TomoTherapy in Hong Kong: First in Asia
The Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital (HKSH) officially launched their Hi·Art System® with an Opening Ceremony on 6 October, 2005. The Hospital, which began treating patients with the Hi·Art System in August 2005, is the first institution in Asia to offer TomoTherapy for its patients, and over 100 doctors, officials, guests, and media personnel were present at the Opening Ceremony.
Tomo CEO Fred Robertson, MD stands with the ceremonial pig at the entrance to the TomoTherapy suite. The ceremonial slicing of the pig ensures good luck and prosperity.
“We are happy to expand our Asia Pacific presence with such a prestigious health care institution,” says TomoTherapy CEO Fred Robertson. Dr. Robertson was one of several TomoTherapy representatives who traveled to Hong Kong to attend the event. “We look forward to rapidly increasing the accessibility of TomoTherapy to this region of the world.”
Professor S. K. Lam, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, opened the ceremony, commending the Hospital for its pioneering spirit and its ability to attract and serve patients from mainland China and across Asia. In his welcoming address, Dr. Walton Li, the Hospital’s Medical Superintendent, reiterated HKSH’s mission to provide high-quality services to the public through the introduction of the most advanced equipment, as well as staff education and training.
The Comprehensive Oncology Centre at HKSH was established in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, to provide comprehensive and multi-disciplinary services for the management of cancer.
At the press conference that followed, Dr. Peter Teo, Director of the Department of Radiotherapy, presented his preliminary clinical experience with the TomoTherapy Hi·Art System, discussing several of the 18 cases that have been treated so far. In addition, Dr. K.H. Kwong, Assistant Medical Superintendent, announced the Hospital’s plans to extend the benefits of TomoTherapy to public health care patients by providing free TomoTherapy treatments to 25 patients selected from various hospitals within Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority.
Officials prepare to pull the (symbolic) switch to open the TomoTherapy suite. From left to right: Dr. Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy CEO; Dr. Walton Li, Medical Superintendent HKSH; Professor S. K. Lam, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong; Dr. Peter Teo, Director, Radiotherapy Dept. HKSH; and Dr. K. H. Kwong, Assistant Medical Superintendent HKSH.
The ceremonies concluded with an evening seminar, held at the Sheraton Hotel, on “Recent Advances in Image-Guided Radiotherapy.” Professor Yuta Shibamoto, of Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Nagoya, Japan, who discussed the radiobiological considerations and the development of hi-tech radiotherapy in Nagoya.
Guest speakers also included Drs. Lane Rosen and Terry Wu from the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center in Shreveport, LA, one of the earliest facilities to begin using the Hi·Art System. Dr. Rosen and Dr. Wu traveled to Hong Kong to share their clinical experience and findings on the management of 400 cancer patients using TomoTherapy
11 Nov 2005
