Richard J. Hendrick, Ph.D. is a medical device engineer and entrepreneur specialising in robotic technologies for minimally invasive surgery. He is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Virtuoso Surgical, a Nashville-based company developing next-generation robotic systems designed to expand the capabilities of endoscopic surgery.

Hendrick co-founded Virtuoso Surgical in 2016 as part of a collaboration between engineers and clinicians working to bring advanced robotic dexterity to procedures performed through rigid endoscopes. The company’s technology enables surgeons to use two miniature robotic manipulators at the tip of an endoscope, providing enhanced precision, control, and manoeuvrability within confined spaces in the body.

As COO and CTO, Hendrick leads the company’s engineering strategy and oversees day-to-day technical operations, guiding the development, testing, and commercialisation of the Virtuoso robotic system. His work focuses on translating cutting-edge surgical robotics research into practical tools that improve surgical outcomes and enable new minimally invasive procedures across multiple specialties, including urology, gynaecology, neurosurgery, and pulmonology.

Hendrick earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, where his doctoral research helped develop the core technology underlying the Virtuoso robotic platform. He previously worked at DJO Surgical, contributing to the design and regulatory approval of orthopaedic implant devices.

Through his leadership in surgical robotics innovation, Hendrick continues to advance technologies that aim to make complex procedures less invasive, more precise, and accessible to patients worldwide.