Proton Therapy Researchers Honored at 82nd Annual Postgraduate Convention

The continuing research of proton therapy’s many applications taking place at the James M. Slater, M.D., Proton Treatment and Research Center (LLUMC) was honored at Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine’s 82nd Annual Postgraduate Convention. Six posters encompassing the work of 28 Loma Linda University scientists and physicians were presented at the conference. The posters ranged from the refinement of the magnetic focusing systems for small-field proton beams, to developing proton therapy for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The use of proton beam radiation as a cancer treatment was developed and brought to use by scientists at LLUMC more than 20 years ago. Since that time Loma Linda’s Proton Treatment and Research Center has cared for more than 175,500 patients, making it the most dynamic proton treatment center in the world. “Each of our radiation oncologists also are active researchers who collaborate to refine proton’s use as a cancer treatment and to develop additional uses for the technology to treat other diseases,” said Jerry D. Slater, M.D., chairman of the medical center’s Department of Radiation Medicine. “We are extremely proud of the many advances our research projects continue to bring to the science of proton therapy.” The specific posters presented were: Magnetic Focusing System for Small-Field Proton Beams – by Grant McAuley, James M. Slater and Andrew Wroe. A Dosimetric Comparison of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated by Protons and IMRT – by Ted C. Ling, Stanley Barnes, Gary Y. Yang, Inhwan Yeo, Roger Grove, Jerry Slater and David Bush. Protons Offer Reduced Cardiac Exposure for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer – by Jerry M. Slater, Ted C. Ling, Rachel Mifflin, Prashanth Nookala, Roger Grove, Anh M. Ly, Baldev Patyal, Jerry D. Slater and Gary Y. Yang. Protons Offer Reduced Normal Tissue Exposure for Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Distal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancer – by Ted C. Ling, Jerry M. Slater, Rachel Mifflin, Prashanth Nookala, Roger Grove, Anh M. Ly, Baldev Patyal, Jerry D. Slater and Gary Y. Yang. Development of Proton Radiosurgery for the Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmias: A Status Update – by Yang Nie, Reinhard W. Schulte, Nick Venice, Ning Wang, Sudha M. Pai, Abiel Ghebremedhin, Ford Hurley, Nadiya Thomas, Daniel Koster, Peter Kim, Andrew Wroe, Kenneth Jutzy, Jerry D. Slater and Ramdas G. Pai Wbeam: A User-Friendly Web-Based Interface for Monte Carlo Proton Beam Computer Simulations – by K. Williams, Grant McAuley, James M. Slater and Andrew Wroe. Now in its 82nd year, Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine’s Annual Postgraduate Convention, sponsored by the school’s alumni association, is designed to change and diminish the gap between evidence-based medicine and practice by providing quality continuing education for a spectrum of specialties and to encourage spiritual and social interchange.