what brought us to shoot Dr. Sutter is perhaps most striking of all: his sidekick is a robot.

The daVinci Surgical System uses a surgeon-controlled console to perform complex surgeries in a less invasive way. Using this amazing tool, the doctor is able to work inside of the patient in a way using his hands would never allow. This truly amazing technology has changed the way medical professionals and patients alike view these surgeries.

Witnessing such a procedure, let alone filming it, would be amazing for any person. But in the world of medical photography, for me, this was a true privilege. The film and resulting images were the centerpiece of a charity gala celebrating Lankenau Medical Center’s 150th anniversary. Along with the debut of the center’s new logo, the night commemorated 150 years of excellence in patient care and advancements in medicine. Over 550 supporters gathered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to celebrate and view the film, which can be seen here: http://www.mainlinehealth.org/lankenaugala