Corewell Health’s Robotic Heart Surgery Gave Robert Lauro His Life Back

At Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, patients with mitral valve disease now have access to a groundbreaking robotic mitral valve repair program—the only one of its kind in Greater Metro Detroit. For 62-year-old Robert Lauro, this innovative approach meant the difference between a long, difficult recovery and quickly returning to the activities he loves.

Robert, an active father and grandfather who enjoys pickleball, golf and spending time with family, was diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation—a condition that, left untreated, could lead to heart failure. The standard treatment is open-heart surgery, which requires breaking the breastbone and a long, painful recovery.

Rakesh Suri, M.D., and his team offer a robotic-assisted alternative that reduces hospital stays, speeds up recovery and lowers costs. Unlike traditional surgery, which requires a large chest incision, this procedure is performed through just five tiny incisions.

The expansion of this program—including brand new ORs and state-of-the-art procedure rooms—means we can perform robotic mitral valve repairs across the state of Michigan.

By offering a less invasive, highly advanced alternative to open-heart surgery, Corewell Health is helping more people get back to the lives they love, faster and stronger than ever.