In this episode of Galesburg In Focus, host Chris Postin interviews Dr. Brody Stewart, a new general surgeon at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, who started just after Labor Day 2025. A Dahinda/Oak Run native, Dr. Stewart discusses his journey from Mayo Clinic residency to bringing advanced surgical care, including robotic-assisted procedures, to his hometown.
Key Points:
- Early Calling to Surgery: Inspired in seventh grade by shadowing a cardiologist at OSF in Peoria, Dr. Stewart was drawn to general surgery for its hands-on nature, influenced by his rural upbringing and working with his father on practical tasks.
- Broad Surgical Expertise: Trained broadly at Mayo Clinic’s rural and community track, Dr. Stewart performs diverse procedures like colon surgery, thyroids, and breast cancer operations, tailoring his practice to meet Galesburg’s community needs.
- Robotic Surgery Expertise: With extensive experience using the Da Vinci 5 system at Mayo, Dr. Stewart highlights its benefits—smaller incisions, less pain, faster recovery, and same-day discharges for procedures like hernia repairs and colon cancer surgeries.
- Surgeon-Controlled Technology: He reassures patients that the Da Vinci system is fully controlled by the surgeon, enhancing precision with four instruments for complex procedures in tight spaces.
- Rural Healthcare Impact: Dr. Stewart emphasizes that many procedures done at major institutions like Mayo can be performed locally at OSF St. Mary, reducing travel for patients and leveraging the Da Vinci system for better outcomes.