Author: KYMA

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Onvida Health has made significant advancements in robotic surgery and is now receiving recognition from a major biotechnology company for its efforts.

The hospital has been designated by Intuitive as an official Epicenter Case Observation Site, a distinction that highlights both the scale of its program and the expertise of its medical team.

The recognition reflects over six years of development within the hospital’s robotic surgery program.

“What it does is recognizes the fact that we are a high-volume center with multiple robots, and more specifically, and importantly, that we have highly-trained competent surgeons and staff that are able to show others best practices and ways that they should be building their programs,” said Jake Childs, President of Hospital Operations.

As part of this designation, surgeons and healthcare professionals from across the United States will travel to Yuma to observe and learn from Onvida’s approach. The training will provide a look at the entire surgical process, from beginning to end.

“How we, for example, get patients in and out of the room; how the team prepares patients to go in and out, and then, of course during surgery, how the operations are performed,” explained Dr. Simon Lavotshkin.

The hospital currently operates seven robotic systems that are utilized by surgeons. Through this infrastructure, Onvida is able to train visiting surgeons on each phase of robotic-assisted procedures, offering a detailed understanding of workflow and technique.

“Building up a program is tied to all of those things that everyone wants when they have a surgery…lower risk of infection, lower risk of blood loss, lower risk of hospitalization, increased recovery time,” Childs remarked.

Robotic surgery at Onvida Health has contributed to improved patient outcomes, including reduced risks of infection, minimized blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.

These benefits are central to the hospital’s continued investment in the technology and its commitment to advancing patient care.

“Expansion for us doesn’t necessarily mean buying that eighth or ninth robot. It goes back to a lot of what I said, is where are we using them, how are we using them, what procedures are allowed to be done on them,” Childs explained.

During Onvida Health’s time utilizing robotic technology, it has performed over 8,500 robotic-assisted surgeries.

With its new designation, the hospital is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping how robotic surgery programs are developed and implemented nationwide.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Kofa High School Law and Public Safety CTE Advisor Eric Frost earned a major honor, being selected as the SkillsUSA Arizona Advisor of the Year.

Frost received the honor after he was nominated by students and his instructional leader. Kylie Mackall.

The award honors teachers for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to students and their program.

“It was a surreal night,” said Frost. “My family was there. My wife was there and my children were there to see that. It was a big honor for me…I don’t do it for the recognition. I’ve never really put myself out there. It’s really about empowering my students, so to see that my students took that effort, and to be able to read those nominations and what they actually said, it choked me up a lot.”

The award is well-deserved, as Frost has led the high school’s law and public safety team to three consecutive national titles.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local elementary school students recently stepped into adult roles for a day through United Way’s “BizKids” program, an initiative designed to give young participants a firsthand look at what it means to be a working citizen.

The program allowed students to visit local businesses that sponsored the event, where they explored various job roles and gained insight into the responsibilities and opportunities within their community.

In preparation for the experience, students completed a 16-week curriculum at their schools that focused on practical, real-world skills.

This included activities such as mock job interviews and exercises intended to build confidence and familiarity with professional environments.

The hands-on approach aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-life application.

Mallory Edgar, Executive Director of United Way Yuma County, emphasized the importance of early exposure to these experiences.

“Having the experience of going through a mock interview, there’s some people that, you know, they never interview for anything until they’re an adult and they’re going for their first job interview…our goal is for them to stay local, and contribute to Yuma County,” she expressed.

The BizKids program is primarily open to fourth and fifth grade students.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local residents will have the opportunity to stay active while supporting a meaningful cause this weekend as the Gila Ridge Student Council hosts a 5K walk and run event.

The event is scheduled to take place at the high school’s Veterans Memorial Stadium from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Advokate Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

Participants are encouraged to wear yellow to show their support for childhood cancer research and to help raise awareness for the cause.

Kristan Sheppeard, founder and board member of the Advokate Foundation, expressed appreciation for community-driven efforts like this event.

“We’re really grateful when organizations like the Gila Ridge Student Council put together the events that help the awareness continue, as well as raising funds because our organization still supports families in Yuma that are dealing with this today, and will continue to deal with it in the future,” Sheppeared shared.

The event is open to the public and requires a cash-only registration fee, with entry costing $10 for students and $15 for other community members.

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Lynette Niebla

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Do you have unused or expired prescription medications you need to get rid of? If so, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are partnering to host the biannual National Take Back Initiative this Saturday.

Residents have the opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications completely free and anonymously at YPD headquarters. The service will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1500 S. 1st Avenue.

“All you got to do is come by the station, drive up…you don’t even have to get out of your car,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD. “We’ll be waiting there and we’ll take everything that you have.”

It is important to note that YPD will not accept syringes, sharps, liquid products, or illegal drugs “due to the hazardous conditions they pose during the disposal process.”

The initiative, a familiar fixture in Yuma County, is designed to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs and help combat addiction.

Nationwide, Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States.

Beyond clearing space in your medicine cabinets, the event also helps keep residents safe from potential theft.

Sgt. Franklin noted that for “winter visitors” preparing to return home for the summer, leaving drugs behind creates a risk.

“Somebody breaks in [and] they’re gonna get their hands on it,” Franklin said. “These are narcotics. We don’t want them to get into the wrong hands.”

The San Luis Police Department will also be hosting a take-back event this Saturday.

If you cannot make it to either location, local pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS offer year-round kiosks to dispose of medication properly.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Becoming Project, a Calipatria-based nonprofit, has introduced its Youth Civic Engagement Initiative.

The campaign focuses on increasing voter registration among high school seniors ahead of the upcoming June 2 primary.

Launched on March 22, this initiative runs until May 20, wrapping up just before high school graduations and the statewide primary.

Its goal is to inspire Imperial County youth to engage in politics and vote, addressing the county’s historically low rates of voter registration and turnout.

By fostering a friendly competition among neighboring high schools across Imperial County, the initiative aims to show seniors that they have the potential to become local leaders and politicians as they enter adulthood.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma woman accused of sexually abusing a child was back in court Friday.

31-year-old Amanda Kotlinski was arrested last month, along with her husband, 28-year-old Ethan Kotlinski.

Yuma police say the alleged abuse involved a 13-year-old child and happened near 18th Street and Avenue B.

Both suspects pleaded not guilty to all counts of sexual abuse in late March.

“We are going to be requesting a 30-day continuance,” said the legal defense.

Amanda is still in custody and will be back in court on May 22 while Ethan is set to appear in court next Monday. 

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and liver disease may be on the rise. New evidence suggests alcohol related liver disease may be nearly twice as widespread as earlier estimates.

According to the Institute of Addiction Medicine, alcohol-related liver disease may be nearly twice as widespread as previously thought largely because people often do not report how much they drink.

Dr. Joseph Volpicelli, executive director of the Institute of Addiction Medicine, said, “It’s really important that you tell your doctor honestly which or how much you’re drinking because if you diagnose the problem early, it’s much more easy to treat.”

If you or someone you know may be struggling with alcohol use, help is available. For more information and resources, please visit Responsibility.org, pcss-maud.org, and niaaa.nih.gov.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – We all get headaches, but how do you know when it’s something more serious?

Mitzy Pacheco, nurse practitioner with Exceptional Community Hospital in Yuma, says sometimes headaches can be more serious then you think.

“If you have the worst headache of your life, sudden onset pain, vision changes, confusion, or weakness, those could be signs of something more serious like a bleed or a stroke,” says Pacheco.

ECH Yuma is open 24/7 with low wait times. If anyone experiencing symptoms of headaches, go to the ER.

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