TUCSON, Ariz. (March 12, 2026) — Banner – University Medicine Tucson has completed its first robotic-assisted living donor nephrectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove a kidney from a living donor for transplantation into a recipient.
The procedure was performed by a surgical team led by Ramesh Batra, MD, division chief of abdominal transplant surgery, using a state-of-the-art robotic-assisted surgical system.
This is the first procedure of its kind in Tucson, and the first across the Banner Health system.
“This milestone expands access to advanced transplant surgery options in southern Arizona,” Dr. Batra said. “For many donors and recipients, staying close to home can reduce the burden of travel and make recovery easier with family support nearby.”
Living donors often face barriers including time away from work, childcare needs and the logistical challenges of traveling for care. Local options can help donors focus on recovery close to home. Robotic-assisted surgery typically results in smaller incisions, less pain, therefore shorter recovery and can get back to their life much earlier, compared to open surgery.
The donor and recipient in this case were sisters Paula Haywood and Clarissa Shosie.
The 34-year-old Shosie was diagnosed with lupus as a teenager. As her kidney function declined, Haywood said she applied to be evaluated as a direct living donor.
“The family has been through lupus before,” Haywood said. “There’s no way we’re going to lose someone else, and if I can help my sister, I will.”
The transplant team marked the milestone with a hero walk at the hospital.
“That was the moment I could exhale,” Haywood said. “We did it. My sister and I could breathe and say, ‘It’s done.’”
Living kidney donations are a profound act of generosity that transforms lives, and is available to family members, friends or strangers following a medical evaluation.
“Living kidney donors make a remarkable, selfless choice, and we are committed to honoring that gift through innovative robotic technology and exceptional patient care.” said Dr. Batra. “There is no better place than Banner – University Medicine to support living donors and living organ donation.”
The long-term vision is to expand robotic techniques across all transplant procedures to further improve outcomes, precision and patient experience.
About Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South are part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Diamond Children's Medical Center and many specialty clinics. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/universitytucson or bannerhealth.com/universitysouth.
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