Behind every successful robotic operation stands a team of highly trained consultants who bring together years of surgical experience and specialized robotic training. Saint James Hospital’s robotic surgery team is united by a shared mission: delivering precision-driven, compassionate care using the most advanced technology available.
Meet the Robotic Surgery Team
Professor Dr. Ralf Konstantin Senner
MD. ETC.
Professor Ralf Konstantin Senner is an internationally recognized pioneer in robotic bariatric surgery, with over two decades of experience advancing surgical innovation across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. His expertise spans robotic systems from the earliest Zeus, AESOP, and Socrates platforms to the latest Da Vinci SI, X, and XI systems, demonstrating an enduring commitment to technological leadership and excellence in patient outcomes.
In 2000, Professor Senner founded the first Robotic Surgery Center in Germany, located in Munich, marking a major milestone in European robotic-assisted surgery. Three years later, in 2003, he launched the first university-based robotic surgery program in Europe at the University of Medicine in Klausenburg, Romania, achieving a world-first in remote robot-assisted surgery, performed over a distance of 1,500 km from Munich. His groundbreaking work in telesurgery and telementoring—recognized in the British Medical Journal (October 2003)—laid the foundation for international tele-education in robotic surgery.
In 2004, Professor Senner established the Munich Institute for Bariatric Robotic Surgery, within the Robotic Surgery Clinic Munich. The Institute became an official partner of the Health Department of the UAE Consulate in Munich, managing complex obesity cases referred from institutions such as Johns Hopkins Hospital Abu Dhabi. His leadership in this domain has set new benchmarks for safety and efficacy in robotic obesity surgery.
Throughout his career, Professor Senner has expanded his expertise internationally—implementing robotic bariatric programs in Switzerland (2010) and Egypt (2012), where he co-founded the Department of Bariatric Robotic Surgery at Al Safwa Hospital, Cairo with Professor Serag Zakaria. His academic influence also extended to Russia, where he was invited by Professor Kashenko in 2014 to deliver lectures at the International School of Gastric Surgery in St. Petersburg.
Professor Senner’s contributions to surgical innovation include the introduction of the four-arm Da Vinci system for bariatric surgery (2015) and early European testing of the Da Vinci Smart Stapler in 2016—an unprecedented advancement in robotic bariatric technology. His evaluations and demonstrations were widely covered by the Medical Tribune and Bariatric News, emphasizing his role in shaping the next generation of robotic surgical instruments.
In 2017, Professor Senner was invited as an expert evaluator at the German National Congress of Surgery in Munich by Intuitive Surgical Inc., assessing the clinical performance of the Da Vinci X platform for Europe. Later that year, he was honored with the “Diploma of Excellence” from the University of Medicine, Bucharest, recognizing his significant contributions to the development of endoscopic and robotic surgery.
Between 2014 and 2020, Professor Senner presented and performed live robotic demonstrations in leading surgical centers across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, including Lyon, Nice, Vienna, Zurich, St. Petersburg, Cairo, Kuwait, and Rome, under the banner of “Quo vadis robotic surgery? – Fiction or Reality”.
From 2020 to 2024, he established the European Centre of Robotic Obesity Surgery (CECRO) at Clinic Quisisana, Rome, now recognized as a European Center of Excellence for robotic bariatric surgery. He currently serves as Director of the European Centre of Robotic Obesity Surgery at Madonna della Fiducia Clinic, Rome, and as Docent in Robotic Obesity Surgery at UniCamillus University, Rome.
Over his career, Professor Senner has performed more than 5,000 robotic surgical procedures, positioning him among Europe’s foremost authorities in robotic-assisted bariatric and metabolic surgery.
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Professor Antonio Carbone
MD. ETC.
Professor Antonio Carbone is a distinguished urologist with over three decades of clinical and surgical experience, specializing in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and robotic urological procedures. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing surgical innovation and excellence in patient care within academic and hospital settings.
From 1991 to 2004, Professor Carbone served as a Medical Assistant and 1st Level Assistant at the Department of Urology “U. Bracci”, University of Rome “La Sapienza.” During this period, he engaged extensively in both clinical and operative activities, acting as primary surgeon, assistant, and tutor in numerous procedures. Between 1995 and 1996, he contributed as a consultant urologist at the Campus Biomedico University Hospital in Rome, performing 108 surgical operations, including 84 as lead surgeon.
From 2008 to 2012, Professor Carbone further distinguished himself at the “A. Fiorini” Hospital in Terracina and La Sapienza University, conducting 594 procedures — 408 as first operator and 186 as tutor. His expertise extended to the “S. Maria Goretti” Hospital in Latina from 2010 to 2011, where he executed 73 surgical interventions, including 47 as lead surgeon.
Since December 2011, Professor Carbone has directed the University Urology Unit at the “ICOT” Hospital in Latina – Presidio Ospedaliero Nord ASL LT – University Pavilion “S. Maria Goretti,” Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, where he has performed over 2,500 operations. His leadership has firmly established the department as a center of excellence in minimally invasive urological surgery, accounting for over 81% of total procedures performed. Among these, laparoscopic and robotic surgeries represent 34.23%, and endoscopic surgeries constitute 65.77%, demonstrating his commitment to pioneering less invasive, precision-driven methods in urology.
Professor Carbone’s adoption of robotic surgical techniques—using Da Vinci Surgical Systems (Intuitive Surgical Platforms X and XI)—began in 2017. Since then, he has performed 316 robotic-assisted procedures, encompassing radical prostatectomy, cystectomy, partial nephrectomy, and radical nephrectomy. His robotic surgical expertise is formally certified by AB Medica and documented within the Intuitive Surgical database, underscoring his standing as a leader in advanced urological surgery.
Through his clinical innovation, surgical mastery, and dedication to teaching, Professor Antonio Carbone continues to shape the future of urology at both national and international levels.
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Professor Graziano Pernazza
MD ETC
Professor Graziano Pernazza is a leading authority in Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery, widely recognized for his contributions to the advancement of minimally invasive surgical techniques.
A graduate in General Surgery from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Professor Pernazza has built an exceptional career focused on Digestive Oncologic Surgery and the management of abdominal parenchymal tumors. His clinical expertise encompasses the treatment of malignancies of the colon, stomach, pancreas, and rectum, combining precision, innovation, and patient-centered care.
Since January 2017, Professor Pernazza has served as Head of the Departmental Simple Operative Unit of Robotic Surgery for General Surgery at the San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital in Rome. Under his leadership, the department has become a national benchmark for advanced robotic procedures in general and oncologic surgery.
Professor Pernazza has authored numerous book chapters and scientific papers dedicated to minimally invasive colorectal surgery, robotic pancreatic surgery, and the management of gastrointestinal bleeding, many of which have been published in leading international surgical journals. His academic and clinical research has helped refine operative standards and expand the role of robotic systems in complex abdominal procedures.
In addition to his clinical and research activities, Professor Pernazza is a founding member of the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association (CRSA), reflecting his long-standing commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the global surgical community.
Through his expertise, scientific rigor, and dedication to education, Professor Graziano Pernazza continues to be a reference point in the field of robotic and laparoscopic surgery, advancing both the practice and the philosophy of minimally invasive medicine.
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