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A rare opportunity to touch and operate a surgical robot got a group of Lake Wales High School medical academy students excited this week, after AdventHealth Lake Wales offered them access to the sophisticated equipment.

"This is an exciting day for us. These students are our future health care providers," said AdventHealth Lake Wales President and CEO Royce Brown. "We want to do whatever we can to encourage them to follow their dreams and continue their pursuit of a career in health care. By having robotic surgical services here at AdventHealth Lake Wales, we are able to offer the highest level of care for our community.''

Courtesy AdventHealth

AdventHealth Lake Wales Surgeon Dr. Mazvita Simoyi addressed the student visitors who had an opportunity to operate a surgical robot in a simulated surgery.

The event "sparked some inspiration and encouraged Lake Wales High School medical academy students to further their health care careers," according to a statement issued by the hospital.

"This is really exciting," said Sophomore Savanna Williams, 16, who plans to be a thoracic surgeon. She said working with the robot was both fun and instructional. "I did really well with the robot. They said I was a natural.''

In all, thirty high school students had an opportunity to take over the controls of the surgical training robot, simulating complex procedures. They also had a chance to speak to some of the hospital's medical staff, including local surgeons and surgical team members, who described how they got started in their medical careers.

During the visit the students given the opportunity to name the surgical robot. They chose the name Jode-E, after their health sciences instructor Joe Hulett, giving him credit for encouraging them to do their best in anything they do.