Robotics Innovator Robert Webster Transforms Surgery

Engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Robert Webster III traces his passion for surgical robotics back to his childhood.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:15pm

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Robert Webster III, a professor at Vanderbilt University, has greatly advanced surgical robotics with a focus on improving accuracy and reducing invasiveness during procedures. His innovations have resulted in more than 75 patents and applications, as well as two startup companies, Virtuoso and EndoTheia, that have received breakthrough device designation from the FDA. Webster's latest work brings artificial intelligence into the lab by automating devices, with the goal of democratizing the skills of the best surgeons through AI robotic devices.

Why it matters

Webster's work in surgical robotics has the potential to provide better surgical care for patients around the world by making the skills of top surgeons more widely accessible through AI-powered robotic devices. His innovations have already led to successful tumor removal surgeries and could reduce recovery times and complications for patients.

The details

As an undergraduate at Clemson in 2001, Webster learned about the first transatlantic tele-surgical operation using a robot, which sparked his interest in surgical robotic engineering. His innovations have focused on creating smaller tools that enhance a surgeon's dexterity, allowing for smaller incisions or even no incisions. Innovations from Webster's lab have resulted in more than 75 patents and applications and two startup companies, Virtuoso and EndoTheia, that have received breakthrough device designation from the FDA and successfully completed first human use of their devices.

  • In May 2025, Webster's team was able to remove 11 tumors out of six patients with bladder cancer using their new devices.
  • Recently, Webster was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors as well as elevated to IEEE Fellow.

The players

Robert Webster III

An engineer, inventor and entrepreneur who is the senior associate provost for commercialization and technology transfer and head of the Medical Engineering and Discovery Lab at Vanderbilt University. He is also the Richard A. Schroeder Professor of Mechanical Engineering, professor of electrical engineering, otolaryngology, neurological surgery, urologic surgery and of medicine.

Virtuoso

A startup company founded by Webster that has received breakthrough device designation from the FDA and successfully completed first human use of its devices.

EndoTheia

A startup company founded by Webster that has received breakthrough device designation from the FDA and successfully completed first human use of its devices.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up my parents really trained me to be a researcher without even knowing it. I was homeschooled, and my mom and dad empowered me to turn the world into a research problem. They'd say, 'why don't you figure out how to do an experiment on this or how would you get more information about that?'”

— Robert Webster III, Professor (Mirage News)

“I believe AI in surgery will provide better surgical care for patients around the world in terms of democratizing the skills of the best surgeons through AI robotic devices. Imagine if every single patient could be treated as well as we treat the top 10 percent right now? AI automation and robotics have the potential to make that happen.”

— Robert Webster III, Professor (Mirage News)

What’s next

Webster's Vanderbilt lab and startup Virtuoso recently received a $12 million award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration around automating robotic surgery, which will further advance his work in bringing AI into the operating room.

The takeaway

Robert Webster III's pioneering work in surgical robotics has the potential to transform the medical field by making the expertise of top surgeons more widely accessible through AI-powered robotic devices, ultimately improving surgical outcomes and reducing recovery times for patients.