Donor support powers lifesaving surgical robot at HSC, bringing hope to lung cancer patients.
Thirty-three-year-old An Ji Li was diagnosed with a lung cancer in early 2025.
For lung cancer patients like An Ji Li, time is everything. And thanks to HSC Foundation donors, state-of-the-art, robot-assisted surgery is making every second count.
“When you hear the word ‘cancer’ everything stops. But knowing I had access to this technology gave me real hope,” says 33-year-old Li.
Born and raised in China, Li moved to Winnipeg in 2011. After graduating from the electrical engineering department at the University of Manitoba he began working in his field. He was healthy, thriving in his career, and building an exciting new life in Manitoba—until December 2024.
“In December I began coughing up blood. That was the first sign of trouble,” Li explains. After a trip to his family doctor to address the alarming symptoms, Li underwent an emergency CT scan. “Almost immediately after the CT scan I was referred to HSC under the care of Dr. Gilly Akhtar-Danesh and her team.”
Thoracic surgeon Dr. Akhtar-Danesh joined HSC in 2023 from Ontario with a master’s degree in robotic surgery. Today, she leads a team of health care professionals working at HSC’s donor-funded Wilf Taillieu Thoracic Surgery Clinic and Endoscopy Unit as they treat patients from across Manitoba and beyond who are coping with lung and esophageal conditions.
Earlier this year, the HSC Foundation, in partnership with HSC and the provincial government, announced the arrival of the province’s first surgical robot. The da Vinci Xi surgical robot was funded through the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign, a multi-year plan with the goal of elevating health care in Manitoba. The robot is currently being used across multiple specialties at HSC including thoracic surgery, gynecologic cancer surgery, and urology.
Upon receiving Li’s case, Dr. Akhtar-Danesh and her team moved Li through a rapid series of tests. The diagnosis: a tumour, more than four centimetres in his lower right lung. Li needed surgery and he quickly became one of the first lung cancer patients in the region to benefit from a robot-assisted lobectomy.
“I was nervous about having surgery for the first time,” Li says. “But going into the surgery, knowing that it was robot-assisted really eased my mind.”
Unlike traditional lung surgery that requires a large incision, robot-assisted surgery uses a high-definition 3D camera and tiny instruments to remove cancerous tissue with pinpoint accuracy. The use of the surgical robot allows for smaller incisions, fewer complications, and a much faster recovery.
Manitoba’s first surgical robot, Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci Xi, was officially unveiled in late April and funded by the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign in partnership with the Province of Manitoba.
“I have compared my experience with a friend of mine who underwent the traditional surgery for lung cancer, and the whole experience is night and day for the patient,” he says.
An Ji Li received lifesaving, robotic-assisted surgery at HSC in February 2025.
Li underwent a robot-assisted lobectomy at HSC in February 2025, three months after first discovering his symptoms. He was discharged one day after his surgery and promptly began chemotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
“The robot, the surgical team, the care I received—it all worked together to change what could have been the worst chapter of my life into something I could face with strength and confidence,” Li adds.
This is what donor support makes possible: faster access to lifesaving care, less invasive procedures, and hope when it is needed most.
Please support Operation Excellence—a community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC Winnipeg—to improve care for patients like An Ji Li. To learn more about Operation Excellence and to make your donation, visit OperationExcellence.ca.
