Advanced robotic surgical technology has arrived in Galesburg. OSF HealthCare's St. Mary Medical Center is now home to the Da Vinci 5 surgical system — and since August, the surgical team has completed over 150 cases. A second platform, the Ion robotic bronchoscopy system for lung care, launched Feb. 5, 2026.
Susie Melvin, Director of Perioperative Services for OSF HealthCare's Upper Western Region, joined Galesburg In Focus on Feb. 28, 2026, to explain what these technologies mean for patients across the region — and why keeping this level of care local matters.
Topics covered in this interview:
- How the Da Vinci 5 works — and why the robot does nothing without the surgeon
- Patient benefits of robotic surgery versus traditional open procedures
- Over 150 Da Vinci cases completed since August at St. Mary's
- The Ion robotic bronchoscopy system and its impact on lung cancer diagnosis
- The hub-and-spoke model — what's available in Galesburg, Monmouth, and Kewanee
- The role of advanced practice providers in expanding access to care
- Keeping advanced care local — what it means for elderly and rural patients
- Nearly 47 years of service to the community
- How to schedule a consultation at OSF HealthCare
Patients can request appointments through OSF MyChart, by visiting osfstmary.org or osfholyfamily.org, or by calling the specialty clinics directly at St. Mary, Holy Family, or St. Luke.