Clermont clinic is global leader in robotic microsurgery

CLERMONT – People may not think of Lake County as a destination for medical tourism, but the PUR Clinic at South Lake Hospital is changing that perception. On a weekly basis, half a dozen patients from as far away as Australia and Cyprus visit the state-of-the art Clermont facility seeking the highly specialized urology treatments Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt and Dr. Sijo Parekattil provide.

The two doctors are global pioneers in the field of robotic assisted microsurgery and have performed over 1,000 such procedures during their careers. They recently brought their expertise to the PUR Clinic, which opened in December 2013.

“It’s addictive,” said Dr. Parekattil of working with the multi-million dollar da Vinci robotic surgery system, complete with 3D camera and three sophisticated arms. “It’s like playing on an IMAX.”

Last week, Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks, Lake County Department of Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) Director Robert Chandler, and Paul Simmons, EDT coordinator, toured the facility and tried their hands at maneuvering the high-tech machine.

"This is amazing,” said Commissioner Parks. “I have visited numerous businesses all over Lake County and Florida, and did not know this technology and related medical expertise existed right here in Clermont. We are blessed to have the PUR Clinic in Lake County and I look forward to working with Drs. Brahmbhatt and Parekattil in making Lake County a national leader in health and wellness."

The doctors use the system in their work with male infertility, robotic vasectomy reversal and chronic groin pain. Through the assistance of the robotic machine, which was originally designed by the military, the doctors are able to perform less invasive, more precise operations.

“We are global leaders in these types of procedures,” said Dr. Parekattil. “We’re not going to be the biggest, but we can be the best.”

To find out more about the PUR Clinic, visit www.thePURclinic.org. For information on starting, relocating or expanding a business in Lake County, call Lake County’s Economic Development and Tourism Department at 352-742-3918 or visit www.BusinessInLakeFL.com.