Who is Best Da Vinci Surgeon at Vanderbilt?

On another thread this week someone suggested Vanderbilt as an option for me to consider. But who is the most experienced surgeon? Through the Da Vinci "find a physician" links I see the names of Joseph Smith and Duke Herrell.

Can anyone speak from personal experience about who has the most experience?

Thanks,

Markus

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Age, 53

PSA 3.76, Gleason 6, T1c, scans negative

psa doubling time 35 months

Still researching and deciding treatment options.  Leaning towards da vinci robotic.

Dr. Joseph Smith was Mr. Tamu's urologic surgeon. What say you Mr. Tamu to Markus' inquiry?

Markus,

Dr. Smith at Vanderbilt has by far the most experience on Da Vinci's then Dr. Herrell. Dr. Herrell has been Dr. Smith's assitant on the Da Vinci for hundreds of procedures being the one that is at the operating table. Dr. Herrell was not the assistant on my surgery so he may have started doing Da Vinci's on his own. In terms of number of Da Vinci's done over the last two years I believe that Dr. Smith has done more then Menon or Tewari. When I scheduled my surgery Dr. Smith's RN that does the scheduling told me that he has done Da Vinci's on men that come to Nashville from around the world. He is in high demand and has a surgical backlog stretching out for 3 to 4 months. One thing for you to know and I think all Da Vinci surgeons have you sign a release that gives them permission to change the surgery to an open procedure if for any reason they come across something that is not expected.

Tamu

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Diagnosed 7/6/06

1 of 10 core samples, 40%

Stage T1c, Gleason 3+3

Da Vinci on 11/01/06

Catheter out on 11/13/06

56 Years Old

Post Op Path

Gleason 3+3

Approx. 5% of prostate involved

Prostate Confined, margins clear

Undetectable PSA on 12/18/06

No more pads as of 1/13/07