Marshall Health Network Hospital performs first MONARCH AI-enhanced robotic lung bronchoscopy in West Virginia

Plus, St. Mary’s Medical Center launches robotic lung bronchoscopy service

Two Marshall Health Network hospitals are expanding access to advanced lung care through the use of the MONARCH™ platform, a robotically assisted bronchoscopy system designed to improve early detection of lung cancer.

Marshall Health Network - Cabell Huntington Hospital (CHH) recently became the first hospital in West Virginia to perform a bronchoscopy using the new MONARCH™ QUEST, an AI-enhanced robotic technology that increases precision and diagnostic confidence in identifying lung cancer. The groundbreaking procedure was performed by Yousef Shweihat, M.D.., interventional pulmonologist and professor at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

CHH was among the first hospitals in the nation to adopt MONARCH’s robotic technology and since then, Shweihat has completed more than 300 cases.

“My team and I are dedicated to changing the pathway of care for lung cancer patients—from diagnosis to treatment—using the most advanced technology available,” Shweihat said. 

To further expand access to this technology, Marshall Health Network – St. Mary’s Medical Center (SMMC) has now launched its own robotic lung bronchoscopy service using the MONARCH™ platform. The hospital’s first procedure was performed by Nepal Chowdhury, M.D., cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.

“It’s a significant milestone,” said Chowdhury. “This advanced technology makes a real difference for patients and families facing lung disease.”

Developed by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, the MONARCH™ platform is a robotically assisted bronchoscopy system that allows physicians to precisely navigate the lungs and their bronchi using a flexible catheter, miniature camera and handheld controller. This minimally invasive approach enables access to small or hard-to-reach nodules for biopsy without surgery.

The addition of AI-powered QUEST technology allows the system to run complex algorithms that enhance accuracy and diagnostic confidence while the physician navigates the lung. The upgrade also boosts the platform’s real-time computational power by 260%, improving image quality and responsiveness during procedures.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women in the United States. According to the American Lung Association, fewer than half of those diagnosed survive. When detected early, before it spreads beyond the lungs, the five-year survival rate increases from 5% to 56%. Marshall Health Network offers low-dose CT lung cancer screenings without a referral. To schedule an appointment, call 304.781.LUNG (5864).

Together, St. Mary’s Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital are advancing lung care and expanding access to life-saving innovation across the region. Learn more at https://edwardsccc.org/lung-cancer-program/monarch-bronchoscope.