Proton International Brochure 2019

Digital transformation in cancer therapy treatment

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Undergoing a digital transformation in cancer therapy at Proton International —

WRIT TEN BY

SE AN GA LE A-PACE PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

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w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

Vice President of Design and Construction at Proton International, Jay Beranek, discusses how the proton industry has transformed over the last few years

D

igital transformation is affecting all industries as companies adapt to the latest trends in order to

achieve success with their offerings. In the 04

case of cancer treatments, it has also allowed for proton therapy to have a more significant impact in the sector. Proton therapy, which is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer, utilizes protons instead of x-rays in order to battle the disease. As a positively charged particle, protons can destroy cancer cells and are often combined with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Vice President of Design and Construction at Proton International, Jay Beranek, has overseen a significant transformation in the construction of cancer treatment centers since arriving at the company in 2011. In the years since, Beranek believes that technology has become increasingly important to Proton International.

“Technology in the proton industry is changing very rapidly. Less than 10 years ago, our industry thinking was to build multi-room facilities which would see us develop four or five rooms with larger equipment,” explains Beranek. “It meant there are four completely different gantries but there is still only one cyclotron that can deliver the protons to each of these rooms. Although cost is a major issue, technology has helped to reduce the size of this significantly. I believe the proton industry is going towards single room facilities, which will also substantially reduce the overall cost of the project itself.

Technology decreases the size of the scope, equipment, physical facility and size of the space and it remains absolutely vital to us.”

REMAINING SUSTAINABLE Proton therapy centers began less than three decades ago with just a handful of centers in the US and Europe. However, in recent years the treatment method has become increasingly prominent in the industry and now holds just under 30 operating centers in the US as well as several in 28 other countries around the world. Beranek points out that protons have become more widely-used as a method of cancer treatment due to the influx of patients that have a greater understanding to w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

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BR+A CONSULTING ENGINEERS is the Global Engineering Leader in Proton

and Carbon Center design. Our success stems from the talented Core Team of Engineers who have been collaborating for many years. We understand the intricacies of these highly complex facilities and possess in-depth knowledge of the technical requirements of the proton equipment operating systems.

Overall, our portfolio consists of involvement in over 60 particle therapy facilities worldwide, of which, 14 proton centers are currently treating patients and approximately 12 will be brought ‘online’ and start treating patients by the end of 2018 through early 2020.

PARTICLE THERAPY LOCATIONS Abu Dhabi, UAE Adelaide, AU Al Sayh, Bahrain Atlanta, GA Baltimore, MD Bangkok, Thailand Birmingham, AL Boca Raton, FL Boston, MA Cairo, Egypt Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH

Dallas, TX Dayton, OH Delray Beach, FL Doha, Qatar Dublin, OH Falls Church, VA Flint, MI Freiberg, Germany Halle, Germany Hefei, China Hong Kong, China Houston, TX

Irving, TX Jacksonville, FL London, England Madrid, Spain Miami, FL Muscat, Oman New York, NY Newport, Wales Northumberland, UK Oklahoma City, OK Oxford, England Philadelphia, PA

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Rochester, MN Royal Oak, MI San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Singapore Somerset, NJ Stanford, CA Taipei, Taiwan Voorhees, NJ Warrenville, IL Washington, DC

CONTACT

Michael Fahey, Managing Principal m 347.752.2364 | d 646.205.7289 | e mfahey@brplusa.com

RESPONSIVE BUILDINGS. RESPONSIVE PEOPLE. brplusa.com

“ One of the best things about protons is it can focus on solid tumors in the brain or around the spinal cord, particularly in young children with little to no collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue. From a quality of life point of view, it’s huge” — Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

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the benefits of the treatment. “I believe

Having treated its first patients at the

protons have found their place in the

University Medical Centre Groningen

clinical treatment for cancer and one of

(UMCG) in January 2018, the UMCG

the main reasons is because protons are

became the first site to provide proton

particles, in comparison to a light wave

therapy in the Netherlands and is built

which are x-rays,” he says. “One of the

with a 220-tonne particle accelerator

best things about protons is it can focus

and the most modern irradiation

on solid tumors in the brain or around the

equipment. By launching facilities such

spinal cord, particularly in young children

as the UMCG, it has allowed Proton to

with little to no collateral damage to

remain sustainable and provide a vast

surrounding healthy tissue. From a quality

number of proton facilities to the world.

of life point of view; it’s huge.”

“The design process at UMCG was w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

very successful. UMCG had a strong physics presence on campus; however, not with the clinical aspect of using protons to treat people,” says Beranek. “As integral to our culture, we meld our operations experience with the culture and experiences of the Dutch or any other clinical partner. It is not just about working with our clinical partners, we actually develop strong friendships which instill trust and allow transparent conversations leading to very quick decisions. This bonded relationship also significantly reduces the quantity of changes during the construction process.”

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘THE CONCRETE POURING FOR THE PROTON THERAPY CENTER IN GRONINGEN’ 09

ESTABLISHING KEY PARTNERSHIPS Beranek believes that through unveiling its facilities, it has enabled Proton to set itself apart from its rivals while offering a diverse range of people the help they require. “We differentiated ourselves from anyone else.

Proton International is the only company worldwide that has the track record of successfully bringing multiple proton facilities to the world. University of Alabama in Birmingham will be our eighth building and no one else has even come close,” explains Beranek. “Our Proton vendors provide equipment but it’s a lot different than just selling equipment because you have to put the whole package together. It’s important w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

C OMPA N Y INF OR M AT ION — BR + A

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BR+A is a global engineering firm that embraces challenging projects for organizations whose work makes a difference in people’s lives and the world. We engineer responsive, high-performing buildings where people and ideas thrive.

Founded in 1975, BR+A creates state-of-the-art facilities by providing tightly integrated and coordinated engineering design services that touch every aspect of the built environment. These include MEP/FP systems design, sustainability consulting, building commissioning, infrastructure design, master planning, and more. Whether it is a small, quick-turn assignment or complex, large-scale project, BR+A is hands-on from inception to construction completion.

BR+A has more than 350 team members, working together across eight US-based offices, bring unsurpassed technical expertise and wide-ranging creativity to everything they do. We assemble

highly proficient, multidisciplinary teams, each led by a firm principal, to serve as trusted advisors throughout the project. Using the most advanced tools and technologies, BR+A provides lifecycle cost analysis, energy modeling, and proactive value engineering that helps architects and owners weigh the pros, cons, and holistic benefits of proposed designs. We have been successful in providing engineering services to our particle clients worldwide for over 15 years, currently encompassing 15 countries with that success stemming from our talented, and experienced, core group of engineering professionals.

Above all, our diverse team is dedicated to serving as a true partner to clients and we strive to be seen a vital part of their organization. In the office, on the job site, or out in the field, BR+A fosters a culture where creativity and hard work are celebrated—and collaboration fuels mutual success.

to think about location, financing, hospital and doctor partnerships before you can actually put a completed project together.

We bring all those parties together.”

In order to establish its success, Proton International formed professional partnerships with design professionals such as Stantec – Architecture Bard, Rao-& Anthanas Engineers and Goldstein-Milano which have collaborated with the company since its inception.

The long-lasting relationships have seen all entities work together in order to deliver the best experience for its patients. “We also believe it’s critical to have regionally focused construction managers such as Brasfield & Gorrie, Gilbane, Linbeck and Hoffman to execute the building process. We conduct Lessons Learned sessions with these partners knowing that our next proton project will ultimately provide the best possible patient experience,” says Beranek. “We are a family and grow accordingly in that we can not only anticipate mutual needs but also respect each other’s responsibilities to act as advocates for Proton International while keeping the needs of the patients first and foremost.” w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

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brasfieldgorrie.com

We’re honored to partner with Proton International and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to deliver Alabama’s first proton therapy facility.

www.stantec.com

Particle Therapy Architects

“ It’s not just about bringing the project to fruition, it’s about operating and having that expertise of understanding how patient delivery systems should be incorporated.This means we fully understand what the patient experience is and we have to ensure we maximize that experience”

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— Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

As a pioneer for implementing proton

of understanding how patient delivery

therapy treatment, Proton understands

systems should be incorporated. This

how vital it is that patients remain the

means we fully understand what the

top priority in the company’s plans.

patient experience is and we have to

Beranek is adamant that Proton can

ensure we maximize that experience,”

provide the best service due to its

affirms Beranek. “We know that you

determination to get projects complet-

have to deal with insurance and the

ed. “It’s not just about bringing the

actual treatment and clinical aspect.

project to fruition, it’s about clinical

However, we’re also the only ones who

operations and having that expertise

can find the financing to get all these w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

projects completed and considering the way our sustainability is right now, I believe we’re the only ones who can deliver this from soup to nuts.”

FUTURE PLANS With an eye on the future, Proton International are looking to expand their operations further with facilities in Delray Beach, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama, expected to open next year. Beranek maintains that he never reflects on completed projects for too long following the completion of a facility.

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“Once the building gets up and

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘PLACEMENT OF THE PARTICLE ACCELERATOR (CYCLOTRON) IN THE UMCG PROTON THERAPY CENTER’

“ We differentiated ourselves from anybody else.

Proton International is the only company worldwide that has the track record of successfully bringing multiple proton facilities to the world”

— Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

operational, I’m pretty much onto the

continue to bring protons and maintain

next project. Our Delray Beach facility

our position as a major directive force

is only a few weeks from opening to

in bringing a greater number of protons

see patients for Linac treatments while

to the world. We’ve completed more

our proton building will begin to treat

projects than anyone else and that’s

patients in the Fall of 2019. We’re also

what we pride ourselves on. It’s what

building one in Birmingham, Alabama

we do.”

and we anticipate to be receiving proton equipment for that facility in February,” explains Beranek. “We’re a small privately-owned company and we make our own decisions. We will w w w.pro to ni n t l. com

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922 Hawkhorn Court, Alpharetta Georgia, 3005 www.protonintl.com