A year after a significant bequest from the Estate of Alexandria “Alexis” Phirros brought advanced robotic-assisted surgery to Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), the Alexis surgical robot has now been used in more than 150 procedures across six surgical specialties. For 36-year-old Stephen Davies, that impact is not a statistic.
Earlier this year, Stephen needed bowel surgery after a previously removed growth required further investigation. During the procedure, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon Associate Professor Kah Hoong Chang and the RNSH surgical team found and removed two additional small tumours.
Stephen did not have the level of private health insurance that might otherwise have made robotic-assisted surgery available to him. Because Alexis is available within the public system at RNSH, he could access the technology for his surgery. He chose to wait for a robotic theatre slot because a faster recovery was more likely.
When his original operation date was postponed, the extra month gave Stephen time to learn more about the machine. He discovered that it had been funded by a significant bequest from Alexandria Phirros and named Alexis in her memory.
“When I was wheeled into the room, I looked over at the machine and thought about this woman I would never meet, but whose generosity was directly helping me at one of the most frightening moments of my life,” Stephen said.
Stephen’s surgery and recovery went well, and he was back at work within a few days. He later wrote to the people who knew and loved Alexandria to thank them and tell them what her legacy had meant to him.
“Alexis’ gift was not just a large and generous donation. It became something very real: less disruption, a faster recovery, and a better chance to get back to normal life,” Stephen wrote.
Associate Professor Kah Hoong Chang, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Royal North Shore Hospital, said Alexis provides surgeons with another important tool for complex procedures.
“Alexis gives us improved 3D vision, unrestricted instrument movement and pinpoint precision. In Stephen’s case, that gave us an extra advantage in a highly specialised operation and contributed to an excellent surgical outcome and recovery,” Associate Professor Chang said.
The Da Vinci Xi (or Alexis) system is controlled by the surgeon from a console, with four articulated robotic arms and high-definition 3D magnification. RNSH now uses Alexis across upper gastrointestinal, colorectal, urology, cardiothoracic, gynaecology and ENT surgery.
Dr Kai Brown, Head of Department of Robotic Surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital, said the first year had shown both the clinical value of the program and the importance of making advanced surgical options available to public patients.
“Robotic-assisted techniques are clearly a part of contemporary surgical practice. Our constraint is no longer whether the technique works here – it is how much theatre capacity we can give it,” Dr Brown said.
“The point that matters most is equity. Robotic surgery has been standard care for almost a decade, but uninsured patients in our catchment could not reliably access it in the public system. Alexis exists because of philanthropy, helping make this technology available to patients who might otherwise not have been able to access it.”
The next phase is focused on increasing robotic theatre capacity, expanding dual-console training for future robotic surgeons, and building evidence on public-sector implementation and cost-effectiveness.
Alexandria Phirros died at 89 after pancreatic cancer. Years earlier, she had been successfully treated for throat cancer at RNSH and remained deeply grateful for the care she received. Through the NORTH Foundation, her bequest enabled RNSH to acquire the Da Vinci Xi surgical system, which was named Alexis in her memory.
NORTH Foundation CEO Gil Lorquet said Stephen’s story brought the impact of Alexandria’s bequest full circle.
“Stephen’s letter brings philanthropy full circle: Alexandria’s decision became a vital piece of surgical technology, that technology became part of Stephen’s care, and Stephen then wrote to thank the people who loved her. As the official charity partner of Northern Sydney Local Health District, the NORTH Foundation is proud to help turn generosity like this into healthcare that can benefit patients and clinicians for years to come,” Mr Lorquet said.
For Stephen, Alexandria’s legacy remains intensely personal.
“I hope her family and friends know she is so much more than just a name on a plaque. She’s in the room. She’s part of how that hospital works now, week after week, for people she never got to meet,” he said.
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