Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Dr. Karen Fransis is a pioneering urologic surgeon whose research focuses on advancing minimally invasive techniques for prostate cancer treatment, particularly through Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RsRARP). Her major contributions center on demonstrating the safety, efficacy, and learning curve of this innovative approach, which preserves anterior pelvic structures to improve postoperative urinary continence. In her landmark 2020 study, she analyzed the early learning curve across three continents, showing that surgeons can achieve favorable peri-operative and functional outcomes even during their first 50 cases (39 citations). Dr. Fransis further expanded the application of RsRARP to challenging scenarios, including salvage procedures after failed primary therapy, where her international multi-surgeon series (26 citations) revealed superior outcomes compared to standard salvage techniques. She also validated RsRARP for high-risk prostate cancer in a multicentric expert surgeon setting (17 citations), identifying predictors of positive margins and continence recovery. Notably, she pioneered a simultaneous laparoscopic proctocolectomy and RsRARP for synchronous rectal and prostate cancers, showcasing her innovative approach to complex multi-organ malignancies. With over 90 total citations, Dr. Fransis’s work has established Retzius-sparing robotic prostatectomy as a viable, continent-preserving option across diverse patient populations and surgical experience levels.