What if surgeons used game film like pro athletes?

When people hear “surgical robotics,” they often think the technology takes over. The reality is more nuanced and more human. Instead, surgical robots support a doctor’s expertise, decision-making, and consistency in the operating room. The human element remains essential.

George Murgatroyd, VP and General Manager of Digital Technologies at Medtronic, sat down with Dan Stoyanov, our VP of R&D Surgical AI, to take a closer look at how AI, robotics, and digital tools provide “game footage” for surgeons to study. As part of our Health Tech Untapped series, they examine how this evolving technology helps surgeons learn, collaborate, and deliver care — and the value that brings to patients.

So, how are surgeons like elite athletes? You might be surprised by the answer.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Murgatroyd: Dan, you work in surgical innovation, but you’re also a professor of robotic vision. What exactly does that mean?
Stoyanov: It’s a fair question — I sometimes ask myself the same thing. My work focuses on helping surgical robots “see” more like surgeons. For about 25 years, I’ve worked on technology that analyzes surgical video to understand what’s happening during a procedure — what anatomy is visible, how instruments are moving, and how the surgery is progressing. These are things humans process instinctively, and we’re teaching machines to do something similar.

Murgatroyd: Why should patients care about how surgeons learn and collaborate?
Stoyanov: Because learning directly impacts care. I like to compare surgery to elite sports. When you watch a game, you see deep analysis — how players move, how teams coordinate. Surgeons haven’t always had that same ability to analyze their own “game footage.” Digitizing surgery allows them to review procedures, learn from peers, and continuously improve. That ultimately benefits patients.

Murgatroyd: So, surgeons really are like elite athletes?
Stoyanov: Absolutely. Surgeons train for decades. They rely on precision, dexterity, and deep knowledge of anatomy — just like athletes rely on physical and mental mastery. Giving them better tools to refine their skills makes a real difference.

Murgatroyd: What does digitizing surgery unlock?
Stoyanov: It creates opportunities to review, share, and connect. Surgeons can look back at procedures, collaborate more easily, and learn from one another. It makes surgery more analytical and data informed.

Murgatroyd: And from a patient perspective, why does that matter?
Stoyanov: Surgery is an anxious experience for most people. As a patient, you want your surgeon to be as prepared as possible and able to make the best decisions in the moment. Better tools help support that.

Murgatroyd: Let’s switch gears a bit. In one word, how would you describe the future of surgery?
Stoyanov: Digital. More and more, surgical tools — robotic and nonrobotic — include digital components. Imaging, sensing, and data are becoming central to how surgery is performed. It’s unavoidable.
Murgatroyd: For me, I’d say “accessible.” Digitization can help make surgery more efficient and expand access, which is critical as the demand for surgical care continues to grow.

Murgatroyd: What can healthcare learn from how other industries adopt technology?
Stoyanov: First, that technology is here to stay. We’ve seen it transform transportation, homes, and everyday life. Healthcare needs to embrace that reality and focus on how these tools can support clinicians and improve patient care.

Murgatroyd: What future capabilities excite you most — even if they sound like science fiction?
Stoyanov: Robotic surgery and surgical AI still sound futuristic to many people, but they’re already used every day. That trend will continue, helping to expand access and improve care.

Murgatroyd: I’m excited by how much smaller technology is getting. We’ve gone from massive early medical devices to tools the size of a pill. That miniaturization — and what it enables — feels like just the beginning.

Published Feb. 20, 2026

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George Murgatroyd leads Digital Technologies at Medtronic. He brings deep industry experience in scaling medical technologies that support surgeons and improve patient care worldwide.

Dan Stoyanov is VP of Research and Development for Surgical AI at Medtronic and a professor of robotic vision at University College London. His work focuses on translating research into technologies that enhance surgical insight, safety, and decision-making.