Dr. René Sotelo is a renowned pioneer and international leader in robotic and laparoscopic surgery, with over two decades of experience specializing in the treatment of both urologic cancers and benign conditions. He joined the USC Institute of Urology in 2015, where he currently serves as the Medical Director of the International Medicine Department, spearheading key regional and global initiatives. Before his tenure at USC, he held the position of Professor and Chairman in the Department of Urology, Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery in Caracas, Venezuela, from 2004 to 2015. Dr. Sotelo has also served as President of the Latin American Society of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Urology (2006-2008) and has been the Director of the Office of Laparoscopy & Robotic Surgery at the Confederación Americana de Urología (CAU).
Dr. Sotelo’s expertise in robotic and laparoscopic techniques has earned him invitations as a visiting professor at 38 universities in 22 countries, where he has performed live surgeries demonstrating advanced procedures. He has trained more than 76 post-graduate fellows from 16 countries, further solidifying his role as an educator and mentor in the field. His research contributions include over 116 journal articles and 45 book chapters, and he has authored six textbooks. Dr. Sotelo is a member of the editorial boards for several prestigious journals, including European Urology, the British Journal of Urology International, and the Journal of Robotic Surgery.
Among his numerous accolades, Dr. Sotelo has received over 38 awards from scientific and governmental organizations worldwide, recognizing his groundbreaking work in urology. His clinical expertise spans a wide range of procedures, including robotic nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, complex partial nephrectomy, radical cysto-prostatectomy, and the repair of urological fistulas. His innovative work in robotic and laparoscopic surgery continues to impact the field globally, advancing minimally invasive approaches to complex urological diseases.
Selected publications from PubMed
Robotic Peritoneal Flap Revision Vaginoplasty: Step-by-Step Technique: Tips & Tricks.
Celis V, Rodríguez VI, Fumero LK, Dubey L, Medina LG, Maas M, Eskenazi F, Lusinchi A, Doumanian LR, Travieso R, Sotelo R
Int Urogynecol J. 2026 Jul;37(7):2191-2192 doi: 10.1007/s00192-026-06617-4.
Robotic management of complex ileal conduit complications.
Dugarte JP, Eskenazi F, Bianco IA, Lu J, Guevara R, Medina LG, Sotelo RJ
J Robot Surg. 2026 Jun 19;20(1) doi: 10.1007/s11701-026-03565-5.
Robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: a stepwise technical guide.
Bacaglini W, Dugarte JP, Eskenazi F, Bianco IA, Calderon J, Guevara R, Carneiro A, Sibanto G, Sotelo RJ, Medina LG
J Robot Surg. 2026 May 15;20(1) doi: 10.1007/s11701-026-03470-x.
Surgical Determinants of Outcomes in Partial Nephrectomy: a Contemporary Review.
Guevara R, Medina LG, Dugarte JP, Eskenazi F, Cervantes R, Hevia V, Sotelo R
Curr Urol Rep. 2026 Apr 6;27(1) doi: 10.1007/s11934-026-01329-0.
The outcomes of salvage robotic radical prostatectomy following radiation versus focal therapy: Does the primary treatment modality matter?
Ghoreifi A, Ramacciotti LS, Kaneko M, Medina LG, Cacciamani GE, Konganige S, Aron M, Sadeghi S, Jadvar H, Djaladat H, Sotelo R, Desai MM, Gill IS, Aron M, Abreu AL
BJUI Compass. 2025 May;6(5):e70019 doi: 10.1002/bco2.70019.
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