The 6th Annual Dr. Lawrence H. and Mrs. Roberta Cohn Visiting Professor Lecture Focuses on Robotic Mitral Valve Surgery

by Lynn Nichols
October 19, 2023

Once again, the annual Dr. Lawrence H. and Mrs. Roberta Cohn Visiting Professor Lecture proved to be inspiring for our department, achieving its purpose to keep cardiothoracic surgical leaders at the forefront of important health issues worldwide. 

Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Cohn, Stanford University School of Medicine graduate, was a pioneer in cardiac surgery, research, and education. In his lifetime, he performed 11,500 cardiac surgical operations, primarily at Harvard Medical School Affiliates. He was a world-renowned expert in valve repair and replacement surgery - including antigenic mechanisms in myocardial revascularization to minimally invasive mitral valve surgery and many procedures in between.

Because of his special interest in valve repair, it is fitting that this year’s lecturer is an innovator in robotic mitral valve repair. For this 6th annual event, Dr. W. Randolph Chitwood Jr., MD, FACS, FRCS, Emeritus, Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Emeritus, Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Distinguished Chair and Founder East Carolina Heart Institute at East Carolina University and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Past-President, was selected as the Cohn Visiting Professor. 

In his opening remarks, Dr. Woo said the Chitwood name is heard every day in operating rooms, and that Dr. Chitwood is considered a mentor by many cardiothoracic surgeons at Stanford Medicine today. Dr. Chitwood returned the compliment by calling Stanford University a font of innovation and a giant in the treatments of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Chitwood’s lecture, titled, Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery, The Surgeon’s Hand & The Journey from Leonardo da Vinci - the Polymath to daVinci - the Robot compared the actual man and artist, da Vinci - and his fascination with the details, ergonomics, and functions of the hands - with the preciseness of da Vinci robotic surgery devices, today.

Dr. Chitwood outlined the history of cardiothoracic surgical robotics. In particular, he shared his personal evolution of mitral valve (MV) surgery from using long-shaft instrumentation to video-assisted mitral valve repair and replacement, performing minimally invasive mitral valve surgeries with a camera positioner, and finally completing a clinical trial on the first commercial Da Vinci in the United States in early 2000.

Dr. Chitwood spent the day at Stanford connecting with faculty and residents. After giving his remarkable Lawrence and Roberta Cohn Visiting Professorship lecture, Dr. Chitwood heard and reviewed several innovative research presentations by junior faculty and residents. He met with several faculty, toured the new Stanford Hospital and the Falk Center—home of the Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery Department and the premier cardiovascular research facility—and ended the day at a department-wide dinner held in his honor.

Nearly 60 cardiovascular surgeons, nurse practitioners, advanced practice practitioners, administrators, and staff attended. The event took place on Thursday, September 28, 2023, on the Stanford University campus.

The department leaders are grateful to Larry and Roberta Cohn for endowing the Lawrence H. and Mrs. Roberta Cohn Lectureship in Cardiovascular Surgery at Stanford in 2015 and for all of the learning and advancements it has inspired. Mrs. Cohn was disappointed she was unable to attend due to unforeseen extenuating circumstances; however, she was pleased her daughters Leslie Bernstein and Jennifer Cohn could attend and witness their father’s legacy live on and inspire others.