Da Vinci 5 — The Most Advanced Robotic Surgical System
Dr. Pakula was among the first surgeons in Southern California to operate using the Da Vinci 5, Intuitive's latest and most capable robotic platform. With force feedback, improved visualization, and AI-assisted performance data, the Da Vinci 5 represents a meaningful advancement over prior generations. ABC 7 News featured Dr. Pakula's use of this technology at Adventist Health Simi Valley.
Read the ABC 7 FeatureWhat Is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery in which a surgeon controls a set of precision robotic arms from a console adjacent to the operating table. The robotic system translates the surgeon's hand movements into smaller, more exact motions inside the body, filtering out natural hand tremor and enabling procedures in spaces too confined for conventional laparoscopic tools.
Dr. Pakula uses the robotic system to achieve enhanced dexterity and three-dimensional visualization during every procedure. This allows her to perform delicate movements with extreme accuracy through incisions typically less than one centimeter in size. The result is less trauma to surrounding tissue, reduced blood loss, lower infection risk, and a faster return to daily life.
A National Leader in Robotic Technique
Dr. Pakula is the Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at Adventist Health Simi Valley, which holds designation as a Robotic Center of Excellence. Surgeons travel from across the country to train under Dr. Pakula at this Case Observation site, where they learn advanced robotic techniques in a high-volume, real-world surgical environment.
Her experience is documented in numerous peer-reviewed journal publications covering robotic hernia repair, bariatric surgery, and minimally invasive general surgical procedures. She is an active member of the Society of Robotic Surgery and a regular faculty presence at national surgical conferences.