BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A local doctor has hit a major milestone, completing his 1,000th robotic surgery.

Dr. Jonathan Tammela is a gynecologic surgical oncologist for the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center. To commemorate his residency, the CBCC held a celebration Thursday at Temblor Brewing Company.

Robotic surgery or robotic assisted surgery offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery and laparoscopy. According to the CBCC, with only a few tiny incisions a surgeon can operate with greater vision, precision and control. They said patients benefit from these procedures and experience reduced pain, lower risks and quicker recovery.

Tammela completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of Florida and was selected to complete sub-specialty training in Gynecologic Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.

In 2018 he made his way to Bakersfield. Prior to that move, he practiced for 13 years in Green Bay, Wisconsin where he established the first gynecologic oncology program in Northeast Wisconsin.