Mercy Health - Anderson Hospital picks winner of Name the Robot contest | Schools

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) - SARA is the name of the new surgical robotic system at Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital.

Jonah Maifield, a sixth grade student at Wilson Elementary, submitted the winning entry (S.A.R.A. = Surgical Advanced Robotic Aid).  For his efforts, Jonah won a new iPad, along with his place in Anderson Hospital history as the person who named the robot. Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital will post a plaque bearing his name in the Surgery Department to recognize his winning entry.  Mercy Health announced the winner of the Name the Robot contest during a special event at the hospital.

There were so many great entries that Mercy Health added a second place prize. Jack Kilfoil, a sixth grader at Guardian Angels, won an iPod as the runner up for his suggestion of O.M.A.R. (Operating Mercy Anderson Robot).

The contest was open to all students in grades 4 – 6 at all six elementary schools in the Forest Hills School District, Guardian Angels and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The contest called for students to come up with a name for the daVinci Surgical Robotic Simulator that is used to perform minimally-invasive surgery at Anderson Hospital.  Two teams from the hospital went to the schools in May to tell the students about the contest and about the robotic simulator.

Out of more than 2,000 entries, hospital staff selected 16 finalists and invited them to the hospital for breakfast, the announcement of the winner, a guided tour of an operating room at the hospital and the chance to get hands-on with the surgical robotic simulator.  It’s a little bit like playing a video game, so the kids were naturals.  The students also received their own ID badges and put on scrubs as they went for a tour of the surgery department at the hospital. They got to see what goes into preparing for a surgery and how physicians and nurses work together during a procedure.

“This was a lot of fun and a great event that helped the students get a firsthand look at health care and how the technology we are using today helps our patients be well,” said Stephen Feagins, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Anderson Hospital and coordinator of the Name the Robot contest.  “They all seemed to enjoy the chance to try the simulator and get a sense of what it’s like to perform a surgery.”

Every student who submitted an entry received a surgeon kit from the hospital that included a mask, hat, booties, Mercy Health mini first-aid kit and pen, and a special letter from the Donald Buckley, MD, the chief of staff at Anderson Hospital.

“We are thrilled by the learning opportunities that took place throughout this partnership,” said Superintendent Dr. Dallas Jackson.  “The teams from Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital generously gave of their time to provide our students with an informational presentation about the medical profession, the hospital’s new daVinci surgical robot, and invited the students to participate in the Name the Robot contest…. This is a tremendous example of how school/business partnerships are beneficial to all involved.”

Below is a list of finalists and their entries for the Name the Robot contest:

• Suki- Lily Brown, grade 4, Sherwood Elementary
• DaVincinator- Lindy Behling, grade 6, Sherwood Elementary
• O.M.A.R. (Operating Mercy Anderson Robot)-Jack Kilfoil, grade 6, Guardian Angels 
• The Fixinator-Brian Shumrick, grade 5, Guardian Angels 
• L.O.U.I.S. (Loveable, Outstanding, Unusual, Incredible, Surgeon)-Lauren Lautermilch, grade 6, Immaculate Heart of Mary 
• S.P.U.R. (Surgical Precision Utility Robot)-Nick Wasserstrom, grade 6, Immaculate Heart of Mary 
• M.A.S.E. (Making A Surgery Easy)-Maddie Weitz, grade 6, Maddux Elementary 
• H.O.P.E. (Helpful Operating Patient Engineer)-Blake Machesky, grade 6, Maddux Elementary 
• Tweaser-Philip Meserly, grade 4, Mercer Elementary 
• R.O.M.H. (Robot of Mercy Health)-Blair Forrester, grade 5, Mercer Elementary 
• R.O.B. (Robotic Operating Buddy)-Alex Botsford, grade 6, Summit Elementary 
• Shadow-Jacob Toole, grade 5, Summit Elementary 
• M.A.X. (Mechanical Apparatus Extremist)-Jake Hastings, grade 6, Ayer Elementary 
• S.I.R. (Surgical Intervention Robot)-Trevor Cromwell, grade 6, Ayer Elementary 
• Mimmick-Clair Seta, grade 5, Wilson Elementary 
• S.A.R.A (Surgical Advanced Robotic Aid)-Jonah Maifeld, grade 6, Wilson Elementary

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