The world’s leading company in robotic-assisted surgical systems, Intuitive, is expanding in Gwinnett County, where Chairman’s Club member Jamila Pope plays a pivotal role in the company’s growth. Pope leads state governmental affairs at Intuitive from its Peachtree Corners campus, where the company develops and manufactures some generations of its flagship system, the FDA-cleared da Vinci Surgical System.
Globally, more than 14 million da Vinci procedures have been performed by over 76,000 trained surgeons. There are more than 8,600 da Vinci systems in hospitals across 71 countries, and approximately every 14 seconds, a surgeon performs a procedure using a da Vinci system.
Despite the widespread use of Intuitive’s systems, many people remain unfamiliar with the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, and U.S. laws haven’t always kept pace with these technological advancements. Pope’s role includes educating stakeholders on how Intuitive’s technology can improve health care outcomes. “By sharing information and educating people about our technologies, I’m helping more people understand the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery,” she says.
Growing in Gwinnett
Since establishing a Georgia presence in 2011 and opening its current Peachtree Corners campus in 2013, Intuitive’s operations have expanded steadily. Today, the Peachtree Corners site includes corporate offices and a nearly 600,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, where some da Vinci Surgical Systems are produced. An almost 400,000-square-foot welcome and training center is also under construction, expected to open in 2026. When the current campus expansion—a $500 million investment by Intuitive—is complete, Intuitive will have more than 1.2 million square feet in assembly, warehouse, and office space. “We consider our campus in Peachtree Corners to be our East Coast global hub,” says Pope.
Intuitive’s Gwinnett County campus employs more than 500 people in various roles, including assembly, customer support, finance, and training. This number is expected to grow significantly, exceeding 1,200 in the coming years. “We want people to think of Intuitive for job opportunities,” Pope says. “This company has something for everybody, from assembly roles building da Vinci Surgical Systems to technical roles for engineering graduates to accounting roles for business professionals.”
Beyond employment, Intuitive’s presence contributes to the local economy as surgical teams from across the country visit the company’s Gwinnett campus for training on robotic technology. These visiting teams stay in local hotels and dine at nearby restaurants, adding to Intuitive’s economic impact on the area. “We train more surgeon care teams here in Gwinnett than at any other location across the globe,” Pope says.
Pope’s Role and Impact
Since joining Intuitive in April 2023, Pope has focused on advancing policies that support Georgia’s business and health care sectors. Her work involves engaging with the General Assembly during legislative sessions, anticipating future policy shifts, and helping educate legislators on the benefits of emerging health care technologies. Additionally, she collaborates with community groups to share how Intuitive’s technology supports surgeons and can help improve patient outcomes.
Through her involvement with the Gwinnett Chamber, Pope has built strong community connections. “I worked in metro Atlanta for a long time and always heard great things about the Gwinnett Chamber. When I joined Intuitive, I knew we needed to be part of this group of business leaders. The Gwinnett Chamber works very hard for its members and has given me a good path for integrating into the community,” she shares. “We’re proud to be growing in Gwinnett and grateful to the community and government leaders who have helped us along with our expansion.”
Pope sees tremendous growth potential for Intuitive in Gwinnett County, driven in part by the way companies collaborate with local educational systems to inspire future careers in technology and health care. “There are many kids out there who don’t know they could be a robotic surgeon, an engineer who designs the next surgical robotics system, or the assembly tech who builds the robot. They can—right here in Gwinnett County,” she says.