WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Saint Barnabas Health Care System announces the appointment of Domenico Savatta, MD, of Florham Park, as director of Minimally Invasive and Adult Urologic Robotic Surgery for the System’s Northern Division, including Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
Dr. Savatta, a board-certified urologist, is a leader and pioneer in the field of advanced adult urologic robotic surgery. In 2004 he successfully performed the first robotic prostatectomy in the Saint Barnabas Health Care System and in 2005, he completed the first robotic partial nephrectomy and robotic radical cystectomy in New Jersey.
To date, Dr. Savatta has performed over 500 robotic cases, including special procedures such a bladder removal and creation of a new bladder. He is also the only physician in the tri-state area routinely performing robotic hernia repair at the time of robotic prostatectomy, a procedure for which he published an article in the February 2008 Journal of Robotic Surgery.
Robotic surgery was introduced at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2002 and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 2007. It has dramatically changed the landscape of medicine and has elevated the standard of care for both routine and complex surgery while affording patients dramatic benefits.
John Brennan, MD, Executive Director of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, said, “Dr. Savatta has been instrumental in establishing and growing the robotic surgery program at The Beth. His vision, and commitment to the expanding field of robotic surgery is unparalleled. We are proud to have him as such an integral member of our surgical team.”
Jack Bonamo, MD, Executive Director of Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, echoed Dr. Brennan’s sentiments. “Dr. Savatta is leading the way in robotic surgery in New Jersey. This minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgery is resulting in significantly less pain, fewer side effects, less scarring and a shorter hospital stay and recovery for our patients. I am confident Dr. Savatta will continue to enhance, refine and develop the System’s adult urologic robotic surgery program.”
Dr. Savatta graduated Tau Beta Pi, and summa cum Laude from The Cooper Union for advancement of Science and Art with a B.S. in engineering. He then attended SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine and was an AOA graduate. He then completed a six-year residency in urology at the prestigious Indiana University Medical Center, world-renowned for the treatment of testicular cancer and other urologic malignancies.
During his residency, Dr. Savatta trained under the direction of leaders in the field of urologic oncology, endourology, reconstructive urology and prosthetic urology. He has conducted research involving minimally invasive techniques for the ablation of renal tissue, including state of the art laparoscopic methods and high intensity focused ultrasound ablation of kidneys tumors.
Dr. Savatta is a member of the American Urological Association, The Endourologic Society, and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons. The surgical procedures he routinely performs include treatment of BPH, kidney stones, prostate cancer, renal cancer, kidney cancer and reconstructive urology, including the creation of bladder replacements and continent urinary diversions.
In June 2008 Dr. Savatta will be a participant faculty at the First Annual Worldwide Robotic Renal Symposium at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He will also lecture on his experience in building a comprehensive robotic surgery program in June at the symposium: Robotic Surgery: Innovation of Today, Tomorrow and the Future for Administrators and Surgeons, being held in Philadelphia.
For more information on robotic surgery, visit www.roboticsurgerynj.com or call 1-888-SBHCS.123.
