Mike Olinger first experienced robotic surgery in 2012 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Living in the Minneapolis area at the time, he chose to undergo a robotic-assisted prostate removal surgery.
“It was very successful,” Olinger says. “Here I am 13 years later, still kicking.”
When he needed to have a hernia repair this past fall, Olinger was relieved and a little surprised to learn robotic surgery also was available in his much-smaller hometown of Waupaca.
ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca began offering robotic-assisted surgery in fall of 2024, with the addition of the da Vinci Xi surgical system. The hospital recently celebrated its one-year anniversary of the milestone.
“It means the world to me, not having to leave my hometown for care,” he says. “Anytime we have to do anything medically, we do it in Waupaca when it’s available.”
Expert Care, Close to Home
In the spring of 2025, Olinger began to feel pain in his side. After trying to cope on his own for a few months, the pain worsened. A referral from his primary care office led him to see Dr. Annie Zeug, a general surgeon who performs procedures with ThedaCare in Waupaca as well as Neenah and New London.
Dr. Zeug discovered Olinger had two hernias. Since it was midway through summer, she gave him the option of having surgery right away or waiting until fall. Olinger, appreciating the flexibility, chose the latter option.
“What a wonderful doctor,” Olinger says of Dr. Zeug. “She could not have been more personable.”
Throughout the summer, Olinger enjoyed the season, including his beloved pastime of golf. His hernias would pop out from time to time, and he’d push them back in. It was worth the small bother to delay his procedure so he could enjoy the warm months. At the same time, Olinger knew when it was time to schedule the surgery.
“I shot the worst round of golf I ever shot. And I thought, OK, I’ve got to quit,” he says. “That’s when I came back to Dr. Zeug and said, let’s get this thing scheduled. And in the beginning of September, we got it all done.”
Successful Surgery
Olinger reported to ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca early in the morning the day of his surgery. From the moment he walked in the door, he says he felt cared for and supported.
“What a fantastic group of professionals,” he says. “I felt from the doctor all the way to the staff at the surgical center, I’m in good hands.”
As Olinger prepared for his surgery, the team joked with him and put him at ease. They also listened to his specific needs. That included his anesthesiologist arranging to have Olinger elevated after he explained that he feels claustrophobic when lying flat.
Olinger also recognized his anesthesiologist, Tyler, as the same person who was there for his recent colonoscopy. Familiar faces and small gestures of kindness made a big difference to Olinger. He says that’s part of what sets community hospitals apart.
“The team in the OR at Waupaca is really elite,” Dr. Zeug says. “They are exceptionally well-trained, but they also have this … deep, service-rooted mentality.”
Smooth Recovery
A seamless surgery led to a smooth recovery for Olinger. By 11 a.m. the same day, he was heading home. With a procedure that involved just three small incisions, Olinger says he experienced very little pain and recovered quickly. If anything, he felt so good, he had to make himself slow down and take it easy.
“My healing, my follow-up visits, everything I experienced with this, it could not have been better,” he says.
“Having robotic surgery here in Waupaca means we get to keep patients close to the home, which everybody loves,” Dr. Zeug says. “People have less driving time coming in for surgery, a quicker recovery and easier access. It lets us provide that awesome, high-quality care without having to bring people into Neenah.”
Hometown Proud
Olinger, 68, moved to Waupaca with his family when he was 12. He and his wife, Shelley, met in Waupaca and then moved to Minnesota, where they both worked in the computer industry. After retiring, deciding where to settle was easy.
“We moved back here because we have family and knew Waupaca was where we wanted to live,” Olinger says.
After returning to his hometown, Olinger quickly became involved in the community. He joined the Rotary Club of Waupaca and became its public image director. During the school year, you’ll find him substitute teaching at Waupaca High School, where students affectionately call him “Mr. Mike.” In his free time, Olinger enjoys golfing, art, drawing, writing poetry and spending time on the water.
Olinger says it’s gratifying to watch his community continue to grow and evolve.
“Waupaca has become quite the social hot spot for the area,” he says. “I can’t explain the joy I get out of being here and being involved in everything I’m involved in.”
His pride also extends to his hometown medical center.
“This is such a great thing to have in Waupaca,” he says of ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca and the robotic surgery it offers. “To have this here is a blessing.”
