November 22, 2018

Thursday, November 22, 2018 – HAMILTON, ON – Today, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton announced it is home to Canada’s first orthopaedic surgical robot, the MAKO Rio Surgical Robotic System. The purchase of the robot – which until now has only been available outside of Canada – will be used with knee replacement surgery patients and will expand to include research into hip replacement and other orthopaedic surgical needs. It is the first step toward the creation of an Orthopaedic Robotic Surgery Centre at St. Joe’s.

“For decades, St. Joe’s has been a leader in the field of robotic surgery,” said Ms. Winnie Doyle, Interim President of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “We are home to Canada’s first robotic surgery, the world’s first tele-surgery, and we are internationally recognized for our leadership in urologic and chest robotic surgery through the Boris Family Centre for Robotic Surgery. With the addition of the orthopaedic robot a whole new frontier of robotic research will benefit patients in Hamilton, across Canada, and beyond.”

In Canada, arthritis is the second most common chronic illness. And in Hamilton, 1 in 5 Hamiltonians are affected by this debilitating condition. More than 1,800 arthritis patients from across the region visit St. Joe’s each year for orthopaedic surgery with 600 patients undergoing hip or knee surgeries annually. There are many other patients that rely on St. Joe’s Fracture and Orthopaedic Clinic from across the city and region.

“Arthritis is very common, and care and treatment for arthritis has not progressed as far as in some other fields of medicine,” explained Dr. Anthony Adili, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chief of Surgery at St. Joe’s. “With the research that is on the horizon with the orthopaedic robotic system, we anticipate uncovering new approaches to arthritis and other orthopaedic surgical treatments. We believe we now have new opportunities for operating on the knee, and that we will see even more positive, long-term benefits for patients.”

The purchase of this leading-edge technology is the result of a truly made-in-Hamilton story. The catalyst to the project was a $1 million donation from a proud Hamilton couple. An investment through the City of Hamilton’s Hamilton Future Fund, support from Stryker, the orthopaedic robotic technology owner with its Canadian headquarters in Hamilton, and donations from other grateful St. Joe’s patients and community members, collectively brought the latest surgical technology and the promise of transformational research findings to Canada.

“It is an honour to witness so many people and organizations provide support in order to bring Canada’s first orthopaedic robot to St. Joe’s Hamilton and to know that because of philanthropy our Hospital will continue to lead the way with innovative robotic research,” shared Ms. Sera Filice-Armenio, President and CEO, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation. “Members of the community, municipal government, industry partners and St. Joe’s have all come together so patients – present and future – will benefit.”

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About The City of Hamilton, Hamilton Future Fund
Created in 2002 when Hamilton Hydro was sold, the Hamilton Future Fund provides funding to create and protect a permanent legacy for current and future generations of Hamiltonians to enjoy economic prosperity and improved quality of life.

About St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and its Foundation:
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is an acute care, teaching and research hospital with three sites and is affiliated with the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University and Mohawk College. The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton was established in 2014 and, recognized as a research hub, has been named one Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals for seven years in a row. For more information, visit: www.stjoes.ca. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation raises and stewards funds to support exemplary patient care, research, equipment and education at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and in the communities we are honoured to serve. Since 1970, the Foundation has reached out to the community for donations, big and small, to help our Hospital acquire new equipment, fund patient care programs, build new facilities, and conduct vital research programs. To learn more, visit: www.stjoesfoundation.ca.

Media Contacts:
Maria Hayes
Senior Communications Specialist
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
905.522.1155, ext. 33506
mhayes@stjoes.ca

Laura Pagnotta
Director, Marketing & Communications
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation
905.522.1155, ext. 35986
laura@stjoesfoundation.ca