Francine McKenzie

Western University, London Health Sciences Centre

Papers

Total Citations

213

H-Index

About

Francine McKenzie is a pioneering cardiac surgeon whose work has fundamentally shaped the field of minimally invasive coronary revascularization. Her research centers on robotic-assisted surgery, specifically the development and refinement of closed-chest, beating-heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). McKenzie’s major contribution lies in demonstrating the feasibility and efficacy of using computer-enhanced robotic systems—such as the da Vinci surgical system—to perform precise endoscopic coronary anastomoses. Her landmark 2000 paper, “Closed-chest coronary artery bypass grafting on the beating heart with the use of a computer-enhanced surgical robotic system,” with 110 citations, established a new paradigm for less invasive cardiac surgery. She further validated this approach by comparing robot-assisted versus manually constructed anastomoses (59 citations) and by investigating the use of the harmonic scalpel and robotic assistance for thoracoscopic internal thoracic artery harvest in her RAVECAB study (44 citations). McKenzie’s work has been instrumental in reducing surgical trauma, shortening recovery times, and improving outcomes for patients requiring coronary bypass. Her pioneering efforts have earned her recognition as a leader in robotic cardiac surgery, inspiring a generation of surgeons to embrace technology-driven, patient-centered innovation.