Robotic Oncology Center
 
 

Urologic Robotic Surgery

The precision of robotic technology is ideal for delicate and complex urologic surgeries. These include prostatectomies, in which the target site is tightly confined and surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and erectile function.

The UC Irvine Health urological cancer team has developed innovations for robot-assisted prostatectomy to help successfully rejoin the urethral tube to the bladder. These innovations include a specially designed cooling device to protect the fragile nerves for continence and erectile function.

In addition to robotic prostatectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System®, urologists at UC Irvine Medical Center, Orange County's only university hospital, also offer minimally invasive robot-assisted surgery for a number of urological diseases and conditions including:


robotic prostatectomy   View a video of a robotic prostatectomy ›
robotic nephrectomy View a video of a robotic nephrectomy ›


the UC Irvine Health Robotic Oncology Center uses the latest robotic technology to treat cancer. It is one of a handful of multidisciplinary robotic oncology centers in the United States and the first of its kind in Orange County. Through the center, patients have access to the expertise and care provided by our highly skilled team of surgeons, nurses and technicians who specialize in using the da Vinci system.

For appointments, please call 877-399-IROC (877-399-4762).

Clinical Team

Dr. Thomas E. Ahlering Thomas E. Ahlering, MD
Urologic oncologist


Dr. Ahlering, director of the UC Irvine Health Robotic Oncology, leads the center's urologic oncology team. He is board-certified in urology with fellowship training in urologic oncology and he has been included among Best Doctors in America® since 1994.

Ahlering performed the first robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in Southern California in June 2002 and surpassed 1,000 cases in 2010. He is one of the three most published authors on RARP and has written more than 100 scientific publications and book chapters. He was the first surgeon to perform the procedure in Canada, Australia and Denmark. He is also internationally recognized for refining techniques to reduce side effects of treatment, enhancing cancer control and patient recovery.

Learn more about Dr. Ahlering ›

Dr. Jaime Landman Jaime Landman, MD
Urologic oncologist


Dr. Landman, chair of the UC Irvine Health School of Medicine's Department of Urology, is an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive kidney surgery, including robot-assisted surgery. He has published more than 185 peer-reviewed articles and more than 60 book chapters, and he has lectured around the world on the subject of minimally invasive urology. His research interests are in kidney cancer, outcomes, kidney ablation and kidney imaging technologies as well as preserving kidney function. Landman’s research efforts have helped define many of the minimally invasive kidney procedures performed today, earning him the 2005 Arthur Smith prize for creativity and dynamic innovation at the World Congress of Endourology.

Landman’s clinical interests include all aspects of minimally invasive urologic oncology, with special emphasis on kidney cancer and kidney stone disease. He has performed more than 2,000 advanced minimally invasive kidney procedures and he is dedicated to improving the techniques and technology associated with minimally invasive surgery.

Learn more about Dr. Landman ›