Dr. Gazi Zibari, a distinguished Kurdish surgeon, has been awarded the prestigious title of Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) in the United States. This recognition highlights his exceptional skills and dedication to advancing patient care through innovative surgical techniques. 

In a letter, SRC CEO Gary Pratt congratulated Dr. Zibari for this significant achievement. “This accreditation is in conjunction with and only recognized at the Center of Excellence at Willis Knighton Health,” Pratt noted. “You are a leader in your field, and your new achievement communicates exactly that.” 

The rigorous process of obtaining this accreditation underscores Dr. Zibari’s commitment to quality improvement and patient care. Pratt acknowledged the collaborative effort required from Dr. Zibari’s clinical team, administration, and leadership, noting that “many hours of hard work were devoted to this accomplishment.” 

Dr. Zibari expressed gratitude for the recognition in a post on LinkedIn. “I feel blessed to be recognized as one of the Excellent Robotic Surgeons,” he said. “Our aim is to provide quality care through minimal invasive surgery approaches to our desperate patients. We can provide such care only through multidisciplinary teams.”

It is worth noting that Dr. Zibari was also recognized as one of the United States’ most honored doctors in 2025, a testament to his unwavering dedication to medicine and significant contributions to the field. 

On May 1, 1976, Dr. Zibari stepped onto American soil as part of the first group of Kurdish refugees to seek a new beginning in the United States. He arrived carrying the heavy burden of the past, having fled the brutality of the Ba’ath regime. Like many displaced Kurds, Zibari had lost family members, relatives, and friends to the conflict. Yet, in the face of such deep personal loss, he chose a path dedicated to healing.

His journey into the field of medicine was forged in the harsh realities of a refugee camp. After graduating high school there, he pursued a medical degree with a singular purpose: to improve healthcare for the people of Kurdistan.

For Dr. Zibari, this was never just a career; it was a commitment to his roots. Since 1992, he has returned to Kurdistan annually, working tirelessly alongside local students and residents to pass on advanced surgical techniques. One of his most impactful contributions was his role in bringing the Advanced Trauma Life Support Program – developed by the American College of Surgeons – to the Kurdistan Region, effectively modernizing trauma care in an area that needed it most.

In October 1992, the U.S. Department of State honored Zibari as one of the five best refugees in the United States. His journey came full circle in May 2007, when he received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal. The ceremony was held in Nashville, known by Kurds as Little Kurdistan – the very same city where, decades earlier, he had first arrived as a stranger in a new land.