St. Mary students get up-close look at surgical robot they named 'Wally'
GAYLORD — The students in Rachel Koronka's second grade class at St. Mary Cathedral School in Gaylord were not making the usual field trip when they went over to Munson Otsego Memorial Hospital in March.
In addition to introducing the students to a surgical team, the hospital was welcoming them for a hands-on demonstration of the Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot.
Following the demonstration, students were invited to submit names for the robot. On May 1, the robot was officially christened "Wally" and members of the surgical team came to St. Mary to provide the students with pizza and to thank them for their participation.
The idea to involve the students started with nurse Nisa Curtis, who has a son that attends St. Mary. Curtis said the hospital (OMH) acquired its first robot back in 2017 and around 2020 considered the idea of allowing students to check it out and name the machine. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that from happening.
Earlier this year, Curtis reached out to St. Mary Principal Heather Glasby who endorsed the idea.
"They were very excited about seeing the robot. They got to play with the arms and all of the medical tools," said Glasby.
"They were happy to come over and we did a color the robot picture where each kid would color in a robot and help to choose a name. The surgical staff voted and chose the name (Wally) they liked," Curtis added.
Curtis said the Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot allows surgeons to complete precise and intricate procedures during operations on a gallbladder, hernia or prostate.
"Once the robot is set up and docked for the procedure the surgeons go to a console. It is like a big video game as the surgeon places his/her head inside and receives a visualization that provides them with the best view in the house," she said.
Intuitive Surgical Inc. makes the Da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot and the company said in over three decades the system has been used in over 14 million procedures. Curtis said it produces a better outcome for most patients.
"The visualization cannot be beat and patients generally report less pain and many are discharged on the same day of the procedure," she said.
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Catherine Dewey, of Munson Healthcare's corporate communications department, said the Northern Michigan system is always looking for ways to increase community involvement.
"Munson wants to be out in the community and wants students to get excited about the medical field. We thought this was a great opportunity to get a closeup of the surgical side of things and to observe what doctors and a surgical team do," she said.
Even though the students are in the second grade, Glasby hopes the exposure will lead some to consider a health care career down the road.
"I hope they got to see some job opportunities that maybe they weren't thinking about before," she said.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: St. Mary students get up-close look at surgical robot 'Wally'
