Video Game Truck Brought Fun to Pediatric Patients
A 65-foot long, 12 foot wide mobile video gaming party on wheels rolled up recently to the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute and brought hours of fun and entertainment to our pediatric patients. Parents and siblings joined the action and shared in some laughs and friendly competition. Thanks to our pediatric team and child life specialist who organized the experience and the generous donors who made it possible.
IBA Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Each year, IBA, the company that designs, builds and maintains the majority of proton therapy systems worldwide, hosts a meeting of radiation oncologists, medical physicists and radiation oncology administrators from IBA-equipped facilities. They meet to share best practices, innovations and more. The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is one of the first facilities equipped with IBA’s proton system and today has two IBA systems in operation. Their consistent partnership for more than 20 years has been foundational to the safe and effective treatment of the Institute’s patients and to the success and ongoing innovation at the Institute. Dr. Nancy Mendenhall and Dr. Kristin Heath attended the annual meeting, connected with fellow proton community members and helped IBA celebrate its 40th anniversary.
International Symposium on Proton Therapy
The global proton therapy community gathered in Houston, Texas, last month to explore the strategic vision and opportunities in proton therapy as well as clinical innovation and the future of protons. Dr. Nancy Mendenhall was a panelist in several sessions and shared her insights as a pioneer in the field who developed the fifth proton center in the U.S. – the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Fla. Dr. Kristin Heath facilitated a discussion group as a thought-leader in the proton therapy community. Participating in idea exchange, networking and attending seminars presented by the leading minds in proton therapy adds to the continuous improvement of cancer treatment for patients.