Doctor donates $7m to honour parents

A doctor's $7 million donation will make "a world of difference" to patients at Sydney Adventist Hospital, funding a new imaging centre that will double scanning capacity and reduce waiting lists.

Adventist Healthcare CEO Brett Goods praised the generosity of nuclear medicine physician Dr Edwin Szeto, who made the gift in honour of his parents.

The Robert and Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre openedon Monday 20 November 2023, providing the hospital – also known as the San – with state-of-the-art molecular imaging equipment that will help with earlier detection and treatment of cancer and brain disease.

"Having this type of technology and these new facilities at the San will enable us to attract the best clinicians and to participate in world-class research," Mr Goods said.

"This is a vital part ofcaring for our patients' health today, while pioneering research for a healthier tomorrow.

"We are deeply grateful to the Szeto family, and we know this centre will make a world of difference for our patients and clinicians for years to come."

Dr Szeto, who has been working at the San since 2018, said he had the idea to honour his mother and late father when he heard the hospital was planning to upgrade its nuclear medicine department.

"My father was a quietly spoken yet purposeful man who was completely dedicated to his family," Dr Szeto said.

"He remained humble amid his business successes and was known for his selflessness and generosity. We often heard him remark about the importance of giving.

"My mother is simply the most selfless and loving person one could imagine, deeply dedicated to her Christian faith. She always reminded us to never forget Dad, and there were frequent conversations about how best to honour his legacy."

The purpose-built centre features new-generation digital PET-CT scanners which reduce radiation exposure for patients and provide a much larger field of view, cutting scan times from half an hour to just 10 minutes.

"PET scans not only greatly improve lesion detection, they've become almost indispensable in monitoring disease progression, so doctors can know if a particular cancer treatment is working or whether to change to a different treatment regime," said Brian Sorensen, Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist at the San.

Mr Goods said the centre, which also received $500,000 from the San's fundraising foundation, was built to allow for future growth at New South Wales' largest private hospital.

"We will now be able to double our current capacity of scanning 15 patients per day to 30 patients per day. This means shorter waiting lists for patients, and hopefully earlier disease detection and treatment," he said.

"The creation of The Robert and Jeanne Szeto PET-CT Centre will transform our current imaging capabilities and will have a profound impact on the health outcomes of our patients."

Read more: San stays top of patient cancer rankings

Read more: Blessing for San's new heart system

Next Safety And Quality:
6/12/2023 Bringing cancer care closer to home

Previous Safety And Quality:
13/11/2023 Trial boosts hospital's patient options