FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A general surgeon at St. Agnes Medical Center in northeast Fresno reached a major milestone, performing more than 3,000 robotic surgeries.
Dr. Russell Martin, a general surgeon at St. Agnes, said the number reflects years of work and the trust patients have placed in him.
“It shows that 3,000 patients have trusted their lives with me, and it is also a culmination of a decade of experience,” Martin said.
St. Agnes Medical Center says Dr. Martin is the hospital’s leading robotic surgeon and one of the highest-volume robotic surgeons on the West Coast.
“To me, it’s just a number, but I do understand the importance of it. I am proud and honored that I can help that many people,” Martin said.
The hospital says it was the first in the Central Valley to introduce robotic surgery.
Since then, Dr. Martin, who specializes in minimally invasive surgery, has worked with multiple forms of advanced technology aimed at improving patient care. That includes use of the da Vinci 5 surgical system, which the hospital acquired in 2025.
“I see medical technology as being for good,” Martin said.
Dr. Martin has also shared his experience with other physicians learning to use robotic surgical equipment.
“I’ve actually proctored surgeons throughout the entire Valley and state, as well as across the country,” he said.
Dr. Martin adds that spreading this knowledge allows more doctors to use advanced tools to treat their own patients.
With robotic surgery, physicians at St. Agnes can manage high patient volumes while expanding access to care. The technology also helps with a faster recovery process for patients.
“Anytime you can increase your technology and advance care for better, safer, and more precise, the better patient outcomes,” Martin said.
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