$7 million donation funds purpose-built PET-CT centre at the San
A new purpose-built imaging centre housing the latest generation digital PET-CT scanner and patient facilities opened on 20 November at Sydney Adventist Hospital (the San) – changing lives through earlier detection and treatment of cancer and brain disease.
“The new generation of PET-CT scanners require smaller doses of radiation which reduces radiation exposure for patients. They also provide a much larger field of view, enabling shorter scan times (from 30 minutes previously, down to 10 minutes per scan now). The new scanners have an ‘auto-positioning’ function to remotely move the scanning bed. This means less radiation exposure and enhanced safety for staff,” said Brett Goods CEO of Adventist Healthcare, which operates the San.
The new facility – The Robert & Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre – was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of nuclear medicine physician Dr Edwin Szeto, who donated $7 million to build the centre in honour of his parents.
“My father was a quietly spoken yet purposeful man who was completely dedicated to his family,” said Dr Szeto. “He remained humble amid his business successes and was known for his selflessness and generosity. We often heard him remark about the importance of giving. My mother is simply the most selfless and loving person one could imagine, deeply dedicated to her Christian faith. She always reminded us to never forget Dad, and there were frequent conversations about how best to honour his legacy.”
When his father passed away, Dr Szeto and his mother talked about a making a meaningful charitable contribution in healthcare. “I only started working at the San in 2018, however the synergy I felt with the whole community was immediate,” said Dr Szeto. “So when I heard the San was thinking about upgrading the Nuclear Medicine Department, I made a few enquiries and the rest is history.” The vision Dr Szeto had for a new state-of-the-art molecular imaging facility – with a focus on patient care and comfort – is now a reality. “There is palpable excitement amongst the staff who will be working in the new centre,” he added.
“The new centre would not exist without the contribution of the Szeto family. Many of the remarkable things we achieve here at the San we owe to the generosity of our valued donors and supporters. We are so very grateful to Dr Szeto, and we know the new centre will make an immeasurable difference to the lives of our patients. We are deeply committed to delivering on the vision Dr Szeto has for honouring his parents with this centre,” said Mr Goods.
As well as providing the best-in-class diagnostic services to residents of Sydney’s upper north shore, the centre will boost the San’s capacity to undertake world class research. Our ability to do research – whether that’s on-campus research or joining other multi-centre trials - will be enhanced by the addition of the state-of-the-art imaging technology.
The hospital’s philanthropy arm, San Foundation, donated a further $500,000 towards the new centre. “It has been such an honour to work with the Szeto Family, and the San is so fortunate that this philanthropic gift aligned perfectly with the strategic objectives of the hospital,” said Judy Tanna, Managing Director of the San Foundation.
About the new centre
The Robert & Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre houses the new digital PET-CT scanner as well as a dedicated radiopharmaceutical laboratory (hot-lab), reporting rooms, and a large waiting area. There are two change rooms, three bathrooms, and six ‘uptake’ rooms (specialised rooms where patients can comfortably rest between radiopharmaceutical injection and scanning).
PET-CT scans (positron emission tomography scans) use radioactive tracers to pinpoint and detect disease earlier and more accurately than many other imaging tests. PET scans can also show whether a tumour or lesion is growing, shrinking, active, static, or has spread to other areas.
“PET scans not only greatly improve lesion detection, they’ve become almost indispensable in monitoring disease progression, so doctors can know if a particular cancer treatment is working or whether to change to a different treatment regime,” said Brian Sorensen, Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist, San Radiology & Nuclear Medicine. “PET-CT scans are commonly used for patients with lymphoma, melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, gynaecological malignancies, head and neck cancer, sarcoma and colorectal cancer. PET-CT scans can also be used in patients with suspected Alzheimer’s Disease.”
Benefits
“The latest imaging technology and new camera features provide better resolution, greater sensitivity and clearer delineation between various organs and soft tissues,” said Mr Sorensen. “This is important for image quality and reporting confidence.”
The centre was carefully designed and built to ensure good workflow and improved radiation shielding for the safety of patients and staff. “Consideration was also given to aesthetics, ambience and enhanced comfort measures, which will make a difference to patients’ experience. This is important as they often undergo scans and treatment at a very difficult period in their life,” added Mr Sorensen.
The whole centre has been built to allow for future growth. “Careful planning and the ability to upgrade the scanner in the future – with minimal interruption – are all part of future-proofing the facility,” said Mr Goods. “We will now be able to double our current capacity of scanning 15 patients per day to 30 patients per day. This means shorter waiting lists for patients, and hopefully earlier disease detection and treatment. The creation of The Robert & Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre will transform our current imaging capabilities and will have a profound impact on the health outcomes of our patients.”
The new centre will also meet a great need in the area of clinical trials and research. “Our ability to do research – whether that’s on-campus research or joining other multi-centre trials – has at times been hampered by some of our older, analogue imaging modalities,” said Mr Goods. “The Robert & Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre, with its cutting-edge digital scanner, will help address this. Having this type of technology and these new facilities at the San will enable us to attract the best clinicians and to participate in world-class research. This is a vital part of caring for our patients’ health today, while pioneering research for a healthier tomorrow. We are deeply grateful to the Szeto family, and we know this centre will make a world of difference for our patients and clinicians for years to come.”
