R2 Surgical Debuts Documentary at VES Conference in Japan

R2 Surgical to Debut Documentary Short, Robots to the Rescue at Annual Veterinary Endoscopy Society Conference in Japan

KYOTO, JAPAN — Robots aren’t replacing veterinarians. They’re making them unstoppable.

At this year’s annual Veterinary Endoscopy Society (VES) conference in Kyoto, Japan, attendees will witness the world premiere of Robots to the Rescue, a short documentary chronicling the first-ever live animal robotic surgeries in the United States. The screening will take place on August 4.

View the trailer here:

The film follows Dr. Nicole Buote, President of VES and Associate Professor of Surgery at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, as she pursues a bold dream: bringing robotic surgery to the veterinary field. What began as an ambitious vision quickly transformed into a groundbreaking reality—one captured with empathy and cinematic expert photography by award-winning filmmakers Christy Frank and Grace Eggleston.

From Finley the Great Dane, the very first recipient of a live animal robotic procedure, to Sunny the Mastiff’s powerful story of recovery, Robots to the Rescue offers a front-row seat to a technological leap that could redefine standards of care, education, and accessibility in veterinary surgery.

“I wanted to figure out if there were procedures that we’re not doing now in a minimally invasive way for our pets,” said Dr. Buote. “So much of this technology has been tested on animals and they don’t get to benefit from it, so I really wanted to take back some of that technology for us.”

The documentary also highlights how Cornell tackled one of the most significant barriers to adoption: cost. In partnership with R2 Surgical, a leader in affordable, high-quality pre-owned surgical systems, the university successfully installed a da Vinci® Si-e™ robot at its Ithaca campus in 2023. This collaboration culminated in the successful completion of a Gastropexy on Finley, demonstrating the robot’s precision and promise in animal care.

“Robotic systems like the da Vinci® have transformed human surgery,” said Tom Shrader, Founder and President of R2 Surgical. “We’re proud to help extend that same potential to veterinary medicine—sustainably, affordably, and with ongoing support.”

More than a story about technology, Robots to the Rescue explores how innovation, compassion, and collaboration can create new possibilities, both in the operating room and in the lives of the animals treated there.

Following the premiere at VES, the full film will be available to stream via R2 Surgical's website.

About VES

The Veterinary Endoscopy Society (VES) is a global organization promoting minimally invasive surgical techniques in veterinary medicine, including laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and arthroscopy. VES advances patient care through education, outreach, and professional collaboration.

About R2 Surgical

R2 Surgical provides hospitals, universities, and veterinary institutions with affordable access to pre-owned surgical robotics, instrumentation, and ongoing system support. By repurposing advanced technologies, R2 Surgical helps organizations overcome budgetary barriers while expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in modern surgery.

Media Contact:
Mike Anderson
Marketing Director
mike@r2surgical.com