Photo by Michael Williams
Dr. Rick Low
As the leading key opinion robotic surgeon in the United States, Dr. Low’s motto, “Faster, Smarter, Better, Safer,” has been the turning point for skeptics across the robotic field. He has performed more than 1,000 robotics operations and is well on his way to transforming his practices, Desert Surgical, into one of the leading general surgery practices.
What inspired you to make your career in the medical field?
Both of my parents are science teachers and, as a precocious child, I began reading science journals at a very early age and became interested. At age 8, I chose my medical school (John Hopkins) and my specialty (neurosurgery). After doing neurosurgery at Hopkins, though, I realized it was not what I wanted to do and became a general surgeon.
What are the biggest challenges you face working in your field?
The hardest thing both in my field and in life is “people don’t know what they don’t know” and making someone understand and see something that they don’t know exists or don’t know can become a reality is the most challenging. Robotic or computer-assisted surgery was one such topic that I really worked to become a reality beginning in 2007. Then, surgeons and hospitals thought it was “unnecessary” or “stupid” or “a waste of money and time.” Over three years, from 2012 to 2015, I trained more than 400 surgeons in 200-plus operating rooms, met with more than 1,000 hospital administrators and had more than 200 surgeons from around the world (including most of the surgeons doing robotics in Phoenix) in my operating room learning about robotics. Robotic and computer-assisted surgery is no longer new or novel. I am about to do the same thing again with more robotic technology and even bigger companies in the next two years.
What influence do you hope to have on the Valley?
I have either introduced, mentored or trained many of the surgeon doing robotics and computer-assisted surgery in the Valley and am referred to by them as the “old man” because of this. Even though these surgeons could be considered competition, I believe in the concept that “a rising tide lifts all ships” and never believed that the benefits of robotic and computer-assisted surgery are mine to use as a competitive advantage over others.
What are some of your free-time passions? I have six passions in my life and all of my free time (what little I have) is dedicated to them. They are my wife, Sophia, and my kids, Jordan, Kaleo, Kekoa, Kainoa and Kailia. Everyone knows that my entire focus even when working very hard in surgery is upon them and providing for them.
Dr. Sam Durrani
Dr. Durrani of Desert Surgical is well-known for his leading operations in pancreatic and oncologic surgery and advanced techniques in hernia repair and trauma surgery. He is on a noble mission to make quality healthcare affordable and transparent to all patients.
What is the most rewarding part of your career?
There is nothing better than making someone feel better. When patients are really ill and they look at you with despair, all their prejudices leave them and they look at you to fix them. There is nothing more rewarding than giving people hope and making them well and that helps me cope with the challenges of the healthcare system.
What are the biggest challenges you face working in your field?
Healthcare is broken; costs are out of control. There are unethical behaviors at all levels of the system and a few are corrupting the entire system and are consumed by their own financial gain. People are losing faith in the healthcare system, and we are bankrupting the country and our patients.
Has there been a recent advancement in your field that you are most excited about?
I think transparency of cost and outcomes is exciting. More and more insurance companies and hospitals are empowering patients to look for value-driven quality care, and I feel this is a promising horizon for my field. In healthcare, newer is not always better, but it is always usually more expensive, trying to figure out the balance between high-tech and cost-efficiency is challenging.
What influence do you hope to have on the Valley?
I want to make quality healthcare affordable. I want to help put an end to current unethical practices by trying to make healthcare costs transparent. I also want to help build a practice that is safe for young physicians to flourish without fear that they are being taken advantage.
What are some of your free-time passions?
Spending time with my wife and kids and my entire family is what I cherish most. It makes this demanding lifestyle worthwhile. I also love dining at the fine restaurants and watching the Buckeyes play football.
