da Vinci® surgical team at Good Samaritan
The da Vinci
® Surgical System at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center is operated by surgeons with extensive training in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. The robotic surgery program at Good Samaritan is supported by the following board-certified surgeons:
Linda Fox, MD
Dr. Fox received a medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco in 1989. She completed residency training in 1993 at the University of California, San Diego. She remained on faculty for two years before moving to Corvallis. Dr. Fox is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. She previously served as section chief for the department of obstetrics and gynecology from 2002 to 2003 and as chief of surgery from 2007 to 2010. She is also a member of the Pacific Coast Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society. She is fluent in Spanish and takes yearly trips to Guatemala to perform surgery on indigent patients. She also performs volunteer ultrasounds at the Corvallis Pregnancy Care Center.
Her medical interests include preventive care, gynecology for all stages of life, minimally invasive surgery, urinary incontinence and treatment of pelvic prolapse.
"My goal is to make minimally invasive surgery an option for as many patients as possible. The advances available in the da Vinci system allow me to do more complex and difficult cases without having to perform the surgery through a large and painful incision. I am pleased to be able to provide this option with less blood loss, less pain and a quicker return to normal activities for patients.”
Dr. Fox can be contacted at
Samaritan Gynecology and Surgical Associates.
Jess Hickerson, MD
Dr. Hickerson attended Oregon State University, earning degrees in zoology and German literature. He received his medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University, graduating with honors. He completed his residency training at the University of Vermont. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and has been practicing in Corvallis since 1985. During his tenure at The Corvallis Clinic, he was a member of the board of directors, serving as board president from 1998 to 1999. He served as chief of surgery at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center from 2001 to 2002. He is also a member of the Pacific Coast Obstetrics and Gynecologic Society.
His medical interests include gynecologic malignancies, laparoscopy, urinary incontinence and pelvic reconstructive surgery. He has had original research published on endometrial cancer and the appropriate use of hysterosalpingography.
“The da Vinci robot will allow me to do increasingly complex and extensive surgeries laparoscopically. I’ve already been able to do some cases with the robot that would have required a large, open incision in the past.”
Dr. Hickerson can be contacted at
Samaritan Gynecology and Surgical Associates.
Paul Daskalos, DO
A native Oregonian, Dr. Daskalos began practice in Albany in 1997. He was raised in Tillamook and Eugene, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University in 1987. He earned a medical degree from the college of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, Calif. He completed an internship at Tulsa Regional Medical Center and residency training at the University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
Dr. Daskalos’ professional interests include all aspects of obstetrics and advanced laparoscopy.
Dr. Daskalos can be contacted at
Albany Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Don Yarbrough, MD
Dr. Yarbrough received a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. He completed residency training at the world-famous Mayo Clinic and a fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic techniques for minimally-invasive surgery on the gastrointestinal tract, including foregut, gall bladder and bile duct, solid organs, colon, rectal, endocrine and cancer surgery.
In addition to general surgery, Dr. Yarbrough has special training and expertise in the full breadth of laparoscopic bariatric surgery. He was the first surgeon to introduce the Lap Band procedure to the Willamette Valley in 2006 and has incorporated Single Incision Laparoscopy Surgery (SILS) techniques for minimal pain and scaring in Lap Band patients. Dr. Yarbrough earned the designation of Center of Excellence Surgeon by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery based on his high volume and excellent outcomes.
"From my perspective, the benefits of laparoscopy using the da Vinci surgical system are the superior optics compared to conventional laparoscopy, and the seven degrees of instrument articulation, which allows more flexibility than the human wrist. These factors contribute both to a more ergonomic operation and to improved precision for performing intricate procedures. I look forward to applying robotic techniques to colorectal, biliary and single incision surgical procedures."
Dr. Yarbrough can be contacted at
Samaritan Surgical Specialists.