2024 was a groundbreaking year for Surgical Data Science Collective (SDSC), and we are proud to celebrate the remarkable progress being made. In the last six months alone, our initiatives have propelled surgical research forward in ways we only dreamed of before. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in driving these achievements.
“Thanks to your generosity, we are making significant strides in our mission to revolutionize how we conduct surgical research and improve patient outcomes around the world.” – Dan Donoho, MD
Our journey this year has been defined by transformative growth across several key areas. Our global reach has more than tripled to 59 countries, connecting surgeons across continents — over 270 of which now use our Surgical Video Platform (SVP). We currently have 35 active researchers utilizing SVP, and have expanded our partnerships six-fold. With over 2,600 hours of surgical footage uploaded, our independent repository has grown to become the largest in the US, hosting more than 14,000 de-identified videos. The number of surgical machine learning (ML) models developed by our talented ML team has more than doubled since our July count, with team members having participated in a total of 19 conferences.
Apart from statistical growth, SDSC has fostered many flourishing relationships with other trailblazing institutions around the world, striving together towards equitable healthcare for all.
SDSC’s new Fellows’ Research Community was launched to create a vibrant network for individuals passionate about leveraging AI and data science to study surgery. Uniting over 35 active members, this community is shaping new insights, drafting abstracts and collaborating internationally to advance surgical precision and safety. Dr. Christopher Graffeo also became the first member of our Clinical Leadership Committee, bringing his expertise as an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Oklahoma to the team.
One of our key partnerships is with Dr. Juan C. Fernandez-Miranda of Stanford University, who collaborated with us to pioneer the first AI-powered surgical training course. This hands-on program in endoscopic cavernous sinus surgery combined advanced anatomy instruction with real-time AI analytics and feedback to redefine the standards of surgical education. Our collaboration with NeuroKids also underscores our commitment to addressing global disparities in health and surgical education. By training surgeons worldwide in the innovative ETV-CPC procedure, we are striving to improve the care of over 400,000 children with hydrocephalus in the developing world and enabling surgeons to refine their skills with AI-driven feedback.
Another highlight is Dr. Ruth Lau’s innovative project exploring how AI can enhance surgical precision in primary brain tumor procedures. This cutting-edge work marks the first research grant awarded to an SVP user, and demonstrates the potential of surgical data science to revolutionize patient outcomes.
Finally, our Director of Machine Learning, Margaux Masson-Forsythe, was invited to share her groundbreaking work at TEDx Logan Circle. Her talk, “Why You Want AI to Watch Your Surgery”, highlights how AI is transforming surgery by analyzing and utilizing previously untapped surgical footage. It is such a privilege to have such an influential leader driving this important work forward.
The future is bright!
As we look ahead, we’re eager to expand our impact as far and wide as possible. In 2025, we are excited to be delving into the pertinent field of women’s health with the help of Dr. Pamela N. Peters, a gynecologic oncology surgeon and newest member of our Clinical Leadership Committee. Our recent addition into the G4 Alliance group aligns us with a global vision of equitable access to surgical, obstetric, trauma and anesthesia care, and will help us in advocating for policies and creating training programs that prioritize safe and accessible care worldwide. Moreover, AWS’s Health Equity Initiative has awarded SDSC a $50,000 grant to further support innovation in development of our AI models.
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The entire team at SDSC wants to thank you for building this future with us.
“Your support has played a crucial role in bringing this vision to life, and we are profoundly grateful for your partnership. I hope that you feel the impact of your generosity and be as inspired as we are about the possibilities ahead.” – Dan Donoho, MD
Heading into 2025, SDSC remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in surgical research and education. Together, we can continue to transform the field and improve patient outcomes around the globe.
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