Elizabeth Dawe

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Elizabeth Dawe is a pioneering figure in pediatric robotic surgery, whose work has fundamentally advanced minimally invasive techniques for the youngest and most vulnerable patients. Her research focuses on adapting computer-assisted surgical systems to overcome the extreme technical challenges posed by infant anatomy, where small target structures and limited workspace demand unprecedented precision. Dawe’s major contributions include the first demonstrations of robot-assisted procedures in animal models that mirror human infant conditions. Her landmark 2005 study on totally minimally invasive robot-assisted unstented pyeloplasty using the Zeus Microwrist system (28 citations) established a foundation for scarless kidney surgery. She further expanded the frontier with her 2007 work on robotic endoscopic surgery in the infant neck (13 citations), proving the feasibility of delicate head and neck procedures in tiny subjects. Notably, her 2004 survival study of robot-assisted Kasai portoenterostomy (11 citations) addressed a life-saving procedure for biliary atresia, showing that robotic assistance could achieve the necessary suturing accuracy in a confined space. Dawe’s visionary research has directly shaped the adoption of surgical robotics in pediatrics, offering hope for safer, less invasive interventions for children.