Photo caption: Dr. Eric Miller adjusts the image focus on the da Vinci 5 robot as he performs Sutter’s first fully robotic living-donor kidney transplant. | June 2, 2026

Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center (Sutter’s CPMC) in San Francisco has performed its first fully robotic living-donor kidney transplant, marking a significant milestone for the system’s transplant program.

Dr. Eric Miller (right) sits at the controls of the da Vinci 5 surgical platform. Dr. Janet Bellingham (left) sits by the patient at the robot’s arms, assisting at the bedside and helping guide the procedure in real time. | June 2, 2026

The procedure used the da Vinci 5 robotic system for both the donor nephrectomy (kidney removal) and the recipient transplant, placing CPMC among a small number of U.S. centers offering this advanced, minimally invasive approach.

The transplant was performed on Juan Chavez, 43, who received a kidney from his sister, Alyson Chavez, 28, a nurse at Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. (Read more in The Turlock Journal)

“This is where transplant surgery is going,” said Dr. Eric Miller, surgical director of CPMC’s Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program, who led both procedures. “Using robotics allows us to operate with a level of precision that can make a real difference for patients, including less pain, smaller incisions and, in many cases, a faster recovery. Just as important, it allows us to tailor the approach to each patient and their specific needs.”

A Rare, Fully Robotic Approach

L to R: Dr. William Bry, Dr. Janet Bellingham, Dr. Eric Miller, Dr. Mohamed Eltemamy, Dr. Harish Mahanty | June 2, 2026

Fewer than 30 of the roughly 250 transplant centers in the United States currently perform robotic kidney transplants, making the approach relatively rare. Early clinical experience suggests it can improve recovery time and shorten hospital stays.

Bringing the capability to CPMC required years of planning and collaboration. Dr. Miller worked closely with Dr. Harish Mahanty, surgical director of the Kidney Transplant Program, and consulted with Dr. Mohammed Eltemamy of the Cleveland Clinic, an early adopter of the technique.

The procedure also relied on a multidisciplinary team of nurses, physician assistants, anesthesiologists and transplant coordinators to manage the complexity of a living-donor transplant, which involves two patients and two simultaneous surgeries.

Both donor and recipient were recovering well the following day.

Building on Legacy, Expanding What’s Next

Sutter Health’s California Pacific Medical Center (Sutter’s CPMC) Van Ness campus in San Francisco. (1101 Van Ness Ave.)

CPMC performed its first kidney transplant in 1969.

This latest milestone reflects the continued evolution of its transplant program and expansion of advanced surgical capabilities across Sutter Health.

Philanthropy is helping move this work forward, including through the Living Donor Champion initiative, which reduces barriers for patients and donors and expands access to transplant sooner.

Read more about the patients in The Modest Bee. Stanislaus siblings are patients in Sutter Health’s first robotic kidney transplant

Alyson Chavez (28) and Juan Chavez (43) following their procedures at Sutter’s CPMC in San Francisco.