UAB Radiation Oncology, Rays of Hope Volume 5 issue 1 | Page 2

RAYS OF HOPE
CHAIRMAN'S NOTE
James A. Bonner, MD
     These visits have helped us develop
the best program for UAB in
collaboration with our partners at
Proton International. Additionally, the
Health System engaged outside
consultants to insure the viability of our
program. Therefore, we are very excited
about being able to offer this technically
advanced treatment for our patients.
     The development of this program will
take much effort for all of our faculty
(we all need to learn many new aspects
of radiation [particle delivery]
treatments with a very sophisticated new
modality) and I am delighted that we
have a group of physicians, physicists,
residents, and staff who wish to take this
effort and advance it nationally! There
will be many updates on these endeavors
in future issues of our magazine.
We are very excited to present our spring
issue of the Rays of Hope. The winter has
brought many changes to UAB Radiation
Oncology - all good! We have been
working with our private partner, Proton
International, regarding our new proton
center. We have a great partnership with
Proton International.
     In this issue of the magazine, you will
see our celebratory activities around the
ground breaking for our new proton
center. This is a great advance for
Radiation Oncology and UAB Medicine.
     The construction of the building will be
10-12 months and the installation and
commissioning of the equipment will be
another 10-12 months.  Our estimated date
for our first proton patient treatment is
January of 2020. 
     These efforts are a culmination of a
twelve year process of our executive team
evaluating the importance of proton
(particle therapy) therapy. We have visited
the Heidelberg, Germany facility, the
Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in
Munich, MD Anderson in Houston,
University of Florida in Jacksonville and
the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia.
1 | RAYS OF HOPE
EDITOR IN CHIEF
James A. Bonner, M.D.
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Sunny Scott, MPA
DEPARTMENT EDITORS
Mark Lemak, MHSA
Lindsay Pruett, MBA
Patrick Boggs, BIT
PHOTO & CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS
Laura Cardan Photography
Wes Frazer Photographer
Tracey Cotton-Bickham
Valeria Glenn
Janice Parks
Gwen Sims
PRINTING
UAB Print Services
JAMES A. BONNER, M.D.
Merle M. Salter Professor and Chairman
Immediate Past President,
University of Alabama Health Services Foundation
This issue of Rays of Hope is dedicated
to Joseph (Joe) B. Bonner
Dr. Bonner would like to thank our ROAR Gala honorees from previous years who
continue to support our goals for Radiation Oncology Accelerated Research.
From Left: Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, Commission President James A.
(Jimmie) Stephens, and Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey.