When Dr Janani Krishnan arrived in Townsville, she brought with her a rare blend of international expertise, surgical precision, and a deep commitment to improving regional health outcomes. In just a few years, she has transformed paediatric surgical care in North Queensland, not only by expanding access to high-quality procedures for children across the region but also by pioneering Queensland’s first paediatric robotic surgery on the Da Vinci Xi system in the public health sector.

A warning for parents to trust their instincts especially when young babies and children fall ill. Timely emergency surgery can prevent further complications and potentially save lives.

The three-year-old from Weipa, on the Cape York Peninsula, has undergone the hitech procedure to correct a painful kidney condition in what has been called an extraordinary clinical achievement. The operation was carried out at the Mater Private Hospital Townsville - Australia's leading centre for paediatric robotic surgery, with doctors using the $.13m da Vinci system to perform minimally-invasive surgeries.

Queensland’s first ever paediatric robotic-assisted surgery takes place at Mater Private Hospital Townsville through our partnership with Townsville HHS.

When Dr Janani Krishnan arrived in Townsville, she brought with her a rare blend of international expertise, surgical precision, and a deep commitment to improving regional health outcomes. In just a few years, she has transformed paediatric surgical care in North Queensland, not only by expanding access to high-quality procedures for children across the region but also by pioneering Queensland’s first paediatric robotic surgery on the Da Vinci Xi system in the public health sector.