Dr. Andrea Pakula

09/21/2025

It’s both exciting and an honor to be a surgeon during this era of rapid technological and innovative growth. Over the past few days at the Intuitive Surgical Advisory Board, surgeon innovators and industry leaders came together to explore the future of AI, telecollaboration, and telesurgery—advancements that will help expand access and improve outcomes for patients.

A special thank you to Michael Stifelman, MD and the outstanding team at Hackensack Meridian for hosting and demonstrating how true collaboration between executives, OR leadership, and physicians can leverage the entire da Vinci ecosystem to maximize robotic surgery and deliver the best possible patient outcomes.

And of course it’s always great to spend time with good friends.

09/13/2025

I had the opportunity, from my OR in California, to join Dr. Jennifer Preston as she presented at the American Foregut Society in Dallas, TX. Using Intuitive Telepresence, I was able to showcase features of the da Vinci 5, including Force Feedback and the new force gauges.

To make it even more engaging, I demonstrated how Force Feedback can be used as a teaching tool. My OR tech’s 10-year-old son sat down at the console and learned how to handle the “esophagus” gently — with visual indicators showing the force applied at the instrument tip.

It’s exciting to see how these technological advances continue to enhance both learning and patient care.

09/07/2025

07/20/2025

Wrapping up an exciting and impactful week at the Society of Robotic Surgery Congress 2025 in Strasbourg, France! 🇫🇷
The meeting was filled with cutting-edge technology, insightful presentations on AI, various robotic platforms, and specialty-specific sessions—including Acute Care Surgery and Hernia Surgery.
A major highlight was the live telesurgery demonstrations, including Intuitive daVinci 5 showcasing the global reach and real-time capabilities of robotic surgery.
I was honored to close out the week serving as faculty for the Intuitive Hands-On Robotic Hernia Course—a great opportunity to collaborate, teach, and learn alongside some of the most innovative minds in the field.
It’s always inspiring to be surrounded by thought leaders, passionate colleagues, and great friends all in the beautiful setting of Strasbourg.

07/18/2025

I had the honor of participating in the first live Intuitive Telesurgery demo, moderated by Brian Miller at Society of Robotic Surgery | SRS.
From Strasbourg, France, I remotely joined Dr. Doug Stoddard in his Atlanta OR to perform surgery on a tissue model using the da Vinci 5. I then presented our experience.
This technology takes telepresence and remote proctoring to the next level—enabling real-time collaboration across continents. It has the potential to reduce variability, enhance training, and expand access to surgical expertise without patients or surgeons needing to travel.
Incredible to see how far our field has come, and where it’s going next.

07/04/2025

Wishing everyone a very safe and Happy 4th of July! 🎆🇺🇸

06/16/2025

Happy Father’s Day to this guy, best dad in the world-and to all the other Dad’s out there! 💙🩵

06/09/2025

Women in da Vinci Surgery never disappoints! It’s always such an inspiring and energizing experience to be part of a group of over 200 powerhouse women—trailblazers who are transforming healthcare and advancing the field of da Vinci surgery.

From surgeons across multiple specialties to pulmonologists and healthcare executives, we all came together to share insights, uplift one another, and grow both personally and professionally.

There’s something incredibly special about being surrounded by women who are not only excelling in their careers but are also genuinely invested in lifting others as they rise. The support, collaboration, and wisdom in the room were palpable.

It’s always great to reconnect with close friends and make meaningful new connections. Friendships like these fuel our passion and remind us that together, we are unstoppable. 🦾💫

05/29/2025

A fun filled day of dV5 cases with my team and pet therapy dogs! 🐶 Love coming to work! 🤖

05/26/2025

Remembering all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service. 🇺🇸🪖

05/10/2025

Quick trip to Round Rock this weekend to surprise my mom for Mother’s Day. 💗 Diane Pakula is the hardest working baker in Texas, so when I’m in town I like to gear up and help. 👩🏻‍🍳 If you’re in the area, stop by and treat yourself. My personal favorites are the jalapeño kolaches and the zucchini muffins. 🧁
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Love you! 💗

05/03/2025

Awesome day and a half at the first HERniaSAlliance Summit. This was such an exciting and educational event so well put together. So great to share and learn from our Plastic surgery colleagues, combining abdominal wall reconstruction techniques with better cosmetic outcomes. Thanks to for their support.