The Department of Urology at Korea University Anam Hospital has been designated as an “Epicenter” by Intuitive Surgical Korea, a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery.
An Epicenter is a distinguished institution recognized for its leadership in robotic surgery and its contribution to advancing new standards of surgical practice. Through professional education and the exchange of clinical expertise, it connects healthcare professionals across Korea and the global medical community.
This designation reflects comprehensive recognition of the Department of Urology’s robotic surgery capabilities, digital education infrastructure, and clinical expertise. Korea University Anam Hospital became the first institution in Asia to introduce the da Vinci 5 surgical system, establishing a state-of-the-art robotic surgery platform. Building on experience from more than 3,000 robotic-assisted procedures, the Department of Urology has demonstrated outstanding clinical proficiency.
The department has also been at the forefront of robotic surgery education and technical exchange by operating a remote observation system through the Intuitive Hub platform. In 2025, it successfully conducted the world’s first international live-streamed prostate cancer surgery using the da Vinci 5 system. Through teleproctoring—widely regarded as a precursor to remote surgery—the hospital has shared real-time surgical procedures for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and urinary tract reconstruction with overseas physicians, showcasing both its advanced clinical capabilities and excellence in robotic surgery education.
Building on its Epicenter designation, the Department of Urology plans to further expand robotic surgery training programs and clinical knowledge-sharing initiatives for healthcare professionals around the world. The department will also actively integrate the digital capabilities of the da Vinci 5 system into clinical practice and education, including Force Feedback technology, Case Insights analytics, and SimNow-based simulation training.
“Our designation as an Epicenter is a meaningful recognition of Korea University Anam Hospital’s outstanding robotic surgery expertise and educational infrastructure on a global stage,” said Seung-beom Han, President of Korea University Anam Hospital. “We will continue to lead education and research in robotic surgery while providing safer and more precise care for our patients.”
“This designation is particularly significant because it was awarded by Intuitive’s global headquarters through a rigorous evaluation process,” said Sung Gu Kang, Chair of the Department of Urology and Director of the Robotic Surgery Center. “Over the past year, Anam Hospital has served as an Observation Center, systematically collecting and sharing feedback from visiting surgeons. This feedback has contributed to the refinement of Intuitive’s educational programs and the standardization of surgical techniques.”
He added, “This recognition reflects our sustained efforts to advance both surgical excellence and educational frameworks. We perform a broad range of complex robotic procedures, including retrograde nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, totally intracorporeal urinary diversion for bladder cancer, partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer, as well as pyeloplasty and benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. The designation acknowledges our leadership in surgical standardization and the development of structured training programs.”