New IR Suite Opens with Ribbon-Cutting
By Office of the President | Jan 23, 2024
Congratulations to University Hospital at Downstate (UHD) on its recent ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of its advanced Interventional Radiology Suite. Along with UHD chief executive officer David H. Berger, M.D., MHCM, FACS, I was joined by Tina L. Riha, DPT, PT, MPA, UHD Senior Associate Vice President for Clinical Services, Sarah J. Kantharia, M.D., UHD Interventional Radiologist, and Donna McKenzie, EMBA RT, Radiology Director.
The ribbon cutting celebrated our new, cutting-edge Interventional Radiology Suite—a project years in the making. The initiative involved replacing aging equipment and renovating the suite to meet code compliance. Delays due to COVID-19 stalled the project start to mid-2021, with completion in March 2023.
The new Interventional Radiology (IR) Suite at UHD enables advanced medical procedures, including complex aneurysm repair, 3-D road mapping, spinal interventions, arterial-based cancer therapies, and cone beam CT scans. The expansion of the suite introduced several enhancements, allowing for easier maneuverability of equipment, staff, and stretchers.
The Phillips IR biplane imaging equipment enhances UHD’s ability to offer a broader range of medical services, including vascular, oncology, and neuroradiology procedures. The equipment incorporates cutting-edge technology for IR procedures, improving precision in embolization, needle-guided biopsies, thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and vessel navigation. These advancements reduce radiation exposure and contrast usage for both patients and operators.
I also extend heartfelt appreciation to the UHD Radiology team under the leadership of Deborah Reede, M.D., Department of Radiology Chair and Professor, FM&D’s Alvin Dunaisky, AIA, NCARB, AICP, DSW, Assistant Director for Major Hospital Projects, and Alesia Varga RA, Facilities Program Coordinator.
See the ribbon-cutting video and pictures here.