Gillian Alex, MD, has been appointed to serve as director of robotic surgery and education. Under her leadership, Rush hospitals in Chicago, Oak Park and Aurora can offer robotic surgery to more patients than ever before while educating the next generation of robotic surgeons.
Alex began as a cardiothoracic attending physician in 2020, performing robotic surgery at Rush University Medical Center and Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora. Alex was an integral part of launching the thoracic robotic program at Silver Cross Hospital, a partner with the Rush Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
Alex received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She is a graduate of the Rush general surgery residency program, as well as the Rush cardiothoracic surgery fellowship program.
For nearly two decades, Rush has offered minimally invasive robotic surgery through what is now the Rush Robotic Surgery Program — reducing recovery times and post-procedure pain in a wide variety of surgical specialties.
The Robotic Surgery Program advances robotic surgical techniques in many different specialties and procedures, including:
- General surgery: gastric bypass, duodenal switch, sleeve gastrectomy, gallbladder removal, hernia repair
- Surgical oncology: liver, pancreas, stomach and spleen procedures
- Urinary and gynecology: Bladder, ureter, prostate, uterine and ovarian procedures; fibroid removal; endometriosis; pelvic floor dysfunction repair
- Cardiothoracic: lung and esophageal cancer surgeries, hiatal hernia repairs, and mediastinal procedures
- Colorectal surgery: full spectrum of colonic and rectopexy procedures
- Ear, nose and throat: intraoral cancer, sleep apnea
- Orthopedic: hip and knee replacement revision
- Combined procedures: robotic surgeons from multiple specialties performing procedures on the same patient in a single surgical event
The program brings surgeons and technicians together from across our system to ensure patients get the best experience possible, no matter where their procedure is performed. This includes the vital work of our perioperative services team, who streamline cases and optimize schedules to maximize access to robotic surgical care.
Every scrub technician and nurse working in the operating room gets special training in assisting with robotic cases. With a fleet of advanced surgical robots and multiple operating rooms specialized for robotic surgery, our surgeons are well-equipped with the latest technology available.
The Robotic Surgery Program is also dedicated to training the next generation of robotic surgeons. Rush training programs include unrestricted access to robotic surgery simulations. Rush incorporates robotic surgery into surgical rotations, including widespread use of dual-console robotic surgery, enabling surgeon proctors and students to collaborate on surgical cases.
Rush has long been a pioneer in robotic surgery, including being one of the first to use robotics in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. The team continues in this tradition by researching how to make robotic surgery more effective — whether reducing complication rates, ensuring availability for more procedures or increasing access for patients. Rush physicians present cases at local and national meetings, ensuring people around the country can benefit from their expertise.
Learn more about the Rush Robotic Surgery Program.
