Profile of Robotic Surgeons in Inland São Paulo State: A Cross-Sectional Study

Surgeons performing robotic procedures outside Brazil’s major capitals are predominantly male, over 30 years old, and concentrated in digestive tract specialties, according to an observational study published in Cureus.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Robotic platforms have expanded into regional centers of São Paulo State, with a workforce originating directly from general surgery training.
• A descriptive cross-sectional study of 20 regional surgeons found that 85 percent were men and 55 percent practiced in the private supplementary health sector.
• All credentialed participants met national mandates requiring prior general surgery residency and supervised proctored cases.

The expansion of robotic surgery into regional hubs of São Paulo State over the past decade brought advanced consoles to municipalities outside traditional capital centers like São Paulo.

Cureus reported that 20 regional surgeons participated in the cross-sectional study between August 26, 2025, and June 17, 2026. The sample showed an even age split, with half of the cohort aged between 31 and 40 years and the other half over 40. Seventy-five percent of the participants were married.

Socioeconomic indicators among the cohort skewed high. Seventeen participants reported personal or household income above 30,000 Brazilian reals per month. Parental education levels were similarly elevated, with completed higher education reported for 85 percent of fathers and 65 percent of mothers. Eleven participants graduated from public undergraduate institutions, while 16 completed traditional curricula. Five surgeons held a master’s or doctoral degree.

Digestive tract specialties dominated the regional workforce, accounting for 14 of the 20 participants. Specifically, 12 surgeons practiced digestive system surgery and two specialized in coloproctology. Practice settings showed a balanced division across different healthcare environments. Eleven participants practiced in the supplementary private insurance sector, while nine operated within the public Sistema Único de Saúde.

Statistical analysis revealed no significant associations between practice settings and demographic variables, though public undergraduate training yielded an odds ratio of 6.12 with a p-value of 0.092. Teaching method demonstrated a significant association with the nature of the undergraduate institution at a p-value of 0.026. Under Resolution 2,311/2022 of the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine, every surgeon operating these platforms completed foundational general surgery training before obtaining independent robotic credentials.

Parallel surveys of specialized surgical workforces in Brazil highlight how specific training pathways shape regional adoption rates. A cross-sectional study published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle surveyed members of the Brazilian Foot and Ankle Society and found that a lack of specific training remained a primary factor limiting the adoption of percutaneous surgical techniques among specialists.

That study recorded responses from 74 participants in 2017 and 82 participants in 2019, showing that younger practitioners more readily adopted minimally invasive methods when properly trained.

While foot and ankle specialists faced barriers related to technique-specific instruction, robotic surgeons in inland São Paulo relied on mandatory general surgery residency structures followed by proctored procedures. The Cureus study said that the timing of robotic acquisition—whether competence was secured during residency or subsequent fellowship training—remains undetermined. Researchers structured the evaluation to characterize the existing workforce rather than measure baseline awareness or operational knowledge.

The timing of robotic training was not assessed, so whether competence was acquired during or after residency remains a hypothesis.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.