WVU Medicine expands advanced surgical options close to home

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center is expanding advanced surgical care for patients across the Eastern Panhandle and Tri-State region with new robotic-assisted joint replacement and surgical guidance capabilities designed to bring highly specialized care closer to home.  

The hospital has begun using the Mako robotic-assisted total joint replacement system for knee and hip procedures and is introducing Stealth Axis robotic surgical guidance technology to support complex spine and neurosurgical care. Together, the investments expand the tools available to Berkeley Medical Center surgeons as the hospital continues to grow specialty services for the region. 

“For our patients, the most important part of this story is not the technology itself - it is what the technology allows our clinical teams to do,” said Mark O’Hern, regional president of WVU Health System and president and CEO of WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center. “We are building the people, programs and capabilities needed so more patients can receive sophisticated care here in the Eastern Panhandle, close to their families and support systems.”  

Mako uses advanced 3D planning and real-time guidance to support precise implant positioning and alignment during knee and hip replacement procedures, helping surgeons tailor the surgical plan to the individual patient. Stealth Axis provides advanced visualization and navigation to support planning and decision-making during complex spine procedures.  

“Robotic and image-guided technologies are most valuable when they enhance the expertise of the surgeon and support a more personalized approach to care,” said Dr. Michael Londner, chief medical officer at Berkeley Medical Center. “These platforms give our teams additional information and precision while keeping clinical judgment where it belongs - with the physician.” 

The new capabilities build on a growing robotic surgery program across WVU Medicine Hospitals East. Berkeley Medical Center introduced da Vinci robotic surgery in 2019 and added its fourth da Vinci system earlier this year. Jefferson Medical Center launched its robotic surgery program in 2024 and recently completed its 500th da Vinci robotic-assisted procedure. Berkeley Medical Center’s surgical team has completed more than 3,500 da Vinci procedures.  

The investments are part of a broader period of growth at Berkeley Medical Center, where WVU Medicine is expanding hospital capacity, specialty care and clinical programs to meet the needs of a rapidly growing region.  

To learn more about surgical services at WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center, visit: wvumedicine.org/roboticsurgery