Vattikuti Urology Institute


The Vattikuti Urology Institute at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan is a clinical and research center for urological care. The VUI is notable for being the first institute to establish robotic surgery as a treatment for patients with prostate cancer. To date, the VUI has performed more than 10,000 robotic procedures. Ranked consistently high by U.S. News & World Report, VUI is also one of the largest and most active urology departments in the United States, with nearly 50,000 patients annually from all 50 states and nearly 25 countries.

History

The Henry Ford Hospital recruited Dr. Mani Menon as department Chair in 1997. In 1999, a Michigan philanthropist, Raj Vattikuti announced a research initiative to help patients with prostate cancer. The University of Michigan, William Beaumont Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital competed for the funds. Menon's proposal, submitted by Henry Ford Hospital, was to establish an institute to develop techniques of minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer. This proposal was accepted by the Vattikuti Foundation and the Vattikuti Urology Institute was initialized in 2001.

The Vattikuti Foundation

The Vattikuti Urology Institute is named after Raj Vattikuti and his wife Padma Vattikuti. The Vattikuti Foundation is a philanthropy organization located in Michigan, founded by the Vattikutis. Vattikuti is the founder and CEO of Covansys Corporation in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
The Vattikuti Foundation is notable for making the largest philanthropic contribution for cancer research in Michigan. The foundation donated $40 million to the Henry Ford Hospital and the William Beaumont Hospital in 2001. The donation to Henry Ford Hospital was used to support the treatment and the study of prostate cancer, research, and treatment advances.

Chairmen