The Nuclear Medicine team at Lakeridge Health Oshawa Hospital has received provincial recognition for bringing Durham Region’s first PET/CT scanner to local cancer patients. The team was honoured with the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences Team Award on June 5, 2026, for the work that eliminated the need for residents to travel to Toronto or Ottawa for this critical imaging.
Since welcoming its first patient on October 28, 2024, the PET-CT scanner has provided more than 1,300 scans, exceeding original projections by over 300. The scanner is the only one in the Central East Region and one of about 18 in Ontario.
Before the scanner arrived, about 30 patients per week from Lakeridge Health were travelling outside the region for PET-CT scans. Now residents can receive advanced diagnostic imaging for cancer close to home, reducing both the burden of travel and delays in care.
The scanner cost $2.17 million, funded by the Lakeridge Health Foundation’s Our Cancer Campaign, with an additional $2.74 million from the Government of Ontario and Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario. The award recognizes teams that make significant contributions to patient care through innovation and sustainable improvement.
Team members learned an entirely new imaging modality while completing advanced education, meeting regulatory requirements, and developing new clinical workflows from the ground up. Their work means cancer patients in Durham Region now have access to a service previously available only in larger urban centres.
