Robotics in Clinical Care—How One Moment Changed Everything

It Started with a Glitch in the OR

One of our students observed a robotic-assisted surgery simulation a few months ago. Halfway through the procedure, the robotic system displayed a sudden, minor alert, but it was enough to pause the operation. As the room filled with tension, the student calmly identified the issue: a misalignment in the port placement protocol. With guidance, she resolved it. The simulation resumed. The attending physician turned and said, “That’s the kind of awareness that saves real lives.”

That moment wasn’t just about the alert. It was about the shift from passively learning to becoming part of the system that delivers care. That’s what we teach at CMA-AI Central Texas.

From Surgery to Staining Slides: Robotics is Everywhere

People often associate robotics with high-tech surgery, but robotics is transforming every corner of healthcare. At CMA-AI, we don’t just introduce students to robotic-assisted procedures—we show them the whole picture: how robotics enhances efficiency, precision, and safety from the operating room to the pathology lab.

In the VR-enhanced simulation OR, students learn to:

• Understand and maintain sterile workflows

• Assist with robotic port placements

• Dock systems efficiently

• Troubleshoot robotic alerts with calm and competence

But that’s just the first chapter.

The Unexpected Frontier: Pathology Labs

In a quiet lab down the hall, another revolution is underway. Students are introduced to robotic systems in pathology and histotechnology—places most don’t associate with automation. And yet, it’s here where the groundwork for diagnostics begins:

• Automated tissue processors and robotic microtomes

• AI-powered slide scanners identify microscopic abnormalities

• Robotic arms manage biopsy samples with unmatched accuracy

These machines are not just fast—they’re precise. When a student learns how to assist or troubleshoot one, they’re not just operating tech—they’re supporting real-time diagnostic medicine.

Clinical Logistics: The Silent Efficiency

Then there’s the logistics—the behind-the-scenes heroes. Autonomous delivery carts transport medications, robotic dispensers ensure dosing accuracy, and innovative communication systems link departments. These systems save time and reduce errors only if someone knows how to work with them.

At CMA-AI, our students do.

Training That Matches Reality

We’re not teaching theory alone. We’ve partnered with tech manufacturers to bring real, functioning robotic systems into our simulation labs. Our students touch, troubleshoot, and test these machines before they enter clinical jobs.

Because the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we prepare for.

A New Kind of Medical Assistant

At CMA-AI Central Texas, robotics isn’t an afterthought or an elective. It’s embedded in how we think, teach, and build the next generation of healthcare professionals.

The student who calmly addressed that alert in the simulation? She’s now shadowing in a local hospital, and every tech in the room knows—she’s not just trained. She’s ready.

By Saran Lotfollahzadeh, MD, MSCR Candidate

MD, General Surgeon, Pediatric Surgery Sub-Specialist

MSCR Candidate

AHA Cardio-Oncology SFRN Fellow

Medical Director, CMA-AI Training Center of Central Texas

Instructor in Medicine