Capital District Times

John Church and Stephen Smith have shared a close friendship for over three decades. When Smith, aged 64 from East Greenbush, needed a kidney due to nightly dialysis for kidney failure, Church, 60 from Delmar, stepped forward without hesitation to be tested as a potential donor.

Remarkably, despite the odds of matching being one in 100,000, Church was a match. He also became one of the first patients at Albany Medical Center’s Kidney Transplant Program to undergo robotic nephrectomy—a less invasive surgical technique using the da Vinci robotic system. This method promises improved outcomes for living kidney donors by offering quicker recovery with less pain and scarring compared to traditional surgeries.

“I was committed to donating my kidney to Stephen either way," Church stated. "But I was happy to hear that there was a much less invasive procedure with a better chance of success.”

Dr. Rauf Shahbazov, chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery at Albany Medical Center, explained that the robotic technique offers "a three-dimensional view and smaller, more flexible instruments," leading to faster patient recovery. He added that their program is known for providing high-quality care and is proud to offer this new technique.

In the United States alone, over 90,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Many opt to be tested as potential matches for friends or loved ones in need. Dr. Shahbazov emphasized that "the impact of robotic surgery on donors is great" and expressed hope that reduced pain and faster recovery times might encourage more individuals to consider living donation.

Both Church and Smith expressed gratitude for their experience at Albany Medical Center. Church noted feeling well-prepared by the transplant team and encouraged others to explore donation options if they have loved ones in need. Smith appreciated being treated locally where his support group resides and praised the personal care he received.

Since its inception in 2003, Albany Medical Center's Robotic Surgery program has catered to tens of thousands across various medical fields including cardiac and transplant surgery.