1,000 Surgeries, One Vision: How Adventist Health Simi Valley Is Changing Local Medicine
Monica Berlin 
Adventist Health Simi Valley Reaches 1,000 Robotic Surgeries, Strengthening Local Access to Advanced Care
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Simi Valley reaches a new moment in local healthcare this week. Adventist Health Simi Valley completes its 1,000th surgery using the Da Vinci DV5 robotic system. The milestone shows steady progress over time, driven by trained teams and ongoing investment in advanced tools. For local patients, it means more complex care is now available close to home, with technology that continues to raise the standard of treatment.
A luncheon held on campus brought together the surgeons, nurses, technologists, and hospital leaders who built the robotic surgery program into one of Ventura County’s most advanced. The atmosphere carried a sense of pride and purpose, recognizing the collective effort that has expanded the hospital’s capabilities and transformed the surgical experience for patients.
Since introducing the da Vinci Surgical System, Adventist Health Simi Valley has established itself as a leader in bariatric, gastrointestinal, general, and hernia surgery. The technology allows for exceptional precision through smaller incisions, reducing pain, blood loss, and recovery time. Many patients return home the same day and require only non-narcotic pain medication during recovery.
The robotic approach delivers measurable results. Patients experience less discomfort, shorter hospital stays, and faster returns to daily life. Each procedure is guided by a team committed to both surgical excellence and compassionate, whole-person care.
At the center of this success is Dr. Andrea Pakula, Medical Director of Robotic Surgery. An internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Pakula has helped shape the hospital’s reputation as a destination for advanced surgical treatment. She is among a select group of surgeons nationwide who train peers in complex hernia repair using the da Vinci system, and her patients often recover comfortably with only over-the-counter pain relief.
Adventist Health Simi Valley’s commitment to excellence has earned national recognition as Ventura County’s first and only Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery, accredited by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). This designation reflects the hospital’s dedication to patient safety, clinical quality, and continuous improvement.
The 1,000th DV5 robotic surgery marks a moment of pride for both the hospital and the community it serves. Each procedure represents a step forward in expanding access to world-class care close to home. As Adventist Health Simi Valley continues to invest in new technology and training, its mission remains clear: to provide the most effective, least invasive, and most compassionate care possible for every patient who walks through its doors.
This milestone stands as a sign of progress in motion — a reflection of how far Simi Valley’s healthcare system has come and how it continues to grow for the future.
