Pictured: Members of the QEII surgical team who were part of the first patient procedures with the new da Vinci Xi robot; a hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) robot-assisted surgery that was a first in Nova Scotia and performed by Dr. Boris Gala-Lopez and Dr. Stephanie Hiebert.
Nova Scotia Health’s QEII Health Sciences Centre is now home to its newest and most advanced surgical robot: the Intuitive da Vinci Xi. The arrival of this technology marks the QEII’s second da Vinci system and the hospital’s seventh surgical robot overall, strengthening Nova Scotia’s position as a national leader in surgical innovation and expanding access to specialized care for patients across the province.
Proudly supported by QEII Foundation donors, the da Vinci Xi is already unlocking several Nova Scotian firsts in robot-assisted surgery, including the province’s first robot-assisted procedures in:
- Colorectal cancer surgery
- Thoracic surgery (surgery involving the lungs and chest)
- Hepatobiliary (HPB) surgery (treatment of diseases of the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts)
It is also significantly expanding access to robot-assisted surgeries for patients requiring:
- Gynecologic oncology procedures (to treat more gynecologic cancers and pre-cancerous conditions)
- Ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancer surgeries
“This milestone represents a powerful step forward for surgical care in Nova Scotia,” said Dr. Gail Darling, QEII thoracic surgeon and Head of Surgery of Nova Scotia Health (Central Zone). “The da Vinci Xi expands what we’re able to offer patients today — enabling new procedures, greater precision and increased access across multiple specialties. It also supports our broader vision to continue building a Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery at the QEII, strengthening clinical excellence, training and innovation for the benefit of patients across the province.”
The QEII is now one of only a small number of hospitals in Canada with seven surgical robots spanning multiple disciplines, including urology, gynecologic oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, spine, and now expanded general, thoracic and hepatobiliary surgery. Six of these seven robots have been made possible through QEII Foundation donor support as part of the Foundation’s $100-million We Are campaign.
The QEII Foundation is contributing $3.8 million to help bring the da Vinci Xi to the QEII and expand robotic surgical capacity. This support includes visionary contributions from Tony and Julie Metlege, David and Dinah Grace, the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, as well as more than 1,300 other QEII Foundation donors. This investment also supports the broader vision to continue establishing Canada’s first Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery at the QEII — a multi-disciplinary initiative that integrates advanced robotics technology, data, research and simulation-based training to strengthen surgical care across the province.
“The da Vinci Xi and the QEII’s Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery are powerful examples of innovative partnership and what’s possible when people believe in a bold vision for care,” said Susan Mullin, President & CEO of the QEII Foundation. “Together with government, healthcare partners and clinical leaders, our donors are helping expand access to advanced treatment and ensure QEII teams have the tools they need to deliver exceptional care for patients and families.”
On February 4, 2026, the QEII Foundation unveiled the new Anthony and Nouha Metlege Surgical Robotics Suite at the QEII in recognition of a $1-million leadership gift from Tony and Julie Metlege, made in honour of Tony’s mother and late father. The newly named suite is now home to the QEII’s da Vinci Xi and stands as a tribute to the role philanthropy plays in advancing surgical care and innovation in Nova Scotia.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
“This new surgical robot is the perfect example of the power of partnership and a willingness to embrace innovation. Government, health partners, community, the QEII Foundation and so many others are all working to improve outcomes and wait times for patients. We are grateful for the generosity of Tony and Julie Metlege, the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, David and Dinah Grace, and countless donors in making today a reality.” — Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson
“Investments like this are about more than technology — they’re about people. Advanced tools like the da Vinci Xi help us attract and retain exceptional clinical talent while giving our teams the resources they need to deliver high-quality, specialized care close to home. This is a meaningful step toward the next generation of healthcare in Nova Scotia.” — Dr. Nicole Boutilier, Executive Vice-President of Medicine and Clinical Operations, Nova Scotia Health
“This is health innovation in action — bringing together clinicians, donors, government, and industry to deliver real impact for patients. The da Vinci Xi and the Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery show how Nova Scotia is building the partnerships and capacity needed to expand access to advanced care and strengthen our health system for the future.” — Doris Grant, Managing Director, Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub
“When we’re able to minimize the invasiveness of surgery using a robotic platform, patients recover faster and spend less time in the hospital. In one of our first complex cases with the da Vinci Xi, our patient went home the next day. For cancer patients, a quick recovery can also mean moving on to further treatments like chemotherapy sooner.” — Dr. Boris Gala-Lopez, QEII HPB & Multi-Organ Transplant Surgeon, Nova Scotia Health
QUICK FACTS
- The da Vinci Xi is the second da Vinci surgical robot in use at the QEII and the hospital’s seventh surgical robot overall.
- Its arrival has enabled Nova Scotia’s first robot-assisted colorectal, thoracic and hepatobiliary (liver, pancreas and bile duct) surgeries.
- The technology is also expanding access for certain patients facing gynecologic and ear, nose and throat (ENT) cancers.
- This latest surgical robot has helped support recent recruitment in the QEII’s Department of Gynecologic Oncology, including the addition of two new surgeons attracted in part by access to advanced robotics technology.
- To date, more than 56 robot-assisted patient surgeries have now been performed using the new, donor-supported da Vinci Xi technology at the QEII.
- This milestone is part of a $9.4-million investment by Nova Scotia Health to support the arrival of the da Vinci Xi system and upgrades to the QEII’s existing da Vinci X. Previously, the QEII Foundation raised $8.1 million with donor support to help bring Atlantic Canada’s first da Vinci surgical robot to the QEII in 2019.
- The da Vinci Xi is a surgeon-controlled robotic system with multiple robotic arms and a high-definition 3D camera. Surgeons operate the system from a console in the operating room, translating their hand movements into highly precise actions inside the patient’s body.
- The new system features a dual console, supporting advanced surgical training and contributing to physician recruitment and retention.
- While robot-assisted surgery is not appropriate for every patient or procedure, for those who are candidates, it can offer many benefits like smaller incisions, enhanced surgical precision, less damage to healthy tissues and structures, shorter recovery times, less pain and opioid use, and fewer complications.
- As part of it’s $100-million We Are campaign, the QEII Foundation is currently raising $20 million in support of Canada’s first Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery at the QEII.
-30-
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Access photos and video b-roll of Nova Scotia’s first robot-assisted hepatobiliary (HPB) surgery, as well as images of the QEII’s new Anthony and Nouha Metlege Surgical Robotics Suite naming: https://qe2foundation.filecamp.com/s/o/daVinciXi-QEII
For interviews with QEII surgeons utilizing this surgical robotics technology and other key spokespeople, contact:
Nicole Topple
nicole.topple@qe2foundation.ca; 902-476-9798
Nova Scotia Health Media
NSHAMedia@nshealth.ca; 1-844-483-3344
