St. Rose Rewards 2nd Grader for “Name the Robot” Contest
(January 22, 2008, HENDERSON, NV) - The St. Rose Dominican Hospitals da Vinci® Surgical System "robot" has been named "Leo" by Jonathan MacKenzie, a 2nd grader at Selma Bartlett Elementary School in Henderson, Nevada.
"More than 250 names were submitted by elementary school children in Henderson for our da Vinci® Surgical System 'Name the Robot' contest," said Rod Davis, president, St. Rose Dominican Hospitals. "Leo received the most votes by far when the management team reviewed the incredibly creative suggestions.
"According to Jonathan’s mom, Vicki, the contest came at a perfect time. Jonathan is an autistic child, so the MacKenzie family frequently puts puzzles together as a form of therapy. "We were working on Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' puzzle when the contest entry form came in the mail and Jonathan immediately made the connection and said the robot's name should be Leo. We're so thrilled that he won, especially since his school will also be awarded for his success."
Jonathan's prize for the Name the Robot contest was a WowWee Robosapien Humanoid Robot while the school he attends, Selma F. Bartlett Elementary, received $500. When Selma Bartlett, long-time supporter of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and the name-sake of the winning school, heard about the $500 being awarded to the school, she and her husband, Troy, instantly said they would match the award, so Selma Bartlett Elementary actually received a total of $1,000.
The da Vinci® Surgical System, now at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, allows surgeons' hands to produce scaled movements through small surgical openings. The da Vinci is completely controlled by - and is an extension of - the surgeon. The da Vinci® system will be used at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals to perform delicate surgeries such as prostatectomies, hysterectomies and pediatric procedures. Benefits of its small, precise incisions include less pain, less scarring, quicker recovery times, and in many cases, better clinical outcomes.
