On July 29, Dr. Robert Gabordi,\u00a0BayCare Medical Group\u00a0breast surgical oncologist and medical director of\u00a0BayCare’s\u00a0St. Joseph’s Hospitals breast surgery program, performed\u00a0its\u00a0first robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy.\u00a0BayCare is\u00a0among the first health systems in Florida \u2014 and the first in West Central Florida \u2014 to offer the procedure,\u00a0giving local patients\u00a0access to\u00a0advanced surgical\u00a0care close to home.\u00a0As one of only 10 surgeons nationwide selected to train\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0technology, Dr. Gabordi is helping\u00a0introduce the next generation of breast cancer surgery to local patients.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
The first patient to undergo the procedure at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital was 50-year-old Kimberley Kirtley, who was diagnosed\u00a0with stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer\u00a0in February 2026\u00a0after discovering a lump. Following her diagnosis, Kirtley enrolled in a clinical trial and underwent personalized immunotherapy followed by chemotherapy before carefully considering her surgical options.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
“From the beginning, Dr. Gabordi and his team took the time to educate me on all of my options and help me understand what was best for my specific situation,” said Kirtley. “When it\u00a0came time\u00a0to make a decision, I felt confident because I knew I was supported every step of the way.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy allows surgeons to remove breast tissue through a small incision while preserving the nipple and surrounding skin in carefully selected patients. The procedure\u00a0uses\u00a0single-port robotic technology that provides surgeons with enhanced 3D visualization, greater\u00a0precision\u00a0and increased instrument dexterity during surgery.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Compared with traditional open mastectomy techniques, the robotic-assisted approach\u00a0requires\u00a0a much smaller incision\u00a0\u2014\u00a0sometimes\u00a0as small as\u00a02.5 centimeters,\u00a0depending on the patient’s anatomy\u00a0\u2014\u00a0that\u00a0can be placed in a less visible area. For eligible patients, the technique may help reduce scarring, lower the risk of blood flow-related skin or nipple complications, preserve nipple sensation in some cases, and support quality of life and body image after surgery.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
A $400,000 contribution from St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation helped support the implementation of this technology.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
“This procedure represents the next evolution in breast surgery,” said Dr. Gabordi. “It allows us to provide eligible patients with a less invasive option while maintaining the same focus on exceptional cancer care.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n
The procedure may be\u00a0appropriate for\u00a0select\u00a0patients diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as some women at\u00a0high risk\u00a0for developing the disease who are considering preventive surgery. Robotic-assisted mastectomy is performed as a combined procedure with a plastic surgeon to provide immediate breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy, allowing patients to receive comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
For Kirtley, being the first patient to undergo the procedure at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital\u00a0made the experience even more meaningful. Having previously been treated by Dr. Gabordi, including a lumpectomy in 2019, she said she\u00a0didn’t\u00a0hesitate to turn to him again when surgery became part of her breast cancer treatment plan.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
“I’m incredibly proud to be Dr.\u00a0Gabordi’s\u00a0first patient to undergo this procedure,” said Kirtley. “Knowing it has the potential to expand options for women facing breast cancer in the future makes me grateful to be part of this milestone. I had complete confidence in Dr. Gabordi and his team throughout my journey, and I knew I was in the best possible hands.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n
As BayCare continues to advance breast cancer care, robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy offers eligible patients another innovative option tailored to their medical and personal needs. <\/p>\n
Learn more: BayCare’s Breast Health Services<\/a>\u00a0 <\/p>\n <\/a> Dr. Robert Gabordi, breast surgical oncologist and medical director of BayCare\u2019s St. Joseph\u2019s Hospitals breast surgery program, demonstrates the new robotic surgical platform that was used to perform the health system’s first robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy procedure.
<\/a> Cision <\/p>\n