The fifth grade class at Loomis Elementary School in Broomall were congratulated by hospital staff for submitting the winning name for their new da Vinci robot at the Main Line Health Heart Center at Lankenau Hospital. Twelve area elementary schools sent in 49 names for consideration. “Doc Bot,” submitted by student Paul Bonkoski, won. In photo from left: Mary Ann Wertan, RN division coordinator for Lankenau’s Cardiothoracic Surgery, students Anastas Gjidede, Sean Grace, Zach Manley, Alyssa Myers, social studies teacher Angela Matt, Paul Bonkoski, and Kyle Kramer, vice president of Cardiovascular Services for Main Line Health.

(BROOMALL, PA, June 2008) Fifth-grade students at Loomis Elementary School of Marple Newtown Township in Broomall will hold a special place in Lankenau Hospital’s history for naming the newest member of its heart surgery team.

It all started when the Main Line Health Heart Center at Lankenau got a robot – the daVinci S-HD Surgical System. This greatest and most special robot in the world helps heart surgeon Dr. Francis Sutter, who just happens to be a native of Broomall, perform heart surgery. But, the robot needed a name.

So, the Heart Center, along with the hospital’s Health Education Center in the Community Services Department, held a “name the robot contest.” They contacted hundreds of school children, who had recently visited the center, for their help. Twelve area elementary schools sent in 49 names – but it was the name submitted by the fifth graders at Loomis Elementary that won: “Doc Bot.” According to fifth-grade social studies teacher Angela Matt, the process was very democratic. All the students had the opportunity to submit names and then the entire fifth grade class voted for the best one. “Doc Bot,” submitted up by Paul Bonkoski, was the class favorite.

To thank the fifth grade students, Lankenau Hospital hosted a pretzel and water ice party for their last day of school, June 13. Special guest Kyle Kramer, vice president for Cardiovascular Services at Main Line Health, explained how the robot helps Dr. Sutter do surgery and what to do to keep a healthy heart: exercise, don’t smoke, and eat right. He also told them a special plaque will be made for “Doc Bot” with the fifth grade class from Loomis Elementary named on the plaque as well. Unfortunately, “Doc Bot” was unable to visit the school, however, students viewed video clips of Dr Sutter and the robot in action and they will be invited to the hospital to test drive the robot at a later date. The class and teachers also received environmentally friendly reusable bags, water bottles, pens and literature.

The da Vinci S-HD Surgical System – considered the most technologically advanced robotic-assisted surgical system – is the only one of its kind in the Greater Philadelphia area, Delaware and the South Jersey region. Dr Sutter began using the standard daVinci surgical system since 2005, and the S-HD in April 2008. He is the busiest surgeon using the robot to surgically treatment coronary artery disease on the east coast.

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Contact: Frieda Schmidt, 610-526-8298

Published:6-30-2008