Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Hee Sun Kang is a pioneering researcher in nursing robotics and gerontechnology, whose work bridges the critical intersection of healthcare, human-robot interaction, and dementia care. Her research focuses on evaluating the therapeutic potential of socially assistive robots, particularly PARO—a robotic seal—for elderly individuals with dementia. Kang’s landmark 2019 review of outcome measures in PARO intervention studies (97 citations) provides a foundational framework for assessing the efficacy of robotic companions in dementia care, while her 2018 experimental study (38 citations) demonstrated that PARO significantly improves cognition, emotion, and social interaction while reducing problem behaviors. She has also advanced understanding of surgical robotics through her qualitative study of perioperative nurses’ experiences with robotic surgery (44 citations), revealing critical insights into workflow adaptation and team dynamics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kang examined nurses’ perceptions of care robots (37 citations), highlighting how socially assistive technology can alleviate staff burden and enhance patient care. Her work has shaped evidence-based guidelines for integrating robots into clinical settings, earning her recognition as a leading voice in nursing informatics and human-centered robotics.