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About

Katie Gillies is a leading implementation scientist whose research focuses on the complex integration of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) into healthcare systems. Her work bridges the critical gap between technological innovation and real-world clinical practice, examining the human and organizational factors that determine successful adoption. In her landmark 2022 study on barriers and enablers to RAS implementation (68 citations), she systematically identified the infrastructure, behavioral, and process adjustments required for effective deployment. Her subsequent qualitative work on current issues and future considerations (18 citations) explored how external contextual factors shape the wider adoption of this fast-evolving technology. Perhaps most notably, Gillies leads the RoboCOS study, an ambitious international initiative to develop a core outcome set for comprehensively evaluating RAS impacts across patient, surgeon, organizational, and population levels. This work addresses a critical gap in the field, as there has been little agreement on which outcomes matter most when assessing the benefits and drawbacks of this costly, system-transforming technology. Through her rigorous mixed-methods approach, Gillies is providing the evidence base needed to optimize RAS implementation and ensure that surgical innovation translates into meaningful improvements in patient care.