The last thing we want for our patients and the community is that they have to travel for a procedure. This allows them to stay local, heal quicker and go home sooner.
Seth Bernard, DOBENNINGTON, VT—October 27, 2025—Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, has acquired the first da Vinci 5 surgical robot in the state of Vermont, bringing world-class, innovative technology to its surgical program.
The da Vinci 5 surgical platform by Intuitive will be used in hundreds of minimally invasive surgeries each year. Prior to conducting their first surgeries with the da Vinci 5, SVMC hosted a demonstration day on October 24.
“Providing care, close to home, with great outcomes and state-of-the-art technology is essential to improving local healthcare access and affordability,” said Thomas Dee, CEO & president of SVMC. “This also helps us to recruit surgeons who are being trained on this technology and want to come to a hospital and health system with advanced expertise and equipment”
The da Vinci 5 will be used in general surgeries like gallbladder removal, hernia and colon surgery. It can also be used for gynecological and urological surgeries. The investment was made through the support of Dartmouth Health of which SVMC is a member. Rather than make a capital investment in the new da Vinci 5 system, the robot is set up on a “pay-per-click” contract.
Seth Bernard, DO is SVMC’s first surgeon to use the da Vinci 5 system. He performed surgeries using similar robotic systems during his residency.
“Bringing this type of technology to the community allows people to stay here,” said Bernard. “The last thing we want for our patients and the community is that they have to travel for a procedure. This allows them to stay local, heal quicker and go home sooner.”
The da Vinci 5 system provides the precision and visibility needed to take on more complex procedures. Benefits of robotic surgery include shorter post-surgery hospital stays, faster recovery times, lower likelihood of complications and less need for opioid painkillers. The latest system also provides surgeons with “force feedback,” so they can feel the push and pull exerted on tissue during surgery, allowing for an even more gentle and precise surgery. Dartmouth Health’s Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, acquired a da Vinci 5 in 2024.
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