Radiation oncologist Marisa Kollmeier (right) with a big-bore CT simulator.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Department of Radiation Oncology has a total of ten external-beam radiation therapy treatment machines and three simulators. We have the most up-to-date linear accelerators, including Varian Trilogy and TrueBeam systems with three-dimensional on-board imaging. Our motion-management systems in regular use include real-time position management (RPM) respiratory tracking, Calypso, and VisionRT. The simulators include two big-bore CT simulators and one PET/CT simulator.
Four therapists are present at each of the treatment machines and simulation rooms. Four floats are always available to assist, and one supervisor is usually present on each floor. Currently, all high-dose rate brachytherapy treatments are performed on one floor of our facilities, while another brachytherapy suite is under construction. Two fully shielded operating rooms are available in Memorial Hospital’s surgical suites for intraoperative radiation treatments and brachytherapy procedures.
We are undergoing rapid growth in our planning and treatment resources. In late 2012, we will have a new Procedure Room/Brachytherapy Suite in our radiation oncology building, and we will be live with our third True-Beam machine. A dedicated MRI simulator will also be online in 2013. The New York Proton Center, a consortium effort led by five major medical centers including Memorial Sloan-Kettering, is scheduled to open in 2016.
In addition, each resident has a desk in our newly renovated residents’ room, and the daily didactic sessions are held in an adjoining classroom.
