Surgeon in Florida Operates on Patient 7,000 Miles Away in Angola — First FDA-Approved Transcontinental Telesurgery

In June 2025, Dr. Vip Patel made medical history by performing the first FDA-approved transcontinental robotic telesurgery. From his office in Florida, Patel removed a patient's prostate — while the patient lay on an operating table 7,000 miles away in Angola.

The surgery was made possible by advances in robotic surgical systems and high-speed telecommunications. The procedure was completed successfully with no complications, demonstrating that world-class surgical care can reach patients in even the most remote locations.

“Vip Patel made medical history by performing the first FDA-approved transcontinental robotic telesurgery.”

"This is a critical step toward delivering high-quality surgical care to remote, rural and underserved communities that have long lacked access," Dr. Patel said. "This is more than innovation — it's a humanitarian leap forward." The breakthrough could transform healthcare delivery in developing nations where specialist surgeons are scarce.