The Radiotherapy Institute – Championing excellence in patient care

Institute Director, Professor Benjamin Corn, a world-renowned expert in radiotherapy and a US-trained and certified Radiation Oncologist, has been managing the institute since 2003. He has a clear vision of what makes radiotherapy at the Medical Center so successful. “Our commitment to our patients is to eradicate cancer while improving quality of life,” says Prof. Corn. “By implementing the best scientifically proven methods and technologies, we can help eliminate cancer while minimizing the impact on patients’ physical and emotional health.” The Radiotherapy Institute directs and participates in a broad range of research studies, providing both the Medical Center and the medical community with insights and direction on the most effective therapeutic interventions.

Dr. Dan Schifter, Radiation Physicist and Head of Radiotherapy Services, describes the emerging technologies offered by the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Radiology Institute for optimal patient treatment. “The institute was the first in Israel to introduce a number of significant leading edge technologies, such as image-guided radiotherapy, which uses real-time images to accurately target tumors. The institute was also the pioneer in Israel for stereotactic body radiosurgery (SBRT), which delivers targeted radiation therapy to the intended location in higher doses and with more accuracy than traditional radiotherapy. This non-surgical procedure also spares healthy tissue near the tumor.” The institute is the only facility in Israel to be internationally certified to perform intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), high-precision radiotherapy that delivers targeted radiation doses, conforming more accurately to the three-dimensional shape of a tumor while minimizing the exposure to surrounding tissue.

 

With the level of accuracy constantly improving, Prof. Corn projects: “Reduced treatment duration will be a reality in the near future. Hypofractionation, shorter treatment cycles with more intensive, targeted radiation therapy, is making a comeback. For patients, this means fewer visits to the radiotherapy clinic and potentially quicker results. Four-dimensional imaging also offers further promise for enhanced pinpoint accuracy, accommodating body and organ movement during treatment.”

Because radiotherapy involves medical treatment using radiation, the Radiotherapy Institute is monitored closely by national and international medical and scientific monitoring organizations. The institute has consistently received certification with excellence from organizations such as the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

Radiotherapists from throughout the world have taken an interest in the Medical Center’s radiation therapy program. Recent delegations hosted include medical professionals from China, Russia, and Italy.

Patients from around the world are treated at the institute—brief daily therapy doses that span days, weeks, or months. “For patients from Tel Aviv, Europe, or anywhere else, it is essential to feel comfortable in the treatment setting. Illness and treatment can be very stressful; it is our role to help lighten the burden,” highlights Corn. “The institute team is in tune with patients’ needs, providing personal attention to individuals and their families, and working to accommodate each patient’s situation.”

 

Beyond leading-edge therapies, the institute encourages patients to garner support from daily life to supplement the positive effects of treatment, such as music therapy, spiritual health, family, and special interests.

Defying the natural rivalry between medical disciplines, the Radiotherapy Institute has successfully leveraged the common goal of patient care for a range of multi-specialty treatment and research objectives. Among the collaborative successes include: applying surgical techniques to radiotherapy treatment and publishing research findings which span surgical, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and observation treatment. Radiotherapy supports all medical specialties, including orthopedic oncology, neuro-oncology, gastroenterology, and hemato-oncology, as well as pediatric oncology for children with cancer.

With the continuous pursuit of progressive treatment, the Radiotherapy Institute is an international benchmark of distinction—always placing excellence at the center of its care.

For more information, please contact the Radiotherapy Institute at +972-3-697-3997 or erezb@tasmc.health.org.il.