WVU Uniontown Hospital marks a year of robotic surgeries
WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its Robotic Surgery Program, which has expanded access to advanced minimally invasive surgical care for patients throughout Fayette County and the surrounding region.
Robotic assistance allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions while maintaining enhanced precision, flexibility, and control. This often results in less pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and an earlier return to normal activities for many patients.
“The robotic platform has transformed the way we deliver surgical care in our community,” Dr. Jennifer Rittenhouse-Puhak, general surgeon at Uniontown Hospital, said. “Today, we perform most hernia repairs robotically, and we have expanded the program to include colon surgery and other advanced procedures. This technology allows us to offer patients the benefits of minimally invasive surgery while continuing to grow the services available close to home.”
Unlike what some patients may assume, robotic-assisted surgery does not mean a robot performs the operation independently. The surgeon remains in complete control of the procedure throughout the operation.
“The robot is a tool that enhances a surgeon’s capabilities and allows us to perform a broader range of procedures using a minimally invasive approach,” Dr. Andrew Licata, general surgeon at Uniontown Hospital, said. “It allows us to deliver advanced surgical care while keeping patients close to home.”
The Robotic Surgery Program is part of Uniontown Hospital’s ongoing investment in advanced clinical services and its continued integration with WVU Medicine. Other robotically-trained surgeons are Dr. Brandon Ball, Chief of Surgery, performing general surgery procedures, as well as Drs. Carly O’Connor-Terry, Dalenna Sunyecz, and Lawrence Glad, performing gynecological procedures.
Under the leadership of Ball, M.D., Daniel Battista, associate vice president of operations at Uniontown Hospital, and Linda Kunkel, B.S.N., R.N., administrative director for surgical services, the robotic surgery team developed substantial expertise since launching the program on July 1, 2025, supporting more than 400 procedures across multiple surgical specialties.
In April, Davis R. Hall IV, 43, of Fairchance, underwent robotic-assisted surgery at Uniontown Hospital following a colon cancer diagnosis.
“I am so thankful that Dr. Rittenhouse and her team are trained on such advanced technology, which is wonderful to have so close to home,” Hall said. “I was up and moving two days after surgery and I think it would have taken much longer with a different kind of procedure.”