When Metal Meets Digital: The Best Surprises from SAGES 2026

Back in 2015, I wrote an article about the rise of surgical robots. Fast forward to 2026, and after walking the floor at the annual SAGES Conference in Tampa FL, I can confidently say that reality is fully here.

You might think a surgical conference like SAGES is all about the physical metal and instruments, The reality? There is a definite tie to digital health. All these incredible laparoscopic and robotic tools have to connect back to the operating room management systems (like Epic’s Optime) for capacity planning, outcomes tracking, and scheduling optimization.

While clinical surgery is pretty far outside of the normal stuff we cover, stepping out of our lane was incredibly refreshing. The physical devices on display were impressive, but so were the digital-only solutions making those tools smarter. From AI algorithms predicting post-operative complications to virtual reality modules assessing surgeon skills, I learned a ton about how the OR is evolving.

Below is my video summary of SAGES 2026, along with a quick rundown of the innovators I spoke with on the floor:

• Dimitrios Stefanidis, Vice Chair of Education, Chief MIS / Bariatric Surgery at Indiana University: His task force is gathering feedback from practicing surgeons to refine both realistic and virtual reality modules to assess robotic surgery skills.
• Luke Hares, Chief Innovation Officer & Co-Founder at CMR Surgical: Showcased Versius Plus, a modular, laparoscopic telepresence robot whose advanced handling characteristics are intensely software-defined.
• Katheryn Peterson, Head of Experimental Education Logistics at IRCAD North America: Shared how their Charlotte-based surgical education center has already hosted over 10,000 learners in their new facility in The Pearl.
• Nour Helwa, Vice President of Digital Health Solutions at FluidAI: Explained how their Stream Care product pulls EHR data into machine learning models to predict post-operative complications.
• Larry Perlman, Vice President at EIZO: Spoke about the need for 4K surgical displays equipped with remote calibration software to help IT manage their fleet with reduced staff.
• Dr. David Rawaf, Director of Clinical Strategy & Partnerships at VitVio: Demonstrated how they use cameras to create a 3D digital twin of the OR to automate tasks and act as an extra pair of hands for the clinical team.

The Bottom Line Being immersed in this side of healthcare was fantastic. Faster, more precise surgeries mean less time under the knife, which ultimately reduces risk and increases access for patients. I tip our hat to the SAGES organizers for running a stellar event and letting us check out the incredible innovation happening on their exhibit floor.

Back in 2015, I wrote an article about the rise of surgical robots. Fast forward to 2026, and after walking the floor at the annual SAGES Conference in Tampa FL, I can confidently say that reality is fully here.

You might think a surgical conference like SAGES is all about the physical metal and instruments, The reality? There is a definite tie to digital health. All these incredible laparoscopic and robotic tools have to connect back to the operating room management systems (like Epic’s Optime) for capacity planning, outcomes tracking, and scheduling optimization.

While clinical surgery is pretty far outside of the normal stuff we cover, stepping out of our lane was incredibly refreshing. The physical devices on display were impressive, but so were the digital-only solutions making those tools smarter. From AI algorithms predicting post-operative complications to virtual reality modules assessing surgeon skills, I learned a ton about how the OR is evolving.

Below is my video summary of SAGES 2026, along with a quick rundown of the innovators I spoke with on the floor:

• Dimitrios Stefanidis, Vice Chair of Education, Chief MIS / Bariatric Surgery at Indiana University: His task force is gathering feedback from practicing surgeons to refine both realistic and virtual reality modules to assess robotic surgery skills.
• Luke Hares, Chief Innovation Officer & Co-Founder at CMR Surgical: Showcased Versius Plus, a modular, laparoscopic telepresence robot whose advanced handling characteristics are intensely software-defined.
• Katheryn Peterson, Head of Experimental Education Logistics at IRCAD North America: Shared how their Charlotte-based surgical education center has already hosted over 10,000 learners in their new facility in The Pearl.
• Nour Helwa, Vice President of Digital Health Solutions at FluidAI: Explained how their Stream Care product pulls EHR data into machine learning models to predict post-operative complications.
• Larry Perlman, Vice President at EIZO: Spoke about the need for 4K surgical displays equipped with remote calibration software to help IT manage their fleet with reduced staff.
• Dr. David Rawaf, Director of Clinical Strategy & Partnerships at VitVio: Demonstrated how they use cameras to create a 3D digital twin of the OR to automate tasks and act as an extra pair of hands for the clinical team.

The Bottom Line Being immersed in this side of healthcare was fantastic. Faster, more precise surgeries mean less time under the knife, which ultimately reduces risk and increases access for patients. I tip our hat to the SAGES organizers for running a stellar event and letting us check out the incredible innovation happening on their exhibit floor.