toh

December 12, 2012 – On October 30, 2012, representatives from The Ottawa Hospital and Elekta China gathered at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Massachusetts, USA to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a Chinese Radiation Oncologist Observation Program at the Radiation Medicine Program of The Ottawa Hospital. Dr. Jason Pantarotto, Chief of the Radiation Oncology Division at The Ottawa Hospital was joined by Mr. Anming Gong, CEO of Elekta China, and Mr. Qiang Zhou, Medical Marketing Director for Elekta China.

Elekta is a world leader in image guided and stereotactic clinical solutions for radiosurgery and radiation therapy. This partnership will last three years, bringing both Canadian and Chinese radiation oncologist communities into a new era of collaboration that aims to improve the quality of radiation treatment in China through cross border collaboration in cancer research and education. This agreement is a milestone as it marks the first collaborative international radiation oncology training program between Elekta China and a foreign teaching hospital.

“The cooperation and sharing of expertise that will take place between Canada and China will have numerous benefits for all participating parties. The newly signed MOU has been developed to ensure that our future partnership will build on past successful training experiences and that this close collaboration will help meet our Chinese radiation oncologists’ needs for professional development. Ultimately in the final analysis it will be Chinese cancer patients who will benefit from a world-class radiation oncology training program. As a responsible corporate citizen in China, we feel we have an obligation to initiate this process and very much appreciate The Ottawa Hospital’s prompt and enthusiastic response to it,” said Mr. Gong.

“I am very pleased that our organization can collaborate with Elekta China in this exciting new venture. We have a long history with Elekta and it has been a fruitful one. Indeed, much of the appeal to oncologists looking for this kind of experience is that we are a fully integrated ‘Elekta’ site,” said Dr. Jason Pantarotto, Chief of the Radiation Oncology Division at The Ottawa Hospital. “Our cooperation sets a great example in promoting international partnership as a means to share and apply new knowledge and technology in the delivery of patient care. We look forward to seeing Chinese radiation oncologists in the department in the near future.”

The MOU, signed by Mr. Gong and Dr. Pantarotto, will focus on several clearly defined program areas over the next three years including:

• Patient-centered care
• Multidisciplinary oncology care
• Research
• Education
• Radiation treatment protocols, treatment planning and treatment delivery
• The application of electronic medical records within an integrated cancer program

The Ottawa Hospital is very proud to formally announce its international partnership with Elekta China and looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial collaboration.

Media contact:
Hazel Harding
Communications Advisor
The Ottawa Hospital
E: hharding@toh.on.ca
T: 613-737-8460