Proton Therapy: Where Precision Meets Possibility
After extensive planning, the UW Health Eastpark Medical Center will welcome its first patients to a state-of-the-art Proton Therapy Center, bringing one of the most precise cancer treatments available to Wisconsin and the Midwest. Years in the making, this milestone reflects not only scientific innovation but also the generosity of donors who believe patients deserve access to the very best care close to home.
Proton therapy represents a significant advancement in radiation treatment. Unlike traditional X-ray radiation, proton beams deliver their energy directly to a tumor and stop there, dramatically reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The new beam is the size of a pencil rather than a paintbrush. This precision is especially critical for children and patients with tumors near sensitive organs such as the brain, spine, or eyes. Every treatment plan is customized, enabling physicians to tailor care to each patient’s unique needs.
The program reached an important “first beam” milestone, confirming that the technology is fully operational. UW Health will also be among the first centers in the nation to offer upright proton therapy, allowing some patients to receive treatment while seated — an option that can improve breathing, comfort, and communication during care.
Behind this breakthrough is a growing, specialized care team, including radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, and a child life specialist dedicated to supporting pediatric patients and their families.
“We’ve built something truly state-of-the-art that will make a difference in people’s lives,” says Benjamin Durkee MS’06, PhD’09, MD’11, the UW’s medical director of proton therapy.
Philanthropy is playing a vital role in turning this vision into reality. Donor support helps bring advanced technology, specialized expertise, and compassionate, patient-centered care together under one roof. Thanks to donor generosity, UW Health is expanding what’s possible in cancer treatment, offering hope and healing for generations to come.
Did UW Health or the UW School of Medicine and Public Health have a life-changing impact on you or someone you love? Support them and others in need by giving to the Wisconsin Medicine Impact Fund.