ERBIL — Dr. Gazi Zebari, a Kurdish doctor originally from the Kurdistan Region and now residing in the United States, has successfully performed the first robotic-assisted living donor kidney transplant in North Louisiana.

The procedure took place at Willis-Knighton North Medical Center in Shreveport, where Dr. Zebari and his team utilized the advanced Da Vinci XI robotic surgical system. 

The surgery was completed successfully, marking a significant milestone in the region’s medical advancements.

According to the medical team, the robotic-assisted surgery offers several key benefits, including reduced pain, faster recovery, and a lower risk of wound infections.

“This new technology provides a second chance to patients who were previously deemed ineligible for kidney transplants due to being overweight or obese,” Dr. Zebari explained.

He emphasized, “This breakthrough will significantly enhance the quality of care for kidney transplant patients.”

Dr. Zebari has an impressive academic background, having graduated from the University of Tennessee and completed a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

Currently, he serves as an organ transplant surgeon at the Willis-Knighton Regional Transplant Center, where he takes pride in his contributions to both the Kurdish and international communities.