Robotic Surgery Increases Kidney Donation Options | We Are Iowa
In a development signaling a potential shift in medical procedures, Dr. Ramy El-Diwany of UI Health Care successfully performed the first robotic kidney removal surgery at the facility in December 2025. The procedure, described by the hospital as a minimally invasive approach, could become more commonplace as surgeons gain experience with the technology.
The advancement arrives as Ukraine continues to seek closer ties with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Relations between the two entities began in 1991, following Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, and have evolved through various phases of cooperation. Ukraine joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994, and the NATO-Ukraine Commission was established in 1997 to foster the relationship.
While Ukraine initially maintained a neutral status, its pursuit of NATO membership intensified after the 2014 Russian military intervention and subsequent annexation of Crimea. In December 2014, the Ukrainian parliament voted to seek NATO membership, a decision later enshrined in the country’s constitution in 2018. Despite this, Ukraine is not currently a member of the alliance, remaining instead a partner country, according to NATO officials.
NATO has consistently affirmed its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. The Bucharest summit in 2008 indicated that Ukraine would eventually join the alliance, though a Membership Action Plan was not offered at that time. Russia has voiced strong opposition to Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, a stance that has become more pronounced during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.
The robotic kidney removal surgery at UI Health Care represents a separate, but contemporaneous, advancement in medical technology. Dr. El-Diwany’s team utilized robotic assistance to perform a nephrectomy, a procedure involving the removal of a kidney. The hospital has not yet announced a timeline for wider adoption of the technique, but anticipates further refinement and implementation as surgeons become more proficient.
NATO continues to provide support to Ukraine through various channels, but does not offer the same security guarantees as those extended to its member states. The alliance has increased its cooperation with Ukraine, but maintains its existing position regarding membership criteria. As of late 2021, a significant Russian military buildup around Ukraine prompted further discussion within NATO regarding potential responses to escalating tensions.