Minimally Invasive Therapy Center

About Us

UMMC MIS Pioneers

The University of Maryland Medical Center has a history of being among the first to use minimally invasive surgical techniques, dating back to the late 1980s. Examples of these firsts include:

First in U.S. to perform minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery with stented angioplasty at the same time in the same operating room
First in U.S. to perform 1,000 laparoscopic kidney removals from living donors for a transplant
First in U.S. to perform ulcer surgery using a laparoscope
First in Northeastern U.S. (third hospital in the nation) to remove a gallbladder in a minimally invasive way with the aid of a laparoscope
First in Maryland to perform laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection
First in Maryland to perform thoracoscopic lung resection
First in Maryland to perform laparoscopic hernia repair
First in Maryland to perform laparoscopic colon resection
First in Maryland to remove a spleen using a laparoscope

The University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine are committed to maintaining a leadership position in shaping the future of minimally invasive surgery, research, education and patient care. Because of this mission, the University of Maryland opened its Minimally Invasive Therapy Center (MITC) in the fall of 2004.

The Center includes a multidisciplinary team of specialists, who focus their efforts on developing and translating minimally invasive techniques and services into treatment, rehabilitation and cures for patients with specific health problems. These minimally invasive techniques, which include robot-assisted surgery, help to reduce scarring, pain, recovery time and hospital stays, while improving patient outcomes over more traditional or "open" procedures.

Our MITC is at the forefront of surgical innovations so advanced, it is improving patient diagnosis, treatment and recovery at a breathtaking pace. World-renowned surgeons, physicians and other clinical staff are pioneering new techniques and performing advanced procedures across all medical/surgical specialty areas. In short, if there is a minimally invasive option for care, chances are MITC has it.

These procedures are being performed in one of the nation's most technologically advanced surgical facilities, the "OR of the Future," which combines the most advanced video and communications equipment with information technology to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency.

This page was last updated on: July 20, 2007.

If you would like to make an appointment or talk to someone about our services, please call 1-800-492-5538 (patients) or 1-800-373-4111 (physicians).