The Center for Advanced Orthopedic Surgery, a partnership between South County Health and Ortho Rhode Island, proudly marks 15 years of robotic-assisted joint replacement with the Mako system, reflecting a long-term commitment to innovation, precision, and patient-centered care that is nationally recognized.
South County Hospital has been at the forefront of this technology from the beginning. The first Mako procedure at South County Hospital was performed in December 2010, initially for partial knee replacements. Adoption quickly expanded to total hip procedures in 2011—making South County Hospital one of the first sites in the nation to offer this technology—and total knee procedures in 2016, with Dr. Marchand becoming one of the first surgeons in the world to perform a total knee replacement using the Mako platform.
A Legacy of Surgical Leadership
Over the past 15 years, South County Hospital and Ortho Rhode Island have built one of the most experienced and respected Mako programs anywhere in the world:
Robert Marchand, MD performed his first Mako case in December 2010 and recently surpassed 10,000 procedures across all sites including over 9,500 at South County Hospital, a testament to his world-class skill, dedication, and global leadership in robotic-assisted surgery.
David B. Burns, DO, another cornerstone of the program, is approaching 2,000 procedures at SCH.
Sidney Migliori, MD, who began in 2016, is at the cusp of 1,000 procedures, highlighting the long-term commitment of these expert surgeons to robotic-assisted care.
In total, more than 16 orthopedic surgeons at South County Hospital have performed Mako-assisted total hip, total knee, or partial knee replacements. Across 15 years, this partnership has enabled over 17,000 patients in southern Rhode Island to receive precise, personalized joint replacement surgery—close to home and without compromise.
A Future Built on Continued Investment
Growth continues in 2025 with the installation of the Mako 4 system in early 2025, placing South County Hospital among the first in the world to offer the cutting edge Mako 4.0, reflecting an ongoing investment in technology, training, and patient outcomes. With South County Health’s investment in Mako 4.0, the hospital now operates four Mako robots, expanding capacity and ensuring patients have access to the most advanced joint replacement options available anywhere.
Interested in more history on this incredible program? South County Health | Orthopedics Center celebrates 10 years/10,000…
