CHOC’s pediatric robotic surgery program is the second largest in the United States among freestanding children’s hospitals. CHOC's Pediatric Surgical Specialists were the first in the world to perform robotic surgery on a child with a chest tumor. And, they performed four procedures that were not previously done at CHOC using robotics: Heller myotomy, splenectomy, laparoscopic pull-through for imperforate anus, and lung resection. Currently the busiest pediatric robotic surgical program on the west coast, the unit is on the fast track to becoming the leading program in the world.

The team at Pediatric Surgical Specialists includes Dr. David Gibbs, Dr. Mustafa Kabeer, and Dr. Vinh Lam. The doctors are receiving international recognition for their pioneering work with robotic surgery. At the prestigious conference of the International Pediatric Endosurgeries Group, the doctors were invited to make a presentation. Attended by hundreds, the conference was held in Venice, Italy in June 2005. In addition, the group wrote a chapter on pediatric robotic surgery for the first medical textbook on robotic surgery.