The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System is the leading health innovator in the regional Louisiana and Mississippi area. The nonprofit Catholic Healthcare Ministry brings the top Clinicians, advanced technology and research to provide high quality and comprehensive care to everyone.
St. Francis has achieved a major milestone in surgical care, as cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Sarah Ahmad and her team successfully completed the first robotic-assisted esophagectomy in northeast Louisiana.
An esophagectomy is a surgical process that removes all or parts of the esophagus, traditionally requiring large incisions and recovery time. Using the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system, Dr. Ahmad was able to perform the operation through small, precise incisions, offering patient benefits such as reduced postoperative pain, fewer complications, and faster recovery.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Ahmad and our surgical team for bringing this level of innovation to St. Francis,” said Dr. Thomas Gullatt, northeast Louisiana market president, “This milestone further strengthens our mission to deliver high‑quality, compassionate care using the most advanced tools available.”
The St. Francis Medical Center continues to invest in robotic-assisted technologies and specialized surgical teams to bring leading-edge care to northeast Louisiana. The hospital now offers a growing list of robotic-assisted surgeries across multiple specialties, giving patients more options for minimally invasive treatment.
For more information about FMOL Health visit fmolhs.org
For more information about robotic surgery at FMOL Health | St. Francis, visit stfran.com.
