Tennessee Robotics Institute
Over 7,000 Robotic Surgeries and Counting -
The Region's #1 Choice
Precision and Experience: The Upper Cumberland's Largest Robotic Program
Tennessee Robotic Institute – Leading the way in Robotic Surgery
Cookeville Regional Medical Center has a team of robotic experts who make up the Tennessee Robotic Institute at Cookeville Regional with the mission to give patients the highest quality and safest of care and get them back home with little downtime.
The Upper Cumberland’s largest robotic program
With two da Vinci Xi surgical robots and the newest da Vinci 5, we perform the most robotic surgeries in the region—over 7,000 cases completed and procedures now spanning more than seven specialties.
- Heart
- Bariatric
- Urology
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- General Surgery
- Gynecology/Urogynecology
- Thoracic
The Patient Experience and Benefits
Our robotic surgeon’s vast experience means better outcomes for you. We are performing complex procedures safely and with more precision than ever before with the robot. This means that our patients experience less pain and scarring, have shorter hospital stays, and recover quickly.
The Tennessee Robotic Institute is also home to some of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the region.
Located in Middle Tennessee between Nashville and Knoxville, our team of robotic surgeons welcomes patients from all over Tennessee and the United States with easy access to Nashville and Knoxville airports.
What is Robotic-assisted surgery?
Robotic-assisted surgery is performed by a surgeon – not a robot. The equipment is merely a tool that allows surgeons to perform complex procedures laparoscopically with more precision than ever before.
Surgeons affiliated with Cookeville Regional Medical Center and the Tennessee Robotic Institute at Cookeville Regional are specially trained in advanced robotic procedures.
Experienced Surgeons Exceeding the Standards
In order to be affiliated with the Tennessee Robotic Institute at Cookeville Regional, robotic surgeons must meet and maintain rigorous criteria including:
All the studies conducted including the NIH have shown that high volume surgeons have less mortality/morbidity, less complications, and better outcomes. There truly is safety in numbers. All the surgeons included in our Center of Excellence will meet or exceed those number of cases per their specialty.
All patients will receive a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with their surgeon and surgeons must have an average of 90% or better to stay in the Center of Excellence.
All surgeons must fall below the national average for postop infections.
All surgeons must fall below the national average for postop readmissions.
All surgeons must have a lower conversion to open rate as compared to the national average.
Robotic Surgeons
Bariatric Surgery/General Surgery/Vascular Surgery
Middle Tennessee Surgical Specialists
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery
Cookeville Regional Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeons
E-N-T (Ear-Nose-Throat)/Facial Plastic & Reconstructive/Surgery of the Head and Neck
Upper Cumberland Ear, Nose and Throat
Surgeons by Specialty
Nelda Stepp
The journey of a thousand miles may begin with a single step, but when a single step became painful for avid traveler Nelda Stepp, she knew it was time for medical intervention if she hoped to venture the thousands of miles she wanted.
Disclaimer: Physicians on Cookeville Regional Medical Center’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care. These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Cookeville Regional Medical Center. They treat patients based on their independent medical judgment, and they bill patients separately for their services.