Connecticut's first proton beam therapy center opened today in Wallingford, the result of a partnership between Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, and Proton International bringing one of the most advanced forms of radiation therapy to state cancer patients.
The 25,000-square-foot Connecticut Proton Center will deliver highly targeted cancer treatment while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, a precision that can lessen side effects, preserve quality of life, and improve long-term outcomes. Yale Medicine and Radiation Oncology, PC will provide clinical leadership, and the facility will be staffed by physicians and colleagues from Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare, working from a state-of-the-art treatment room, control room, and patient exam rooms designed for a seamless patient experience.
Pamela Sutton-Wallace, acting CEO, Yale New Haven Health, said, "The Connecticut Proton Center combines the clinical expertise, scientific leadership and shared vision of our organizations to deliver an important new capability for patients throughout the region. It reinforces Connecticut's role as a leader in healthcare innovation and demonstrates our collective commitment to shaping the future of cancer care."
Proton therapy treats a wide range of cancers, including tumors affecting the brain and central nervous system, eye, head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, liver, lung, prostate, spine, and breast, and is especially beneficial for pediatric patients because it helps minimize radiation exposure to developing tissues. Unlike conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy allows clinicians to better control where radiation is delivered, enabling physicians to safely deliver higher doses directly to cancer while reducing the risk of long-term complications.
"Today marks a defining milestone for cancer care in Connecticut," said Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare. "Through this extraordinary partnership with Yale New Haven Health and Proton International, we are expanding access to one of the world's most advanced cancer treatments, right here at home."
Proton International served as project manager and technology partner for the facility, overseeing development, construction, and operational readiness, drawing on its experience developing and operating proton centers across the United States, Europe, and beyond. Governor Ned Lamont, State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, and Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, joined hospital and Proton International leadership at the opening.
Chris Chandler, CEO of Proton International, said, "The opening of the Connecticut Proton Center represents years of collaboration and a shared vision to bring the latest advancements in cancer treatment closer to patients. We are proud to partner with Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health to deliver world-class proton therapy that will benefit patients across Connecticut and throughout the region."
