The Foundation held a recognition cocktail reception on October 1st to mark the inauguration of the new Nuclear Medicine Department and its central component, the PET-CT scan. This event brought together members of the Foundation team, physicians, technologists, representatives of the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, and donors, all of whom came to celebrate this collective achievement.
A Visionary Project
The recognition evening highlighted all the efforts, determination, and perseverance deployed over more than 15 years to make this ambition a reality. The Foundation and Nuclear Medicine Department teams were pleased to have this opportunity to thank the generous donors for their exceptional support, as well as all those who contributed to the completion of this major project.
This project began 20 years ago, when nuclear scientists had the idea of acquiring a PET scanner to improve patient care at the Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital. Over the years, this vision took shape and ultimately led to the expansion of the entire department.
Photo: The visionary nuclear medicine specialists at Sacré-Cœur: Dr. Martin Veilleux, Dr. Mathieu Charest, Dr. Valérie Levert, Dr. Guillaume Chaussé, and Dr. Raymond Lemieux.
In 2010, the Foundation led a fundraising campaign that raised $3.4 million for the purchase of the PET scanner, thanks to the generosity of key donors — including Guillevin International Co., Power Corporation of Canada, and the Caroline Durand Foundation. This initial funding became the cornerstone of the project, paving the way for the construction of a brand-new wing with spaces designed to house the PET-CT.
“It is the Foundation’s role to support the Hospital’s teams in carrying out inspiring projects, such as the modernization of the Nuclear Medicine Department,” emphasized Mr. Bernard Pitre, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
While the acquisition of the PET-CT originally sparked the modernization project for nuclear medicine at Sacré-Cœur, the department now operates four gamma cameras, two of which are dedicated to nuclear cardiology. These advanced devices have helped broaden the range of care around three main areas of activity: general nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology, and PET imaging.
A tangible impact for patients
The new equipment and this more comfortable care environment make a significant difference in the daily lives of both staff and patients. Patients can now undergo PET scans directly at Sacré-Cœur, without having to travel to the CHUM as they did before.
“The PET scan allows us to visualize how the body functions and to image a wide range of conditions. It provides clearer images, faster, while using a smaller amount of radioactive substances for patients. This means we can share more precise information with clinicians and adjust treatment plans on a daily basis. The donations that funded the PET scanner have yielded tremendous results,” explained Dr. Mathieu Charest, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.
Photo: The team of nuclear medicine physicians and technologists from the Nuclear Medicine Department at the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital.
Nuclear medicine specialist and former Head of the Department, Dr. Valérie Levert, also expressed her immense pride and reflected on how far the team has come over the past 20 years. “After years of effort, despite obstacles and setbacks, our team stayed the course. Today, we have a PET-CT scanner in new facilities at Sacré-Cœur. Thousands of patients will now have privileged access to PET scans, which are essential for guiding therapeutic decisions,” she stated.
Photo: The centerpiece of the new Nuclear Medicine Department — the PET-CT
The PET-CT embodies a vision of technological advancement in medical imaging that has become a reality. These state-of-the-art machines, installed directly within the Sacré-Cœur facilities, have a significant impact on daily operations and are a great source of pride for the current team as well as those who came before them. This modernized department, driven by a skilled new generation, opens exciting prospects for the future of diagnostics and treatments in nuclear medicine at the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital.