Prostatectomy Team

World Class Robotic Surgery Program

Florida Hospital is proud to be at the forefront of technology in prostate cancer care, and we are shaping the future of surgical treatments with the creation of the GRI. In 2007, when Dr. Vipul Patel joined the staff at Florida Hospital, he and his team formed the institute, the culmination of new advancements in minimally invasive surgical technologies, world-renowned physicians, an experienced staff, and a state-of-the-art facility -- all to provide patients with individualized state-of-the-art patient care with superior outcomes.

From the beginning, the programs goal was singular and direct to cure cancer and minimize the side effects of treatment. Our plan was to create the worlds most capable and experienced surgical, nursing and administrative team to deliver the most comprehensive, compassionate and advanced patient care.

At the GRI, we provide individualized, compassionate care to give you the best results. Our hand-selected team takes care of your specific needs from the day that you contact us through the culmination of your treatment.  We focus on the care of urologic cancer patients only and understand the individualized needs of each person, providing a nurturing and inspiring environment for diagnosis, treatment and recovery.  In fact, our facility houses an entire floor dedicated solely to robotic surgery patients and their families. We also have multilingual staff on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer any questions or concerns you may have before and after surgery.

Our patients have traveled from as far as Australia, Asia and the Middle East to seek care from Dr. Patel and his team, who consistently train and mentor physicians from around the world to extend our knowledge and expertise.  We have trained physicians all over the world, from as far away as the United Kingdom, Korea, China, South America and Australia. 

Kenneth J. Palmer, MD

Director, Global Robotics Institute - Latin America

Our team is comprised of physicians from around the world that enables us to better serve our international patients. Dr. Kenneth J. Palmer is our leader in Latin America and serves to bridge the gap between the two cultures. His exceptional skill and patient care has led him to become a vital part of our team. He supports Dr. Patel by helping evaluate and care for our patients.

Practicing medicine has been a life-long dream for Dr. Palmer, whose journey in health care began as an inspired youth from Maracaibo, Venezuela. His love of helping others and fascination with improving health led him to medical school, and in 1997 he received his doctorate from La Universidad del Zulia. From there, he went on to Universidad Central de Venezuela, graduating with a degree in general surgery in 2002, followed by a urology degree with honors in 2005. While earning his fellowship in neuro-urology, urodynamics and female urology at Hospital de Clinicas Caracas in 2006, Dr. Palmer co-founded the first robotic surgery program in Latin America. The following year, he began a fellowship in robotic and minimally invasive urological surgery at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, where Dr. Patel was teaching. It was there that Dr. Patel recognized Dr. Palmer’s talent and asked him to join the staff at the Florida Hospital Global Robotics Institute (GRI).