My journey through AGRO Week 2025

In January 2025, I participated in the AGRO Week 2025 workshop organized by Asian Society for Gynecologic Robotic Surgery (ASGRS). The program consisted of institutional visits to observe robotic surgeries at major hospitals in Korea, as well as an one-day cadaver hands-on workshop (Figs. 1-3). I decided to join because it offered the chance to experience surgeries at other institutions and provided the rare opportunity to participate in a cadaver workshop.

Fig. 1.

AGRO Week 2025 one-day cadaver workshop schedule.

Fig. 2.

AGRO Week 2025 one-day cadaver workshop robot device setting.

Fig. 3.

AGRO Week 2025 one-day cadaver workshop attendees.

The workshop included lectures on female pelvic anatomy, urogynecology, and radical hysterectomy. This was followed by hands-on training in a fully prepared setting with three robotic systems (two da Vinci Xi and one SP [Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA]) and cadaver stations. Gynecologists from across Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, took part in the training, and I was teamed up with participants from Thailand for the robotic practice sessions.

As part of the educational program, I also visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Severance Hospital. At Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, I observed Professor Dong Hoon Suh’s SP robotic total laparoscopic hysterectomy and sacrocolpopexy (Fig. 4), while at Severance Hospital I observed Professor Sang Wun Kim’s surgery using the da Vinci Xi system. Each institution had its own distinctive approach and technical details, and it was fascinating to witness full surgical procedures that I had previously only encountered in conference presentations.

Fig. 4.

AGRO Week 2025 institution visit, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.

AGRO Week proved to be more than just an observership. It allowed me to review my surgical skills and served as an important step toward becoming an independent robotic surgeon. After returning to Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, I performed my first robotic myomectomy and have since been exploring optimal port settings through a growing number of robotic cases.

I am confident that the lessons and connections gained through this program will be a valuable asset to my clinical practice and future research. For young surgeons seeking to build their experience in robotic gynecologic surgery, AGRO Week offers an invaluable opportunity.